I get a lot of questions about gait, especially if I’m coaching in-person. People will ask if I’m going to watch them run, tell them what they are doing wrong, and tell them how to run “correctly”. My short answer is always no. Of course, I can check their form to ensure their head is up, shoulders are relaxed, they aren’t bent forward, etc. Checking footstrike and turnover? That’s messing with Mother Nature. Changing up simple things can have a disastrous domino effect.
So when people ask me my first question is “are you having problems”? If yes, there is usually another cause of the problem (improper shoes, overtraining, increasing mileage too quickly) but if there’s no problem? Follow these wise words, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
Case and point: me and my heel striking self.
I’m a classic heel striker. Always have been. Am I going to change? Probably not…because I’ve been running this way for almost 11 years injury-free. But, I have been making a conscious effort when I race or do speed work to use more of a midfoot strike to avoid overstriding. Also, heel striking will slow you down.
Until I read Born to Run I thought barefoot running was a little nutso. But that book really opened my eyes to the science behind it. Will I ever go sans shoes? Probably not because….if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it 🙂 And I love my Brooks Adrenalines too much. But if I was runner with chronic injuries (much like the author Chris McDougall), I would definitely give it a go.
Are you a heel, midfoot, or forefoot striker? Have you ever permanently altered your gait?
Ever tried barefoot running or running in Vibrams?
I am a heel striker too, but from pictures it also looks like I do a midfoot strike for longer races, so go figure.
I’ll never run barefoot. I’ll leave that to the dirty hippies 🙂
I have no idea what type of striker I am. Maybe I’d consider barefoot running if I didn’t live in Baltimore, land of broken glass, dead rats, and heroin needles, but still probably not.
I am glad you posted this. Lately I constantly feel like I am hearing different ways to run form-wise. Its kind of a relief to hear someone say “it its not broke, dont fix it” which I think is the case for me right now. I often heel strike, especially when fatigued but any time I consciously try to focus on doing things differently…I just feel totally un-confident and “out of whack”…it seems much easier for now to just go with what is natural!
I have VFF and try to run in them or minimalist shoes 2x per week. The other day of the week I run in my normal stability shoes. I do find the shoes make my strike lighter. I am not pounding the pavement so hard.
The most I have run in the VFF is 6 miles. I am gradually increasing my distance in them.
When I started running I used motion control shoes. I now use lighter shoes, especially my racing flats for my shorter races are super light! I don’t think I would ever do barefoot running though and vibrams do NOT fit my feet! my toes don’t fit in the toe spaces….so uncomfortable!
I’m in total agreement with you on “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” I’ve never had a serious injury and never been sidelined by even a minor one. I do think about form on and off, but I don’t obsess about it. Hopefully this will continue to work for me!
I’m pretty sure I’m a heel striker who tries to be more of a midfoot striker. As I’ve had no good race photos in over 6 months though, I have not photographic evidence. I have some Merrell pace gloves that I have used for trail running. Don’t know that I would wear them on the road and I don’t know that I will ever try full on barefoot.
I actually don’t know. My feet sound different when they hit the pavement so I’d venture to say they strike the ground differently. Who knows. I feel the same way about changing – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Its similar with tennis, if you learn a forehand one way and can hit it well, even if its not technically perfect, don’t change it.
i worked on my form a lot last year and think it has truly made a difference in injuries, but it is really hard to get someone to change… you have to focus on it a lot
Oh I definitely know I don’t have great running form, but I’ve been injury free my entire life. I’ve always wondered about bare foot running. I have weak feet for sure, will that help strengthen them?
it’s supposed to. they say shoes are the enemy…by providing so much support, our feet have become weak. and running barefoot will strengthen your muscles because your feet are “feeling” the ground and determining how to land. but i’ve also heard of people getting injured while attemping barefoot/minimalist running, probably because they increased mileage too quickly.
The NY Times just had an interesting article on that exact topic, Barefoot Running by that author. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/magazine/running-christopher-mcdougall.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=the+once+and+future+way+to+run&st=cse
I’m w/ you on “if it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it”. Though, sometimes I do get injured?!? LOL – It used to be the IT Band, but I learned about this arnica flora stuff that I put on before I run and my IT band never came back again. Good riddance. Then I had a real bad case of the shin splints, but I think that was from shoe overuse. Hmm, maybe I’ll need you to evaluate my running. HAHAHA
the NY Times article inspired my post! did you watch the video also?
I certainly did watch the video. I also ran in place the way he was teaching the others and in my panties. LOL Running barefoot and in your panties. I figured, less clothes, faster I’ll run. HA.