Relaxing Abs

When you run, you want ALL of the muscles that are not directly responsible for running (and breathing of course) to be as relaxed as possible. This includes your abdominals.

Most of the people you see on the covers of most running magazines in America show washboard abs when they run. Their abs are contracted. WRONG!!! Most Kenyans who run appear to have a protruding belly. Their abs are relaxed. CORRECT!

Next time you see a young baby who can walk, you will notice 2 things: 1) He/She will walk on the balls of his/her foot AND 2) Her/his belly will protrude (relaxed abs). Our "must-be thin" culture will teach this baby to suck in its belly and contract its abs!!!! BAD!!! BAD!!! BAD!!!

So, how do you relax your abs?

Not very easily. It takes practice...and muscle control. One must try to first control your abdominals by pushing your belly out and in. If you practice this enough, you will quickly find that the relaxed state is not the sucked in position. Next time you go on a run, try relaxing, moving, or even just changing the position of your abs...eventually you will want to completely relax them. You will find breathing easier and you'll run faster!!! I promise you!

Contracted Abs

Running is a good way to loose weight! Yes, we have all heard that before!

In fact, most issues of Runner's World tell us this fact and to back it up, they usually show someone with skinny, flat washboard abs on the cover.

Being thin and fit is good, however, If your stomach looks like a washboard, you are contracting your abdominals. You should not do this, as your abs should be relaxed and thus your belly should protrude (even if you have no fat near your belly).

Why do people contract their abs??? Most of us are ashamed of our bellies and want to "suck" it in.

CONTRACTING YOUR ABS, while making us look more skinny, DOES 5 THINGS:
A) Forces you to flatten the natural curve of your lower back.
B) Forces you to round your shoulders.
C) Forces you to bend at the waste.
D) Moves your center of mass inward.
E) Makes it impossible for you to breath deeply

And when you run....contracting your abs will make it harder for you to run faster!