Is Heelstriking More Efficient?

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First of all, post a clip of what you are talking about.

Second, what you are talking about probably isn't heel striking. It's most likely that they overstride very minimally and their heel touches the ground first, but the vast majority of the force of each stride is applied over the midfoot or even forefoot if wearing spikes. To me this isn't actually heel striking, heel striking is when your heel takes the full blow on each stride.

It works wrote:

Abel Kirui and Timothy Cheruiyot both heelstrike, they have a prominent forward lean and their legs reach forward to the point of overstriding. In addition Elijah Manangoi looks like he is almost overtstriding and has a forward lean.

I wonder if this is more efficient given that you are gaining ground when you overstride rather than relying on the push off of the ground.

Eliud Kipchoge reaches quite far forward and leans forward but pull his leg backwards before he overstrides.

Is Cheruiyot that dude that looks 50 yrs old and runs hunched over? When I first saw this dude I thought what's this old Kenyan with a hunch over style running with the younsters on the world scene. I've seen many dudes in the 50+ age group that run with that hunched over style.

"Is changing footstrike pattern beneficial to runners?"

Allison H.Gruberb

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254617300285#ab0010

No.

Play a tape of one of them running in slow motion, and I will guarantee you that their feet plantarflex before striking to achieve a forefoot strike. It just looks like they are about to heel strike before striking but they really don't.

They are not overstriding unless their foot lands in front of the knee. Often, their foot goes past their knee before striking but comes back to land directly under the knee before striking.

Heel striking is not more efficient because it disrupts your forward momentum. It also prevents you from acheiving a proper leg swing because of overstriding, which leads to a slow cadence.

So no, they would not be heelstriking because it is not more efficient.

L

Interesting read.

Gross

Heel Strikers R Us wrote:

"Is changing footstrike pattern beneficial to runners?"

Allison H.Gruberb

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254617300285#ab0010

I don't know about this ⬆The idea is to spend as little time on the ground as possible. From my experience I have found that if in doubt mid-foot strike (which to me basically landing the entire foot on the ground at the same time).

Runsmith wrote:

No.

Play a tape of one of them running in slow motion, and I will guarantee you that their feet plantarflex before striking to achieve a forefoot strike. It just looks like they are about to heel strike before striking but they really don't.

They are not overstriding unless their foot lands in front of the knee. Often, their foot goes past their knee before striking but comes back to land directly under the knee before striking.

Heel striking is not more efficient because it disrupts your forward momentum. It also prevents you from acheiving a proper leg swing because of overstriding, which leads to a slow cadence.

So no, they would not be heelstriking because it is not more efficient.

L

Maybe YOU should look at some video. Kirui is way ahead of center and right on the back of his heel with his knee practically locked out.

Stop thinking wishfully.

Heel Strikers R Us wrote:

"Is changing footstrike pattern beneficial to runners?"

Allison H.Gruberb

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254617300285#ab0010

Stay slow. 🤜🏼🤛🏼

Ugly God wrote:

First of all, post a clip of what you are talking about.

Second, what you are talking about probably isn't heel striking. It's most likely that they overstride very minimally and their heel touches the ground first, but the vast majority of the force of each stride is applied over the midfoot or even forefoot if wearing spikes. To me this isn't actually heel striking, heel striking is when your heel takes the full blow on each stride.

No. They are heelstriking and pretty damned hard too.

Keitany hits heel-first. Perfect is as perfect does

I have never seen a preteen kid heelstrike, porque

I don't know if heel striking is good, but it occurred to me recently that the old man shuffle is possibly biomechanically correct for old men.

longDelong wrote:

I have never seen a preteen kid heelstrike, porque

I'm not saying you should watch children more often but you should.

I heal strike and run 2:30 thons.

It's a myth. On the track in spikes or flats I run different or for even a 5-10k.

Once I slow to 5:30 miles I heal strike for 13-26 miles.

It's relative to speed.

Elites run 5 minute pace for a marathon don't compare yourself to them ever......... I even warn college guys with strong opinions....... run a marathon on your toes or mid foot your calfs will explode. It's a totally different pace and stride. I'm sure there are exceptions but most marathons are run heal first.

Plenty of fast guys heal striking

That's right! On this issue, there's just a lot of trouble makers. 😬

What the heck is a "heal strike", why would anybody protest healing?