active sport & health centre ACTIVE Sport and Health Centre 3300 Fairview Street Burtngton. Ontario L7N 3N7 activesportandhealth.com Unc erstanc ink Runninc Dr. Ashley Swelin-Worobec, BSc, CSCS, D. Ac, DC Gat We all love to run and the benefits are many- improved cardiovascular function, reduced risk of stroke and heart disease, improved blood pressure, improved bone density, improved immune functioning, weight management, and mental alertness, to name only a few. But do we know what is actually happening to our body on a biomechanical level while we run? Here's a glimpse into what your body is going through while you are out there pounding the pavement with the Burlington Runners Running gait, with its repetitive nature, can be broken down into two basic phaxAn: stance phase and swing phase. Stance phase occurs when the foot is in contact with the ground, while swing phase occurs when the foot is in the air. By definition. runnel° is characterized by the fact that at some point in the running cycle, both feet are in the air simultaneously, no matter how fast or slow we are moving! With walking, however, one foot is always n contact with the ground. The stress of tandng on one foot from an unsupported position is one of the reasons that running is more physically demanding than walking. With every footfall, the forces of nearly three times your body weight are transmitted throughout your lower limb! Stance phase (while the foot is in contact with the ground) can be further broken down into three components: heel strike, mid-stance, and toe-off. 1. Heel strike: Ideally, your heel should strike the ground on the back outside edge. If you take a look at the outside sole of your running shoes, chances are you will notice extra wear and tear at this location. At the point of heel strike, your foot is in a position of supination, meaning your foot is in a high-arched position. Supinaticn provides a stable base of support for your body to abso