How to Prepare Video for Running Form Analysis

Arrange for a friend to shoot the video.

Before you begin, attach a strip of adhesive tape near the top of your running shorts. Have your friend check that it forms a level line across the small of your back when you're standing still. The tape should contrast with your running shorts (see the green tape in the side-by-side video stills below). 

A strip of horizontal tape to make pelvic tilt clear

Video should be shot on a smartphone, wide-angle rather than zoomed in. Have your friend shoot it from three perspectives.

  1. From the side. Set up about 20 feet away from the trail or track with phone pointing across it. Hold steady as the subject runs by at marathon pace. Do not pan with the runner.
  2. From behind. Set up on the track or trail facing away from the runner and direct them to pass within a foot or two of you running at marathon pace.  Start the video as you hear the runner approaching. Hold steady for 5 or more seconds after the subject runs past and into the center of your shot. 
  3. From in front. Now have the subject turn around and run towards you at marathon pace. Start the video when the subject is about 100 feet from you, holding steady until they've passed by.

Name the three short videos SIDE, BEHIND, and FRONT and send them to kevin@longlifemarathon.com as email attachments.