Forum > Running
changing footstrike - opinions?
hot dog eating face off:
I used to enjoy running and training for races. That was then; this is now. I am finding that as I get older I am more and more stiff and injury-prone. For the past couple of years the injuries have localized in my feet. Both of them. More specifically, the balls of my feet hurt quite a lot, especially running down inclines (we have no real hills where I live). In fact, it hurts me to walk barefoot on any surface; I have to wear shoes of some kind. I also have poor circulation in both legs and feet, and sometimes by the end of the day I have cramps, poor balance, and feet that feel like blocks of wood.
The past couple of years have been an endless cycle of injury/rest/very-gradual-return-to-running/re-injury. This last cycle, I managed to work up to 50-ish slow miles a week, but after two weeks of that, my feet complained, loudly. Very frustrating.
I have pretty much accepted that I am done with racing. While I may eventually have to give up running, I don't want to until I absolutely have to. I have always been a midfoot striker, and I'm finding this has shifted to forefoot as my calves have grown stiffer. I wonder if I would be more comfortable as a heel-striker. I've never tried to change my gait before. I don't know whether this can be done by sheer force of will, or even if it's a good idea. Thoughts?
Fred:
" I don't know whether this can be done by sheer force of will, or even if it's a good idea."
Ice Cream:
--- Quote from: hot dog eating face off on December 10, 2017, 11:18:42 AM ---I used to enjoy running and training for races. That was then; this is now. I am finding that as I get older I am more and more stiff and injury-prone. For the past couple of years the injuries have localized in my feet. Both of them. More specifically, the balls of my feet hurt quite a lot, especially running down inclines (we have no real hills where I live). In fact, it hurts me to walk barefoot on any surface; I have to wear shoes of some kind. I also have poor circulation in both legs and feet, and sometimes by the end of the day I have cramps, poor balance, and feet that feel like blocks of wood.
The past couple of years have been an endless cycle of injury/rest/very-gradual-return-to-running/re-injury. This last cycle, I managed to work up to 50-ish slow miles a week, but after two weeks of that, my feet complained, loudly. Very frustrating.
I have pretty much accepted that I am done with racing. While I may eventually have to give up running, I don't want to until I absolutely have to. I have always been a midfoot striker, and I'm finding this has shifted to forefoot as my calves have grown stiffer. I wonder if I would be more comfortable as a heel-striker. I've never tried to change my gait before. I don't know whether this can be done by sheer force of will, or even if it's a good idea. Thoughts?
--- End quote ---
I think you can do it, as long as you are willing to be very slow as you transition into the new running style.
But how old are you?
hot dog eating face off:
--- Quote from: Ice Cream on December 10, 2017, 03:59:02 PM ---I think you can do it, as long as you are willing to be very slow as you transition into the new running style.
But how old are you?
--- End quote ---
just turned 54.
I started running when I was 38.
SnarlyMarly:
--- Quote from: Ice Cream on December 10, 2017, 03:59:02 PM ---I think you can do it, as long as you are willing to be very slow as you transition into the new running style.
But how old are you?
--- End quote ---
This. And you may stay slow.
The last "specialist" I saw said "I can't believe I am going to recommend this. But you need to become a heel striker, you will become slow. If not, you have three years left"🙁.
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