Niko Niko running technique experiences

[slowrun]

Has anyone tried it? Does anyone want to try it and report back? I would love to hear of your experiences. Here is the technique:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=9L2b2khySLE

Personally, I ran for 27 minutes outside today using this technique after only watching the above clip on Wednesday and the following days practising it, doing 30 minutes continuous laps on carpet inside, each day, our house!

I didn't feel fit to drop, either.

I'm amazed!

Gunty, just saw you are doing intervals, duh! So maybe see if you can slow down. If not, maybe start with just multiple short sessions of running and see if your heart rate improves. Also, I don't know off hand, but check the maximum heart rate for a work out and slow down again as soon as you approach that.

Thanks @slowrun I'll give it a go

Here is a calculator, I just found. 🙂

www.active.com/fitness/calculators/heartrate

Other than that, it might be worth getting your heart checked with your GP. If it is always raised they might discuss medication or other treatments / lifestyle changes.

Thanks slow. See how the legs feel tomorrow. Hopefully ok so I can do some more 😃

That's great, sazreed 🙂! And remember if your legs do ache a bit it is because you are building muscle. If you need a rest day, have one and then you'll be able to do more when your muscles have recovered.

Well I said I’d give it a month..month is finally up and I am suddenly faster! Last run I managed a 19m/mike pace and despaired. Not sure if it was the weather (it’s overcast but a bit muggy rather than sunny and hot), improved technique (I was aiming to run like I was on an elliptical) or my slower music playlist but I did 16min/mile average pace over 3 miles but my fastest was 15’12 which is not far off what I did for the recent 10k but running hard! I did try walking a bit when my heart rate went over - only for a few seconds - but I think that helped.

I’ll continue to combine fast running with Niko Niko training.

Fantastic, Faith! Pleased it has been worth doing for you even though you are already experienced at running.

Yes me too slowrun! I’m actually optimistic that I’ll soon be able to Niko at almost as fast a pace as I do for a fast run. I treated myself to some Sketchers today to Niko in, they are definitely lighter so I’m hoping it’ll help my footfall.

Wow, that'll be great, Faith! You'll just be breezing through races before you know it!

Tomorrow i am going for a plod. Slowly.

Used to run, slowly, but have got out of the habit. And i am fat and my knees hurt. So i’m intrigued to see if this is different/easier.

I will report back.

Great, TheGherkin! I'll be interested to hear how you got on.

Amazing!

I ‘ran’ for 50 minutes! Even up the hills that usually kill me. I didn’t want to die every 10 minutes and I wasn’t heaving and huffing. Although my calves did start to burn a bit and I got cramp in my right one at the end. I kept having to adjust my posture and look up instead of down. Heart rate hovered around 130.

I think this could be my new favourite thing

Fabulous, Gherkin! So pleased you've got on with the technique and like it!

Although my right calf is very unhappy now. Damn cramp has yanked it.

Oh dear, Gherkin. Massage and rest then. Maybe start a little gentler for a shorter period of time until your muscles get used to it.

A shorter one would have been sensible. But I don’t do sensible and I was enjoying it

I get a bit like that, Gherkin. My back started aching after deciding to do a 45 min run and a separate 25 minute run in one day early last week. So I had to relegate myself to indoor runs all week (softer surface of carpet seems to give less opportunity for jolting things). Hopefully I will feel supple enough to run outside again soon.

I never thought I'd be saying things like that before discovering Niko Niko. I took any excuse not to exercise!

Well just went for a run outside this morning. My back was fine, even though it ached a bit last night but then, I have been prone to back problems before I started running so I don't think it is running that stresses it.

Lovely run. Shade beautiful after a muggy night. What is more I was over a minute faster than usual! Wasn't aware of pushing the speed at all. So I am chuffed!😁

I went out Friday eve to my local track but found it a lot harder. Probably because there were people around so I went too fast. Then I felt knackered. Think I will stick to doing it indoors for now. Have done 20 mins last couple of mornings round my lounge and kitchen. So will stick with that for now 😃

That's great sazreed! I too started indoors and felt it was easier inside. I deduced it was because carpet is pretty soft and I was running barefoot. But I do really enjoy running outdoors too. I go very early before my breakfast, so from about 6.20am in the morning. There are very few people about then. Saying that, I still do run indoors. I run longer 45 min runs indoors now as well as shorter runs to boost my run from outside. I think indoor runs can be a valuable part of doing this. I ran indoors all last week and then my outdoor run was quicker with no added effort! 🙂

That sounds really good slow. I have to be at work for 6:30am so I refuse to get up any earlier than I already do. Ha ha. My kitchen is tiles so I’m doing half soft half hard floor. I do wear my footwear as I suffer with plantar and don’t want to aggravate it. But I feel happy enough doing it this way for now. Maybe I’ll venture out again in a few weeks. I walk a lot already so this is a little extra.

It's all good, though, sazreed.

So easy to fit an indoor run in around your day as well!

Oooof I’m achy today. Will go for a little happy plod tomorrow morning I think.