Proper running form help

There was a guy who won this little race in Hawaii a few times (and still kicks it at over 50!), and he has the most painful looking running mechanics I've ever seen.

So if "The man" can do it, there's probably not a lot to worry about. Relaxing will probably do you more good than anything you could pay attention to, most likely.

Having taken a good form running class I would say focus on how your foot lands, midfoot versus a heel strike, your hand position, I was taught imagine putting your hands in your pocket and relax your shoulders, and lean from the hips. The lean will help you push off which helps with your stride.

This link helps me visualize good running form:

http://www.newtonrunning.com/run-better/optimal-running-form

this is good general advice right here. the only thing I would add once you get all of this down (especially the smiling part) is look at your cadence to see if that could help you as well.

Thanks for all the great advice so far, I will keep these things in mind.

Admittedly, running gets the least focus in my training because it is my least favorite.  I prefer dirt or gravel trail running to road running because of osteoarthritis in my knees, and this time of year it is tough to get out there before it gets dark.  On occasion I do run the neighborhood streets with a headlamp.  I'm really looking forward to the days when it stays light much later.  This being said, probably if I ran more it would get easier/smoother.

I agree with the others who are saying that running form is far less of a big deal than swim form. In swimming you are moving through a very dense medium, and so much of the action is about minimizing drag forces while maximizing propulsion. And it's an activity that humans are not built for, and is not something that we've been doing since we were toddlers. Running is something that comes to humans far more naturally, and issues like minimizing drag forces are practically irrelevant (they're more relevant in biking, because the speeds are so much higher). In running, it's important to avoid unnecessary braking forces, as Suzanne points out, both because it sacrifices propulsion, and because it increases injury risk. But beyond simple things like (i) not leaning back or reaching forward for your footstrike, (ii) not slouching, and (iii) staying as relaxed as possible, your body is likely to figure out most of the rest by itself. Also, our running gait tends to change as a function of speed and body composition. We shouldn't expect to emulate Haile Gebreselassie's run form, because we're not running at his speed or with his body. 

You'll even see significant differences in running form between elite runners. For example, current women's marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe has a long, rangy stride, whereas 1984 Olympic women's marathon champion Joan Benoit Samuelson tended to run with a much tighter stride that was closer to a (very fast) shuffle. In both cases their form is a good fit to their body types.

I've been heal striking for more than 30 years. Take care "fixing" something that isn't broken. And be sure to increase your shoe budget if you're going to run the Newton way.

Where does your foot strike (heel, or otherwise) in relation to your center of gravity (basically, the point on the ground where you'd land if time froze and you dropped straight to the ground)?  If it is out in front of that point (i.e., you are 'reaching forward' with your leading leg), then focus on shortening your stride out front, and lengthening it out the back.  If you are already landing under your center of gravity, then unless you have some specific reason to be concerned (i.e., injury), don't worry about which part of your foot strikes first.