I don't know if it's common or not for runners but I noticed quite an imbalance of my stride.
When pushing off from the left leg, my right knee shows a nice lift, hip extends nicely, stride looks good and feels powerful.
When pushing off from the right leg however, my left knee barely lift, the hip extension is imcomplete, and oddly enough, that left legs also "trails" kinda lazely behind and the left heel doesn't come nearly has high as the right during the back leg part of stance. At any speed it's always about 5 inches lower than the other side.
Been browsing around for this issue, since I tend to overwork the combination of [left calf + right hip] while I don't use the [right calf + left hip] as much and feel it. It's like both my brain and muscles don't know what to do with the other side as well. I know we all aren't symmetrical and have one preferred side, but still.
Anyway if anyone can offer insights, please let me know! Been doing some yoga which I think helps even-ing things out, but I may need more. Not just flexibility perhaps, but prioperception and strengthening. Please let me know if you have good resources. I am afraid that when trying it out while running. I might force unnaturally the left knee to come higher as an "exercise" but it's probably not a great idea.
Found this excellent article by the way. Very true, despite coming from RW!
http://www.runnersworld.com/injury-prevention-recovery/its-all-in-the-hips