Confused about foot strike

[messthezombie]

Hi everyone! I have been enjoying my C25k sessions and just completed week 6 run 2. However since learning about the different types of foot strike I’ve been finding myself overthinking it during the runs. I had been running with a forefoot strike (on the ball of my foot so my heel barely touches the ground) because I found it most comfortable, springy and least tiring. But I was concerned that it wasn’t the normal way to run and that it might cause too much strain on my foot. I read that mid-foot strike is the best for distance running so I’ve been trying to do that instead. But I think I’m doing it wrong because I end up landing flat-footed with a thud or heel-first with a thud, neither of which feel good/efficient.

I kept swapping between different types of foot strike during this run and got really confused which one I was supposed to do and how a midfoot strike was supposed to feel and couldn’t get the run to feel natural again 😂

Does anyone know what’s wrong with landing on your forefoot - like will I cause myself damage / an injury? And if I’m supposed to be landing on my mid-foot, what should it feel like (does the heel touch the ground or not, does it land heavily?). What should I do differently?

Thanks for any thoughts ☺️

Btw my pace ranges from 6:45-7:15/km. Also I only use cheap primark trainers not proper running trainers so I’m not sure if this is making it more difficult to do the right foot strike 🤷🏻‍♀️

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

The majority of recreational runners are heelstrikers, which is considered the least favourable footfall, but trying to alter it, if it is your natural style can lead to more complications than leaving it alone.

The same in your case. Try to land as lightly as you can and please don't overthink it.

Getting some decent running shoes is the best way for you to avoid injury.

[grumpyoldgirl Graduate]

Really hard to change the way you run, and without a running coach supervising, there's no guarantee you'll do it any better. If the way you are running doesn't cause any aches or pains, I'd stop worrying for the time being. I'd be listening to Truffe and thinking about upgrading my running shoes though. (Specifically though, the only time I really think about keeping my heel off the ground is running up a steep slope - in normal running, I just don't land heel first)

[AppleB Graduate]

I was wondering this, too - thanks for asking, and for the helpful replies