No idea if shoe wear is an indicator. I guess the easiest way is just to ask someone to watch you run.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
Printable View
No idea if shoe wear is an indicator. I guess the easiest way is just to ask someone to watch you run.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
I posted this before . I think it helps to show the difference between heel/mid/fore foot strike ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jrnj-7YKZE
I knew I was a heel striker, because runners world told me that was the correct way to run, so I went deliberately out of my way to over stride and land on my heels then feel the roll from heel to toe. I can't believe I was so stupid.
I ran like this for about 3 years diligently replacing my shoes every 6-7 months, and during this period of time I picked up two or three injuries, resulting in a trip to the physio and an off the peg orthotic.
It was only until I got so fed up after my last injury that I thought there must be a better way and for me it started by reading about chi-running and then switching to a forefoot strike. This led to reading more about barefoot running on Ken Bobs website and then inevitably to reading Born to Run.
To sum up, I consciously think about my running style all the time and constantly visualise the forefoot strike, I think that I have got to the point where it feels very natural now, landing on the outside edge of my forefoot, rolling in to the ball of the foot, making contact with the heel slightly, bending the knees more... Generally running very softly and not "pounding" as some people will describe running.
My drill at the moment is to try and run silently, kind of like a ninja, which is good fun when you startle an innocent walker :D
Yep this is definitely the way forward.
Did you find your calves get sore doing it this way intially? I still end a long road run after consciously running on the forefoot with very tight calves. I just consider it that I'm giving them more of a workout, but wondered if it got easier over time. Only been doing this for the last couple of months.
I'd never really thought about how I ran until I started reading this thread. I think I naturally run how Twister describes above ie short strides, supinating and relatively light-footed. I hear other people run and they seem much heavier on their feet than me. If my natural way of running is forefoot-striking it sure seems a good way to develop tight calves that's certain, and great too for tendonitis in the Achilles ;):(
I have a very similar experience as twister. Heel striker for a long time but didn't really get any injuries. I got into Chi Running and took a few 1:1's to make sure I was doing it properly.
Do some barefoot and also with F-lites and 295 with and without footbed. Like anything it does take a time to readjust and your calves do hurt for a while! I've found knee length compression socks help - wear them after not during as I think I look like a dick!
Chi Running taught me to think a lot more on how your run and what all of your body is doing. You can phase in and phase out during a run and after a while it becomes totally natural - Know what you mean about Ninja Running!!
Been doing one 'barefoot' (ie in aqua shoes which are now so worn they've got a hole in the sole - so I guess that's pretty close to barefoot!) run a week for a few months now, and all my other running is done with forefoot strike. I've found the transition from heel striking tough, and thought I was doing something wrong - even now I can't so more than 4 or 5 miles (on the roads) without risking a calf strain. However, I recently discovered I have osteoarthritis in my right ankle, giving it less flexibility. I guess my calf muscle has shortened over time.
When I'm on the fells I do find I still revert to heel striking on steep downhills - with anything more than a gentle decline I feel like I'm stretching out too much and puttuing the brakes on with each landing - I know I should be using shorter steps, but my legs don't move fast enough!
To be honest I didn't get too much of the sore calf syndrome, a bit of tightness initially but no problem there now. I did build my mileage back up very slowly and as a builder, I'm on my feet daily so I know this helps (a very quick aside: I've replaced kneeling with squatting at work and I really believe that in the developed world we would be far better off if we squatted more!)Quote:
Originally Posted by southernsoftie
On the subject of down hill running. I think that it is very hard not to land on your heels when you are running on a very steep incline. (so perhaps its natural?) I've always believed in planting the whole foot though, as this provides better grip with a sole full of studs. I suppose that the obvious way to descend is to try and run at the same angle that you would be running at, if you were on the flat. This would mean throwing yourself in to the fall line and requires guts and a very excessive forward lean from the ankles :D.
On the very few occasions that I have barefooted steep hills I think I land pretty much "all of my foot at once" my ankles are flexing down with my knees bent, I'm not brave enough to let go completely so I always end up scrubbing off speed by leaning back or from making turns (like skiing).
On tarmac hills, I've had more success in practising softer landings, depending on the steepness I can run with a comfortable forefoot landing, but my turnover is much much faster, I got it licked the other week I think when I ran softly and quietly down a steep road in my VFF. (again, like a ninja)
I guess its just a case of practise until it feels right, I'd be very interested to hear what others think about the perfect downhill form.
I believe that less is more :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Inov-8 Insider
More
- Fun
- Healthy
- Stable
Luc :cool: