Run with no pain
This one’s not for everyone. Nowadays I see a lot of older runners in
“maximalist” shoes made by Hoka One One or Altra, with soles as thick as A Game
of Thrones paperback, and not caring whether they’re landing on their heels or
toes. But after wading through the conlicting research and talking to
biomechanists, I’m convinced: There are benefits to forgoing a little
cushioning and learning to strike the ground with your midfoot or forefoot
rather than your heel. Your legs are springs—the stifer the spring, the more eiciently
the forces you put into the ground return to your body, propelling you forward
WARNING
If you feel strongly about the need to change your footstrike, find a
coach who can work with you on it. Recent research suggests that the most energy-efficient
running style for most people is the one that comes naturally to them. Your
problem may be more stride than strike, though, and biomechan st Jay Dicharry,
M.P.T., readily concedes this. “The vast majority of runners actually overstride,”
he says. By focusing on shortening your stride, you may ultimately change your
footstrike pattern. This leads to less of a “pulling” and more of a “pushing”
running pattern, resulting in less stress on (and potential damage to) your
joints. Slower times in exchange for less pounding on my spine is a tradeoff
I’m happy to make.
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