What's a way to stop me from looking down at the ground while running?

Question

I'm a cross country runner, and ever since i've started i've always been looking down for the most part. I think I may be worried about tripping over something on the ground.

Answer 1

You need to realize that looking down won't help you trip - it'll just make you see the thing you trip over. Seriously, if you are looking down then by the time something enters your field of vision it's too late to avoid it.

When your gaze is trained higher you'll see the ground in your field of view (as well as a lot of other stuff) and you should be able to react to things before it's too late. Think about driving a car - you wouldn't look at what's going on 5 feet in front of you.

If you have sufficient strength in your "core" muscles - abs and lower back - holding yourself upright shouldn't be a problem physically. What you need to do is relax and focus on comfortable form for your effort level. If you're racing with any intensity you will experience unpleasant physical sensations, but just acknowledge them, relax your body and run through it. Work on detaching your mind from the physical unpleasantness. Fast 200 meter repeats can help with this. Run the repeats fast, but don't focus on the speed, focus on your running form and - most importantly - running relaxed.

Don't let anyone's preconceived ideas of ideal form hold you back - listen to your body and find the form that works for it.

If you find you're muscles are tiring from the effort then take some time to exercise your core on a regular basis. Even runners that don't do other resistance training usually work on their "core."

Answer 2

I've got the same problem with xc-the reason I look at my feet/the ground is because I'm naturally just about the most clumsy human you'll ever meet, and trip or run into anything that I come within 3 feet of. There's no real "way" to cure the problem, you just have to mentally focus on keeping your eyes off the ground and on something else, like the runner ahead of you that you're going to pass, or the hot girl (like me) kicking your butt! (lol) Good luck with it!

Answer 3

Try running on a treadmill at a gym for a while. Most gyms now have TVs, mirrors, and hot chicks to keep your attention above ground level. Of course, treadmills are flat, so your subconscious won't have to worry about tripping over obstacles or avoiding holes. Once you are mechanically trained to keep your head up, slowly transition to running outside. Maybe even do half of your run on a treadmill and the other half outside after you become accustomed to looking up when running.

Also, you could wear one of those spiky dog collars while running. Look down once and that will take care of the problem. JK

Answer 4

I was a XC runner in Middle and High School. I never looked to the ground, I always looked forward to see who I was going to pass next. :) The whole idea is scan the area ahead so you dont have to look down, maybe 25-50-100 ft ahead just to be sure, make sure you get a chance to check out the scenory around you. I've been through some really nice trails.

Answer 5

I'd really like to know. I always look at the ground when I run. When I try looking forward, everything looks so blurry and then I usually trip on something on the ground. When I look at the ground I sometimes miss a turn on the track or crash into something in front of me.

Answer 6

I ran the mile and cross country and still run 40 years later. It's natural to look at the ground for good footing to avoid holes and other tripping hazards, also it tends to make the distance go by faster and makes you feel like your moving fast as the ground becomes more of a blur the closer you look to your feet. If you feel you really need to look up more, try running beside someone that is at your race pace, and you will find that your concentration will shift to watching him/her out the corner of your eye.

Answer 7

This can be a very good thing, especially when running up hills as it concentrates the mind on the near, not the future and thus people are more likely to let the "hill come to them", shorten their stride and relax as maintaining the speed. Most people get a little disillusioned when faced with a daunting incline. So follow others advice to look up, but remember to revert to this when faced with a steep hill.

Answer 8

As long as you aren't staring down at your feet it shouldn't be a huge problem. If you are looking at the ground say 20 feet ahead of you thats plenty of time to avoid obstacles, although it's not great form. If you do it in races my suggestion is to pick out someone ahead of you and try to catch them, when you do look for someone else.
You could also try the old trick of wearing glasses with the bottom half tapped up so if you try and look down you can't see anything.

Answer 9

gazing the floor isn't extremely effective through fact it incredibly is harder to maintain your head from bobbing around, and the two way you waste a super form of means doing that. it is likewise significant to maintain looking forward for not in basic terms hindrances, yet human beings in front of you to pass after and race. you are able to not look on the floor by focusing, and you do could interrupt the habit. I nonetheless have this habit now and back yet I generally capture myself after a pair of minute of it in the time of a race (except, of path, it incredibly is not very even floor through fact I even have tripped over a root and fallen in the time of a race.)

Answer 10

I did the same thing a couple years ago and I fell and skinned my knee. The key is to look straight ahead because u will be anle to see the ground without looking straight at it.