With less-padded shoes, you'll need to run more softly. That means striking the ground near the ball of your foot or your midfoot (not your heel). Feel awkward? Try leaning slightly forward, taking quicker strides (about 180 steps per minute or more is ideal), and swinging your arms faster. "Don't force change to happen," Cucuzzella says. "Get your form down first, then add distance, and the speed will come later."
1.
Striking the ground with your heel out in front of your body is both inefficient—since each footfall is like hitting the brakes—and hard on your legs, resulting in much higher impact forces on the heels, knees, hips, back, etc.
2.
Landing on your midfoot puts less impact on your body, since bent joints are natural shock absorbers. Hit the ground almost directly beneath your body, lean slightly forward, and use shorter, faster steps—about three per second.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
5
Check Your Form
Running barefoot or with barefoot-style shoes means changing your gait to avoid injury.
By: Brian Metzler
Comments
This is a great running tip for even those who are not transitioning to barefoot running. I will certainly watch my form in the mirror when I run on the treadmill tomorrow.
Flag Thisits taken me over 6 months to change my gait. but it feels amazings, less impact and a lot less injuries allowing more distance per week. Still go back to bad habits when i get tired, this style seems to take a lot more concentration for every step.
Flag ThisWhy does every "bare tech" running shoe have to cost $100 and up? I'd buy a pair of the Go-Lite's but at that price they can kiss my...forefoot! I've never spent more than $50 for a pair of running shoes and have never had foot, knee, etc., problems.
Flag ThisBill, your bare feet cost nothing, well, minus the time building up the soles of your feet :)
Flag ThisBill, running barefoot costs nothing, minus any time required building up your soles ;)
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