04/09/2026
THE 5 MOVE LOOP 🔄
Every elite runner moves through five key positions during every stride.
At Run Technique Coach, we call this the 5 Move Loop:
👉 DIP → TUCK → DRIVE → KICK → LAND
Each position has drills, skills, and movement patterns attached to it that can be trained, improved, and connected together.
🔹 DIP
Your mid-stance position.
This is where everything happens.
You need to be:
• Balanced
• Stable
• Aligned
• Strong through the hips
If things go wrong in your running, they usually go wrong here.
🔹 TUCK
The release phase.
As the stance foot unloads, the unsupported side needs to be lifted.
The timing of this movement is crucial if you want to get on and off the foot quickly and access the stretch-shortening cycle.
Think:
✔️ C-Shape
✔️ C-Skip
🔹 DRIVE
Project the stride forward.
This is where we create powerful 90-degree running shapes that help us move efficiently and economically.
Think:
✔️ A-Shape
✔️ A-Skip
🔹 KICK
Prime the landing.
The leg extends slightly in front of the body, placing the hamstrings and glutes under tension before the foot returns underneath us.
Think:
✔️ B-Shape
✔️ B-Skip
🔹 LAND
The cycle begins again.
Traditionally we teach a flat-foot or mid-foot landing, but if you watch elite distance runners closely, many make initial contact with the heel before rolling into the DIP position.
The key isn’t where you touch the ground first.
The key is bringing the foot back down towards you rather than leaving it out in front.
💡 Every one of these moves / shapes / positions can be trained.
Through drills, skills, awareness, rhythm, timing and repetition, you can connect the loop and build a more efficient running stride.
Most recreational runners fall into an overstride or scissor pattern.
With a little more finesse and understanding, they can begin to move with the flow, rhythm and efficiency we see in elite runners.
Move better.
Train smarter.
Run faster.
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