Running on my toes

SarahAFerguson
SarahAFerguson Posts: 250 Member
edited January 5 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi all. Upon reading some other posts here I am informed that I should be landing full foot rather than on toes, which is information I gleaned elsewhere. Which is correct? Is one way better and why?

Replies

  • sarahstrezo
    sarahstrezo Posts: 568 Member
    You should land your steps on your mid foot. Not on your toes.
  • Sherylmarlee
    Sherylmarlee Posts: 224 Member
    You should land your steps on your mid foot. Not on your toes.

    Agree! I used to be a gymnast and it took me a looong time to learn not to run on my toes. Striking mid foot is optimal. Landing full/flat footed is harder on your joints and really zaps your energy. Keep your hands closer to waist level(relaxed not clenched) instead of chest level too to help with energy conservation.

    Being mindful for a few weeks will get you into a better posture/gait habit. Good luck to you.
  • macdiver
    macdiver Posts: 145 Member
    There was a post yesterday about good running form which had a link to a website of the same name. I believe the website is from New Balance. There is good information about running form and why. I always say land on the front of the foot but not the toes which is really a mid foot landing. When you tell some people mid foot they tend to think flat footed which is not how I run.
  • SarahAFerguson
    SarahAFerguson Posts: 250 Member
    There was a post yesterday about good running form which had a link to a website of the same name. I believe the website is from New Balance. There is good information about running form and why. I always say land on the front of the foot but not the toes which is really a mid foot landing. When you tell some people mid foot they tend to think flat footed which is not how I run.

    I think I may be doing what you describe. I land on the ball of my foot and my toes together. My heel doesn't touch the ground until a second after.

    I found that landing flat on my whole foot ended up with shin pain that I assumed was shin splints. After taking some time off and switching to swimming, the pain went away. When I started running again the pain came back so I did some research around here and started doing the proper stretches. I also noticed that running on the spot did not hurt and figured out that I was landing differently ( on my toes and the ball of my foot, which I call running on my toes). I vaguely remember someone saying that was the correct form, but don't remember who or when that was. Recently my sister warned me against running on the spot repeatedly, as I do at Curves, since it can result in injuries from improper form.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    You're fine if you're landing midfoot and toes. Running flat foot or pounding down on your heels is going to lead to an injury. You're doing it right which is something it often takes people practice to learn!
  • BurtHuttz
    BurtHuttz Posts: 3,653 Member
    Please lookee here:
    http://barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu/4BiomechanicsofFootStrike.html
  • jrutledge01
    jrutledge01 Posts: 213 Member
    you want to land on the balls of your feet, not flat-footed or toes
  • sarafil
    sarafil Posts: 506 Member
    working on your cadence (how many steps you take in a minute, for example) can really help your form and reduce chance of injury. You should be running with very quick, light steps....almost like you are running on egg shells. Body slightly leaning forward (don't fight gravity, it is your friend!), pelvis tucked under, and your arms should be relaxed and swinging forward, not side to side.
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