On the subject of descending. I think a lot of fell runners would benefit from training in VFF. I see time and time again runners bombing down hills with a straight lead leg (just look at any set of fell running photos and it'll be the majority of runners doing this). Now its obvious why, cause we want to reach out for the ground in front of us, but this almost always forces the heel strike. Now couple this with the forces that are magnified when we run downhill and it is no wonder that most fell runners complain about sore knees.

Joss knew what he was talking about when he said try and bend the knees on descent. We have to start thinking of our legs a pair of shock absorbers, when wearing minimal shoes for running you will bend you legs more automatically, you will land midfoot and you will have a shorter stride.

If you then practice this technique on descent you will become a descending machine. Yes there is no grip with the VFF, but I've found that if you find the sweet spot, the point where momentum and footstrike are in perfect balance with your mass then you will not fall over. it is a leap of faith and you have to go for it, you have to lean a bit downhill too. It can feel a bit disconcerting. It also feels quite utterly amazing.