Hi,
I've just started running again after about 10 months mainly because of njury to start with then just because I was doing other exercise.Im feeling very heavy on my feet and am having slight problems with my shins,as I did last time.
Im just wondering how most other people run.Is it ok to heel-ball as Ive read that slows you down,which I think that is the way Ive been running lately.I've read other artcles which say you should'nt land on your heels at all.I struggled with my running last time and Im convinced its my technique that is causing this.I would just be interested in hearing other peoples views on how you land.
Thanks
Ian
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Comments
Ian.
I don't think she would improve
I'm doing my first 10k next week so I'll get an idea of how everyone else does it, I just wondered if anyone else could give me some advice in the meantime as I don't want to look like a complete plank next week. Also I'm doing a half marathon mid June and don't want the running to become a health problem.
Your help on this would be really appreciated.
Dean
Re balls and heels etc. As a carp runner myself i have always believed there has to be a more bio-mechanically efficient way of running other than the lumbering style nature and my office job has left me with. In all honestly have a look at chi-running. It's not that hard, gives you simple things to think about when running and anything that emphasises core strength and injury prevention has got to be good.
Not that i would say I chi-run with the greatest of success but it did help fix my IT band and shin splint problems that came from heel striking. And it's nice to have something to aim for rather than just running and hoping it all works out okay.
It was one of those weird things where I changed style gradually one summer and people started commenting on how much more 'comfortable' I looked while running. Go figure.
Whether you look at Pose or Chi rather depends on how seriously you take your running. I view them as more to do with marketing than anything else, but others may differ.
It also depends on how fast you run. My gait varies according to pace. If I'm doing faster (relative term) stuff I tend to hit the ground more with my forefoot, and try to adopt a kind of cycling or circular motion with my legs (does this make sense?) When out for a slow plod I tend to land more flat-footedly. This is logical, I suppose, because the forefoot strike maintains more momentum.
I'm trying to adopt a lighter forefoot-ish footstrike, but it doesn't come easily at the end of a 15-mile run like this morning.
In brief: my advice is stick with your natural biomechanics and maybe try minor adjustments to suit your pace, rather than force yourself into someone else's idea of perfect running form.
Ian.
Ian.
One other thing, as this chimes in something that I've been doing lately, ie adjusting my running gait.
From my position in the pack I rarely see the fast guys, but when I do I've noticed that the really speedy one usually don't look as if they're putting much effort into it. Instead of running with great big bounds (like RW cover models!), they seem to pitter-patter along with a short step and high cadence, not lifting their feet very high off the deck. The longer the stride, the greater the "pitchfork" effect, which is jarring on the joints, quite apart from being inefficient because the impact steals forces from the momentum.
Since I've tried to adjust my style I've noticed my times improving, although that could of course be due to other factors.
So Ian, if you're a heavy-footed plodder try taking shorter quicker steps and running "lightly" with a more circular motion of the legs. Think cycling. And get your shoes checked.
But at the end of the day (urgh, did I just say that?) your body is what it is and there's only so much we can do to alter our biomechanics. And there's nothing wrong with not being a fast or light runner!
Please please do not go out and start trying to run on the balls of your feet. Neither pose of chi tell you to try that. Rather you address your posture FIRST and then the other parts follow on.
(I would seriously disagree about chi as just being marketing - Having met Danny Dryer and Katherine (ahh forgot second name - ran for Ireland in olympics) these folks are the real deal. They have a genuine love of running and truly believe they are teaching a method that aids better running with fewer injurys. )
I asked a similar question recently and got lots of good advice - here's the thread.
Was landing heavily on my feet and I think that was one of the reasons I was ending up injured. Am trying to land lightly and on my mid-foot, which already seems to be a more efficient and (so far) injury free way of running.
Hope that helps,
Lyra
Ian.
I went to a Chi Running workshop and found it very helpful.
Can it be shoved up your nose
Ian.