Formation running often occurs in the military, law enforcement and physical education classes. Those endeavors promote teamwork in achieving goals, but running together does have its disadvantages. Experienced runners know the stride and pace they are comfortable with whereas beginners have not found their comfort zone. Putting groups of runners together with various skill levels will throw off most individuals' pace. Safety is also a concern as formation running has inherent hazards.
Experienced Runners
Frequent runners typically do not adjust to formation running well. Their steps alter to match those around them, which usually equates to running below their potential. Finding your stride takes a long time and stuttering through group runs can lead to undoing your good habits. Keeping pace with naturally slower runners can be a hindrance.
Beginners
Those new to running will not have the same problems as regular runners when it comes to formation running. Beginners do not have a normal speed or gait and running as part of a formation can make it difficult to become more proficient. Newcomers need to concentrate on their form, and formation running is not conducive to defining form.
Common Ailments
The amount of common running ailments can increase during formation running because of crowding and constant forced changes. Shin splints are common for runners; being in formation exacerbates the issue because runners often have to stutter-step and repeatedly adjust their movements to accommodate others. These little step adjustments slow you down, forcing you to land on different parts of your foot. The foot coming down differently will place stress on certain tendons and muscles causing inflammation. Sprains, strains rolled ankles and knee injuries happen for the same reasons.
Other Negative Effects
Running carries its own risks, so making a bunch of people do it simultaneously, in close proximity, increases the odds of problems. Obvious problems such as bumping into each other and stepping on the heel of the person in front of you can lead to a domino effect that ends with a pile of injured bodies. Striking someone in the foot can injure him or they can lose a shoe, which increases the risk of injury.
References
- "Complete Book of Running"; Amby Burfoot; 2004
- "Fitness: The Complete Guide"; Frederick C Hatfield PhD; 2008
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