Instead of nice fluid strides, I tend to have too much up and down movement when I run. What can I do about it?
To minimize bounce and save energy, run lightly, land softly on your feet, and focus on a faster turnover. Try to keep your feet low to the ground with shorter strides. Your arms can help you keep your stride low and short. Keep your arms bent at a 90 degree angle and concentrate on swinging them lower and shorter. By keeping your arm swing lower and quicker, your legs will stay lower to the ground -- resulting in a shorter stride.
Also, make sure you're not running on your toes, which is another habit that can lead to a lot of bouncing. Try to land on the middle (ball) of your foot, and then roll through to the front of your toes.

