Yesterday, on the last technical downhill stretch of my long rum, something clicked. I found myself working my legs much harder that usual with higher cadence and more engaged hamstrings.
This instead of loafing or floating downhill.
It seems I’m getting used to running technical trails again now I’m doing more of it more often.
I read somewhere recently — I think in the Uphill Athlete book — that you shouldn’t lean back on the downhills but attack them more. This way the quads don’t get so punished.
I don’t think I ever lean back. But the way I was running yesterday might be easier on my quads. It was hamstrings all the way and fast feet.
I could have worked much harder, too. But I thought I shouldn’t push it given it was a new thing. My legs might not be ready for it.
If felt like a neuromuscular breakthrough; not a fitness or strength one. Maybe it was sparked by reading what I mentioned above.
It also might have been because I’ve recently started doing one-legged strength exercises, like step-ups, step-downs and lunges.
I thought these exercises would be more beneficial on the uphill, but I’m sure I felt some of their movement patterns in what I was doing going downhill.
I look forward to working more on this.
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