switching to forefoot striking

Joe Humble said:

recently, a mild knee issue caused me to have to scale back my running
to under 2 miles a week. I decided to take this opportunity to give a
new running stride a chance. so starting about a month ago I switched
to an almost purely forefoot strike. it has been an interesting
experiment and I have a few results to report.

As it turns out it takes a long time for the calf to adjust to this
new load. even now after every workout my calves are sore for a good
two or three days. I'm also acutely aware now of how much cushioning
is in the back of your standard running shoe. if I switch briefly
back to my old running style it feels like I'm running on pillows.
I've also noticed that it takes awhile to learn how to not crash land
on your forefoot. you to kind of have to lean forward and have enough
power in your calf muscle to be able to maintain a smooth stride. but
now that I've done it for a while it's clear to me that running shoes
allow for an important link in the chain to become atrophied.

I find that my stride is considerably faster without requiring the
same level of effort my old stride would have required. I also find
that it is difficult to actually run slowly while using this method.
it is almost like once I'm below a certain speed my body wants to
start heel striking again.I'm back up to about 3 miles per run and
even though I have not timed myselfI'm sure that my mile time is
faster now. I've also started to notice that anyone who truly runs
fast uses a forefoot strike almost exclusively.

so call me a convert, and call me a handsome devil.

So, you're running like a sprinter. Interesting. Not bad, just
interesting.

I'd select a shoe rated high in stability, which essentually would mean
forward foot protection. I've seen online shoe stores that rate them that
way, but can't remember which.

Good luck. Glad it's working.
--
-Larry

"The troll hasn't been born who can troll us worse than we troll
ourselves." Hugh Beyer

"Joe Humble" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

recently, a mild knee issue caused me to have to scale back my running
to under 2 miles a week. I decided to take this opportunity to give a
new running stride a chance. so starting about a month ago I switched
to an almost purely forefoot strike. it has been an interesting
experiment and I have a few results to report.

As it turns out it takes a long time for the calf to adjust to this
new load. even now after every workout my calves are sore for a good
two or three days. I'm also acutely aware now of how much cushioning
is in the back of your standard running shoe. if I switch briefly
back to my old running style it feels like I'm running on pillows.
I've also noticed that it takes awhile to learn how to not crash land
on your forefoot. you to kind of have to lean forward and have enough
power in your calf muscle to be able to maintain a smooth stride. but
now that I've done it for a while it's clear to me that running shoes
allow for an important link in the chain to become atrophied.

I find that my stride is considerably faster without requiring the
same level of effort my old stride would have required. I also find
that it is difficult to actually run slowly while using this method.
it is almost like once I'm below a certain speed my body wants to
start heel striking again.I'm back up to about 3 miles per run and
even though I have not timed myselfI'm sure that my mile time is
faster now. I've also started to notice that anyone who truly runs
fast uses a forefoot strike almost exclusively.

so call me a convert, and call me a handsome devil.

You're a handsome devil. 🙂

Good for you - everything you say agrees with my own experience running.
The only thing you don't mention is shoes - if you're still wearing a
shoe with a raised heel, try less of a shoe - lower heel height, less
padding - and see how you like it. Less heel lift makes forefoot
striking feel more natural for me, and the shoes are usually lighter
which is nice, too.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

Quoted message said:

--
Is this thing on?

Steve Freides said:

"Joe Humble" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

recently, a mild knee issue caused me to have to scale back my running
to under 2 miles a week. I decided to take this opportunity to give a
new running stride a chance. so starting about a month ago I switched
to an almost purely forefoot strike. it has been an interesting
experiment and I have a few results to report.

As it turns out it takes a long time for the calf to adjust to this
new load. even now after every workout my calves are sore for a good
two or three days. I'm also acutely aware now of how much cushioning
is in the back of your standard running shoe. if I switch briefly
back to my old running style it feels like I'm running on pillows.
I've also noticed that it takes awhile to learn how to not crash land
on your forefoot. you to kind of have to lean forward and have enough
power in your calf muscle to be able to maintain a smooth stride. but
now that I've done it for a while it's clear to me that running shoes
allow for an important link in the chain to become atrophied.

I find that my stride is considerably faster without requiring the
same level of effort my old stride would have required. I also find
that it is difficult to actually run slowly while using this method.
it is almost like once I'm below a certain speed my body wants to
start heel striking again.I'm back up to about 3 miles per run and
even though I have not timed myselfI'm sure that my mile time is
faster now. I've also started to notice that anyone who truly runs
fast uses a forefoot strike almost exclusively.

so call me a convert, and call me a handsome devil.

You're a handsome devil. 🙂

Good for you - everything you say agrees with my own experience running.
The only thing you don't mention is shoes - if you're still wearing a
shoe with a raised heel, try less of a shoe - lower heel height, less
padding - and see how you like it. Less heel lift makes forefoot
striking feel more natural for me, and the shoes are usually lighter
which is nice, too.

http://www.runningbarefoot.org/ They talk about this stride a lot.

- bc

Steve Freides said:

"Joe Humble" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

recently, a mild knee issue caused me to have to scale back my running
to under 2 miles a week. I decided to take this opportunity to give a
new running stride a chance. so starting about a month ago I switched
to an almost purely forefoot strike. it has been an interesting
experiment and I have a few results to report.

As it turns out it takes a long time for the calf to adjust to this
new load. even now after every workout my calves are sore for a good
two or three days. I'm also acutely aware now of how much cushioning
is in the back of your standard running shoe. if I switch briefly
back to my old running style it feels like I'm running on pillows.
I've also noticed that it takes awhile to learn how to not crash land
on your forefoot. you to kind of have to lean forward and have enough
power in your calf muscle to be able to maintain a smooth stride. but
now that I've done it for a while it's clear to me that running shoes
allow for an important link in the chain to become atrophied.

I find that my stride is considerably faster without requiring the
same level of effort my old stride would have required. I also find
that it is difficult to actually run slowly while using this method.
it is almost like once I'm below a certain speed my body wants to
start heel striking again.I'm back up to about 3 miles per run and
even though I have not timed myselfI'm sure that my mile time is
faster now. I've also started to notice that anyone who truly runs
fast uses a forefoot strike almost exclusively.

so call me a convert, and call me a handsome devil.

You're a handsome devil. 🙂

Good for you - everything you say agrees with my own experience running.
The only thing you don't mention is shoes - if you're still wearing a
shoe with a raised heel, try less of a shoe - lower heel height, less
padding - and see how you like it. Less heel lift makes forefoot
striking feel more natural for me, and the shoes are usually lighter
which is nice, too.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

I was thinking about that because once you start landing on your
forefoot you find that having all that padding just gets in the way.

What kind of shoe do you use?

--
Is this thing on?

"Joe Humble" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Steve Freides said:

"Joe Humble" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

recently, a mild knee issue caused me to have to scale back my
running
to under 2 miles a week. I decided to take this opportunity to give
a
new running stride a chance. so starting about a month ago I
switched
to an almost purely forefoot strike. it has been an interesting
experiment and I have a few results to report.

As it turns out it takes a long time for the calf to adjust to this
new load. even now after every workout my calves are sore for a
good
two or three days. I'm also acutely aware now of how much
cushioning
is in the back of your standard running shoe. if I switch briefly
back to my old running style it feels like I'm running on pillows.
I've also noticed that it takes awhile to learn how to not crash
land
on your forefoot. you to kind of have to lean forward and have
enough
power in your calf muscle to be able to maintain a smooth stride.
but
now that I've done it for a while it's clear to me that running
shoes
allow for an important link in the chain to become atrophied.

I find that my stride is considerably faster without requiring the
same level of effort my old stride would have required. I also find
that it is difficult to actually run slowly while using this method.
it is almost like once I'm below a certain speed my body wants to
start heel striking again.I'm back up to about 3 miles per run and
even though I have not timed myselfI'm sure that my mile time is
faster now. I've also started to notice that anyone who truly runs
fast uses a forefoot strike almost exclusively.

so call me a convert, and call me a handsome devil.

You're a handsome devil. 🙂

Good for you - everything you say agrees with my own experience
running.
The only thing you don't mention is shoes - if you're still wearing a
shoe with a raised heel, try less of a shoe - lower heel height, less
padding - and see how you like it. Less heel lift makes forefoot
striking feel more natural for me, and the shoes are usually lighter
which is nice, too.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

I was thinking about that because once you start landing on your
forefoot you find that having all that padding just gets in the way.

The raised heel does get in the way, but it's important to realize that
most people will still touch down their heel and some padding there
doesn't hurt, it's just that a lot less of it is necessary. Michael
Yessis' book, "Explosive Running", is a very worthwhile read on the
biomechanics of this for anyone interested - lots of discussion of
footstrike at various running speeds, lots of pictures as well.

Quoted message said:

What kind of shoe do you use?

A racing flat. I've got wide feet so I use a New Balance model that
Donovan pointed me to on Eastbay.com - don't recall which model it is at
the moment. I'll also add that I hardly run these days - my focus is on
improving my deadlift, and I do mostly kettlebell strength/endurance
work for my cardio, along with a once or twice a week swim and very
little bicycling or running.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

Quoted message said:

--
Is this thing on?