Why Relaxation is Free Speed

Relax to Move Faster – It sounds like a contradiction. If you are running with clenched fists or hunched shoulders, you are burning oxygen to power muscles that aren’t helping you move forward. This is called parasitic tension, and it's a drain on your performance.

Body Scan – Start at the top. Is your jaw clenched? Is your brow furrowed? High-level runners focus on a "loose jaw." If your face is relaxed, it’s much harder for your shoulders to stay tense. Every mile or so, do a "body scan." Drop your shoulders, shake out your arms, and imagine you are holding an egg (think ‘Cool Runnings!’) in each hand—firm enough not to drop them, but light enough not to crack them. The great Peter Snell ran holding wine bottle corks in each hand, which some of you may have more readily available than eggs…

Neuromuscular Silence – Efficiency is as much about what you stop doing as what you start doing. Research shows that elite runners have "quiet" upper bodies. Their legs are working hard, but their torso and face look like they’re sitting in an armchair. That's the goal: separation between the engine (legs) and the cockpit (head).

The 90% Rule – Next time you're doing a hard effort, try running at 90% effort instead of 100%. You’ll often find you go just as fast (or faster) because you’ve removed the frantic tension that comes with straining. Speed comes from flow, not force.

• Reference: Neuromuscular Activation Patterns and Running Economy in Trained Distance Runners (2025). MDPI Sports / PubMed Central. View Study