Running is the fastest means of movement by an animal. Running can be calculated by stride length. It is also measured by a pace of minutes per mile or by kilometer.

The elements of running involve the whole body but can be broken down into tow main areas the lower body and upper body.

Lower Body

The stride of a runner can be broken down into 3 main phases. Support, Drive and Recovery. During the support phase the foot is in contact with ground and this action supports the body. The drive phase is the next step after the support phase. The drive phase is when the leg extends at the knee joint, and at the hip, such that the toe maintains contact with the ground as that leg trails behind the body. The recovery phase follows the drive phase. When the toe leaves the ground after the drive phase the hip flexes, which rapidly drives the knee forward.

Upper Body

The upper body motion keeps the rest of the body in balance. The key to the upper body motion is the downward drive of the opposite arm. The downward drive of the opposite arm, and a leg's support and drive motions are balanced by raising of the opposite arm.

To absorb the lower body movements the upper body momentum is key to running balance.

A Good technique of running includes upright posture, leaning slightly forward and a stride rate. The best runners in the world have a stride rate of at least 180 strides per minute and normally lean forward to move the center of mass to the front part of their foot.