Heel first or not?

[TINADICKINSON]

Very confused to conflicting ideas, is it a case of you just run how ever it goes or actually concentrate on foot placings, I'm on w3r2 and just go, not having any injuries or muscle pain... So I'm thinking just keep going ! Lol 👍

[HelsbelswhatamIdoing Graduate]

That seems like a good philosophy! Laura will tell you around this point to strike heel first but most people I've read on this forum seem to think she's got that wrong. I aim for midfoot/ball and try to avoid the heel, but as a newbie (Wk9) I'm sure are others far more experienced who'll share their thoughts. Goid luck!

[TINADICKINSON in reply to HelsbelswhatamIdoing]

Thanks, I'm just gunna keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep going lol 😜

[GoogleMe Graduate]

I think there is no harm in developing an awareness of your running style, especially as time goes on, but heel striking gives me the shudders.

Sounds like you are doing just fine as you are!

[Rignold]

The way you have been placing your foot every day of your life since you learned to walk is the way to do it, certainly for now. If at some point in the future you decide to read Born to Run and start channelling your inner Gwyneth Paltrow and decide you are going to reinvent the foot and be a Mexican mountain person, that is entirely your prerogative, and we will be kin and unsderstanding when you end up n the injury couch, but that is for much later when you have mastered all the running bit. For now just keep doing what you are doing

[louisella Graduate]

I went to have gait analysis done last week and whilst there I mentioned about Laura saying heel first and they were really surprised. I run more on my toes (I didn't know until I had the analysis as I thought I was more of a 'land very heavily on my feet elephant style' kind of a runner ) - they said to keep doing what I'm doing rather than trying to change to heel first.

[5kOrBust Graduate]

In my experience most people who haven't been 'taught' to run generally start off as heel strikers. As they become more aware people often become mid-foot or fore-foot strikers. The fore-foot style is quite hard to get the hang of if you're not used to it. I've ended up as a mid-foot striker more or less by osmosis - no great plan but as I started to run further and faster ( ) my style just changed.

[TINADICKINSON]

Thanks all...... Just going to run, any which way I can lol 😜

[Shivani05 Graduate]

I had terrible, terrible shin splints when I ran heel first. Never again.

[Coddfish Graduate]

If you watch good runners they seem to be up on their toes and moving almost silently. Run however feels right for you but if you can hear yourself flapping down you probably need to slightly shorten your stride so you aren't so much on your heels.