Run with no pain
This one’s not for everyone. Nowadays I see a lot of older runners in “maximalist” shoes made by Hoka One One or Altra, with soles as thick as A Game of Thrones paperback, and not caring whether they’re landing on their heels or toes. But after wading through the conlicting research and talking to biomechanists, I’m convinced: There are benefits to forgoing a little cushioning and learning to strike the ground with your midfoot or forefoot rather than your heel. Your legs are springs—the stifer the spring, the more eiciently the forces you put into the ground return to your body, propelling you forward
WARNING
If you feel strongly about the need to change your footstrike, find a coach who can work with you on it. Recent research suggests that the most energy-efficient running style for most people is the one that comes naturally to them. Your problem may be more stride than strike, though, and biomechan st Jay Dicharry, M.P.T., readily concedes this. “The vast majority of runners actually overstride,” he says. By focusing on shortening your stride, you may ultimately change your footstrike pattern. This leads to less of a “pulling” and more of a “pushing” running pattern, resulting in less stress on (and potential damage to) your joints. Slower times in exchange for less pounding on my spine is a tradeoff I’m happy to make.
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