Here’s my dilemma: while my running’s been improving steadily over the past year (after getting shinsplints under control last Feb.), I feel like I might reach a point soon where I start to become seriously limited by my footstrike. I’ve been told “Don’t try to adjust it, your natural strike is what it is” etc, and I’ve also been told “As you get faster and increase volume, your strike will naturally improve” which totally hasn’t happened.
I guess I should clarify that my strike is about as awkward as it gets while still being under the umbrella of “running” … although I’ve been told I look “graceful” and “like a gazelle”. I strike almost 100% on the bone directly below my pinkie toe. So I’m a forefoot striker and a major underpronator. My old shoes all have exactly ZERO wear on the heel and inside sole.
I’m in the right shoes (Saucony Rides) a great fit too… since I’ve been in them my legs and feet have felt great. I’ve stayed injury-free by warming up, cooling down and stretching.
But is it possible my strike will start to limit me? Should I try to consult with a running coach to change it? Should I let it be and see what happens?
If you’ve stayed injury free I wouldn’t do anything. People debate here about the performance gains that can be had from a better footstrike but that is more of a debate for heel strikers who may or may not be slowing themselves down. I can see the logic of both sides of the foot correction debate but I only get involved because I’m fairly injury prone. I now run with custom orthotics which seem to be working very well for me but unless you are uncomfortable or getting injured I’d just go with what feels natural and count yourslf lucky!
sounds like you have a structural forefoot varus - you can’t “change” that. trying to modify your gait/stride for a structural deformity will just cause other issues. Of course, it can be other entities (weak peroneals, tight anterior tibialis, etc.) that can often lead to this type of footstrike. Best to get examined first. Some things can or are worth trying to address, others not.
I am not advocating any running style, but you can change your footstrike…I was a classic heel striker and after ready Evolution Running I started working on more of a forefoot strike…After about a year, when I would go back to my old, heel strike it feel very odd, therefore I taught myself to change footstrike, but it take a year of thinking about it and working on it…therefore mechanics can change!!
just about anything is possible…but short of current problems the good Dr. has some sound advise. that said…when i switched to flats things changed dramatically for me. it took a while to adjust to wearing essentially nothing but as i worked into them i smoothed out like white on rice. i only use something more substantial, and even then minimally, for sub 40 temps and ice or snow, or 13+ miles. when using the indoor track, i quite often startle folks who i overtake since they see me before they hear me.
But is it possible my strike will start to limit me?
It will limit you. You will notice this limit shortly after you turn pro. Until then, your limiters are volume and work.
A lot of very fast runners have unconventional gaits. If you are injury free with your running style, it’s probably a good idea to keep it and work on running more/more often/faster. Messing with your gait when you have no injuries is like poking a sleeping bear. Sure, you may run faster when the bear is chasing you, but if he catches you what good came of running faster for a little while?
I’ve been competing in triathlons for 20 years without injury. I bought a dvd on Evolution Running and realized I’m one of those classic runners who over-extend and land on my heel. I decided to change my stride by increasing my cadence and landing on my forefoot. Now I’m two months into Plantar Fasciitis. Just got back from the Podiatrist this afternoon and he thinks I may have torn it. I’m on steroids and wearing Birkenstocks!
I’m not saying if you change your foot strike this will happen to you. This is just my experience. If I had it to do over again I would make smaller changes in my form and allow my body to addapt instead of trying to overhaul everything at the same time.