unceremoniously asked: I run xc and im looking for tips on faster foot turnover and longer strides. I have long legs but everyone says it looks awkward when I run because my stride is really short and my turnover is not that fast either. Do you know anything that could help? Right now i run a 26-27:00 5k. thanks (:

Don’t try to increase your stride length! Your “short” strides can definitely be an advantage. There are numerous articles that explain how a quick turnover is much more important than stride length, and forcing a long stride can actually be counterproductive. Do a web search for “stride rate” and you’ll find articles that emphasize how the fastest runners all have a turnover rate of about 120-180 strides per minute, REGARDLESS of their stride length! The best way I’ve found to increase stride rate is to run to music with the corresponding beats per minute. You can also web search for music with the beats per minute you want. Get your stride rate right and your optimal stride length will come naturally.