The heels of running shoes are made to take a good impact and absorb that shock before it enters the rest of your body. But the more correct form is to land between the arch and the front of the foot. (I’m not a DR, just relaying my experience) So on my next run I changed the way that I landed on my foot and took smaller steps. Longer strides made my heels land first. I needed to create more of a light stomping motion when I landed and use more muscle than heel. It took a little to get the pace right, but the steps felt good with my feet and shoes.
I ran for 5.6 miles this way and I felt a difference. Not a huge one, but I could definitely feel a difference. My pace was steady and most importantly, no muscle or bone pain. I have very very flat feet which I worry will prevent me from running as fast as I want to. The “Light Stomp Running” I was doing seemed to work well and I felt no pain in my low low arches. The next day, my muscles were a little sore, but nothing out of the ordinary. I have an 8 mile run this weekend, and I will keep the same stomping going to see if it make a difference in my speed.
I am working to make my body do what it does naturally, with shoes.
