I came across this piece on Dr Phil's forum. Not the Dr Phil you are thinking about, Dr Phil Maffetone.
Is your knee fully extended before you push off and enter the swing phase? This is one of the major differences between running and walking.
As discussed in the article on gait, there’s an obvious difference between walking and proper running, especially in how the foot strikes the ground (on the heel for walkers and more forward in runners). The walking body, which always has one foot in contract with the ground, functions like an inverted pendulum, swinging along step-by-step, literally vaulting over stiff legs with locked knees. Running should not involve locking the knee, as each is always slightly flexed while the foot is on the ground. Herein lies one problem with many runners who walk, and even those who don’t run. When walking, many people keep their knee slightly flexed instead of locked. It’s as if their knee is in a running gait pattern while the rest of the body is walking. This poses a potential physical problem—stress on the knee joint and in the muscles around it.
Dr David Marcon
Work Smarter Not Harder
Cincinnati Ohio
www.drdavidmarcon.com
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