You need to try this hilarious running challenge
Olympic champion Gabby Thomas proved that this technique is much harder than it looks
Sometimes, the simplest things can turn out to be the most challenging–and this running trend is no exception. Users on social media have been trying to run with the same arm and same leg moving together–the opposite of our natural running motion. Olympic 200m champion Gabby Thomas had to give it a shot, proving that even professional runners struggle to master this trend.
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The challenge is much harder than it looks. Naturally, a runner’s arms act as a counterbalance during each stride, opposing the twisting motion created by the legs. Without arms, runners’ torsos would be rotating back and forth with every step, interrupting forward momentum and reducing the efficiency of the movement. But no matter how intensely a runner focuses on their stride, it’s seemingly inevitable for their arms and legs to fall into the natural rhythm of opposing motion.
Thomas captioned her post, which featured her and her teammates taking turns trying the technique, “Who did it best though?” The video prompted hilarious comments from track fans. “Still better than how I run with opposite arm and leg,” one user wrote. “Is this a new type of bounding?” the Athlos account commented.
The sprinter seems to keep up with all the trends on social media; last week, she posted a satirical video using a Daily Mail filter. “28-year-old track athlete Gabby Thomas in critical condition after 10 x 300m workout,” the headline read.
@itsgabbythomas If you haven’t seen this trend it’s a joke ….kind of #fyp #track #practice #working #running ♬ son original – 🇺🇲🦅TrumpPOWERCanada🦅🇨🇦
“If you haven’t seen this trend, it’s a joke… kind of,” Thomas captioned the post.
An influential figure
In recent months, Thomas has grown her social media presence, accumulating nearly 1.4 million followers on Instagram and TikTok. She also recieved an invitation to the prestigious US Open, guest starred on popular talk shows Jimmy Kimmel Live, CBS Mornings and The Daily Show, modelled for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and attended countless brand events.
One of Thomas’s most powerful projects was partnering with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian to launch Athlos, a new all-women’s track meet designed to grow visibility for track and field, and particularly women’s sports. She was later acknowledged as one of the most influential individuals in the sports world heading into 2025 when her name was included in most recent edition of the Forbes 30 under 30 list.
