Go slow, it's not a race
Lie down for a few minutes before you run to prepare mentally and to allow the spine to decompress. Keep your knees bent and put a few books under your head.
Think "up" before you move forward. Most of us have a tendency to shorten and contract before we move - think about lengthening and expanding instead.
Release your knees and ankles before you move. This may feel counterintuitive because we tend to clench them before action.
Allow your knees - not your feet - to lead your stride. Trying to increase your stride length by extending the foot out further results in a braking action, while the body has to catch up with the legs.
Don't try to "fix" your posture by sucking in the stomach, pulling the shoulders down, tilting the pelvis or pushing the chest forward and up. This creates unnecessary tension.
Run with your whole body, not just your legs.
Don't bend at the waist, but take your weight slightly forward, to let gravity tilt you from the ground up.
Look ahead, not down, and keep your eyes "soft".
Don't expect to get it right all the time.
Practice running very slowly. You'll notice more about your style. Do you have a light or heavy footfall? Is there any unnecessary tension? How fast do your feet lift off the ground?
Set goals. Having a realistic target or goal helps maintain motivation long after the initial thrill of becoming a runner is gone.
The Guardian
(China Daily 11/14/2007 page19)
