:D Barefoot Running

[Terry the Tortoise]

It's important that you learn correct technique, as simple as it sounds you do have to learn"barefooting"
http://secure.lakesrunner.com/sports...07.html?p=shop

Couldn't agree more. One would think that you could just throw of your shoes and run "naturally". The problem is that our feet and legs have become so accustomed to wearing heavy shoes, that our body has forgotten how to do it!
The best tips I can give are:

1. Don't try too hard to land on your forefoot/toes, you will probably end up with a stress fracture.
2. Stand-Tall!
3. Push your hips forward
4. High cadence...no really, higher! Quick small steps.
5. Be patient and take your time. Build up very, very slowly.
6. Enjoy

[Richard36]

I found it very helpful to have a coaching session with a Pose coach. Whilst I am from Scotland I had a session with a great guy called Jonathan in Manchester (Stockport area). I paid about £25 for over an hours session and he was very good. Following the session he responded to a number of emails I sent him in which I asked questions and even now nearly 12 months on I am sure he would quite happily respond to any queries I might have - all free of charge. His email address is [email protected]

You might not fully agree with everything that Pose teaches but I'm sure that if you are keen to change the way you run Jonathan (or any other Pose coach for that matter) will be able to point you in the right direction. He has helped me enormously and I would very much recommend him.

[eLBee!]

Blimey - this thread has moved on since I was last here!!!!

Just to add my tuppence worth ......

To be honest, I just aim for the ground with the forefoot and just hope everything follows from there. Given it's natural running, I thought it'd come, well, naturally!

This is a common view regarding the 'natural-ness' of fore-foot running.

The truth is if you simply aim to run on the forefoot without looking at your form as a whole, you are likely to hurt yourself.
Reach for a forefoot landing in front of you and you WILL knacker your calf/achilles/plantar fascia complex

Nature is an unforgiving mistress, and we have to interact with her in the way SHE demands.

[bfluc]

southernsoftie,

I would try what Terry is writing. I agree with you we should not overthink it.

You'll be able to see descent barefoot running form here:

The Barefoot Professor: by Nature Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jrnj-7YKZE

There is a good description of biomechanic here:

Biomechanical Differences Between Different Foot Strikes

http://www.barefootrunning.fas.harva...ootStrike.html

You should read all the stuff published on the website starting at the home page here:

Biomechanics of Foot Strikes & Applications to Running Barefoot or in Minimal Footwear

http://www.barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu/index.html

Couldn't agree more. One would think that you could just throw of your shoes and run "naturally". The problem is that our feet and legs have become so accustomed to wearing heavy shoes, that our body has forgotten how to do it!
The best tips I can give are:

1. Don't try too hard to land on your forefoot/toes, you will probably end up with a stress fracture.
2. Stand-Tall!
3. Push your hips forward
4. High cadence...no really, higher! Quick small steps.
5. Be patient and take your time. Build up very, very slowly.
6. Enjoy

[Inov-8 Insider]

Blimey - this thread has moved on since I was last here!!!!
Just to add my tuppence worth .....

This is a common view regarding the 'natural-ness' of fore-foot running.

The truth is if you simply aim to run on the forefoot without looking at your form as a whole, you are likely to hurt yourself.
Reach for a forefoot landing in front of you and you WILL knacker your calf/achilles/plantar fascia complex

Nature is an unforgiving mistress, and we have to interact with her in the way SHE demands.

Its worth noting that Mr elBee is a POSE coach and a very experienced runner (last year he ran 10 marathons in 10 days)

[southernsoftie]

Thanks a lot peeps. Lots of areas to research there. Think my approach now will be to leave the new style (as per Terry the Tortoise's description, and not my half-arsed approach) to runs of 3mi or less for the time being, relying on my usual gallumpfing stride for anything else. I'll look up that Manchester POSE coach and with that and a bit of practice will hopefully be able to get the hang of it and up the mileage.

Cheers all

[Nathaniel Lee]

That sounds like a good idea southernsoftie as terrys' post made a lot of sense to me.

[southernsoftie]

That sounds like a good idea southernsoftie as terrys' post made a lot of sense to me.

Yeah, but methinks it'll be easier to read than apply!

[eLBee!]

I'll look up that Manchester POSE coach and with that and a bit of practice will hopefully be able to get the hang of it and up the mileage.

Cheers all

Jon is an excellent coach. I'm heading over to his in March to help out at a coaching weekend that he's organising

[Nathaniel Lee]

Pose training is that where you learn to vogue ?.