Active Treadmill Running (ATR)
If you read my blog on treadmill workouts, you will come across the term Active Treadmill Running.
Passive running on a treadmill is when you let the belt move your legs and your body. You know you are running passively on a treadmill by the amount of noise generated when your foot contacts the belt and the lack of fluidness while running.
These things can happen with ground base running also. Some would call it over striding.
Active running is when you move your feet in sync with the belt. Active running on a treadmill is very quiet and also very fluid. This can also happen when ground base running. It requires you to have negative foot speed while running. Negative foot speed is a cool phrase for keep your feet moving.
Active running means you are in control of when you take a step. How fast you take a step. If you have joint problems and like to train on a treadmill, then active running is for you. Active running lessens the impact absorb by the body and active running also lessens the chance for RSI ( repetitive stress injury).
See video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjeKw2UMaok