On this blog I’ve spoken a lot about the stride required for barefoot/bareshoe running. Talking about how I keep thinking that I’ve mastered it, only to then notice some other improvement that I’ve made and realise that I’ve still a lot to learn. Well like much in life I’m beginning to realise that this is an ever evolving process and I’ll probably never stop learning.
My latest mission to improve my stride is all about making sure that my heel lands at the end of the stride to ensure that my calves and achilles aren’t taking all the strain. This will be more important as I try to increase my distance.
To this end I’ve been consciously trying to land my heel at the end of the stride and I think I’ve been quite successful.
I think it’s worth revisiting the video below that I last posted 5 months ago.
This shows how it should be done, but as I found out previously, this is easier described that actually achieved.
I’ve found this week on two 6k runs that I’ve been able to really flatten the landing angle of my feet to such and extent that it feels like my foot is almost making flat contact with the ground, although I must stress that I can clearly feel that the bulk of the pressure is taken through the front of my foot. I’m not simply slapping my flat foot down and sharing the pressure of the landing equally with my heel. In fact I can feel my forefoot taking the load, whilst my heel also makes contact pretty much at the same time, but doesn’t share the same load.
I think if I was measured on a pressure pad, it would probably show about 5% of the initial load taken by my heal, moving up to about 50% at the end of the stride just before take-off.
I also noticed that this stride is easier when running a little faster, rather then a slow plod along the pavement. Although that’s probably true of all barefoot/bareshoe running anyway. The only reason that I didn’t or rather couldn’t keep a faster pace up all the way around is due to my lack of fitness for running from having 3 months off and over-indulgence over Xmas and New Year, which seemed to have also invaded January. But that’s changing now that I’m out there running again.
My calves are still giving me some soreness, but as previously noted this is just because of my time off. I’m using a foam roller to massage my calves daily and before and after runs, so this should calm down shortly, especially as I’m working on my flatter foot technique which should take the strain off my calves too.