Lets just end the heel strike debate right now.

mr malmo, may i ask you a simple question?

you state "It has no relevance to performance" in reference to which part of the foot hits the ground first.

Are you saying that if all other physical qualities are equal, it would not matter how (which technique) someone chose to run?

Are you saying there is no degree of efficiency to foot strike characteristics?

What difference does it make which part of your foot touches the ground first. Some touch with their heels (Morceli), most touch flat, and some touch with their toes first.

Running is a very natural movement. You don't 'choose' a way to run -- unless you're a Pose cultist -- you simply run.

You are not the GREAT gazoo because if you were you would forgive us imperfect souls who run by primarily landing heel and midfoot.

Without us, Phil Knight would not be a billionaire,

so we do serve a purpose.

If you want to prance around on your toes feel free.

We'll just snicker and guffaw when we see you out for a run.

You were born with a whole foot, USE IT!

Even the Rockettes have to use something besides their toes sometimes.

Toe runners also serve a purpose,

you serve as a bad example to millions who learned proper biomechanics and you provide income to the doctors who have to treat your injuries and ailments.

a simple yes or no answer would suffice.

the way you ran at recess in 1st grade was your bodies resultant solution to the being chased by the other kids, or to get from first base to second base.

i would guess Boston Billy didn't run the same for the marathon as an adult as he did as a child playing a tag football game.(although salazar might have) he evolved into that for endurance running. Solinsky probably looked different running his 2 lap warmup for pee wee football than the style he has evolved into now. (but you are right i have no first hand knowledge of either)

when you watch children move, you see who has the nervous systems and proprioceptive awarness to solve movement challenges.

why do some strike on heels, some on toes, but most flat? why not an equal random distribution if it truly didn't matter?

if it didn't matter, why wouldn't one run like a gymnast or even a ballerina?

my point is it matters. and there are better and worse ways. for people like you who say you don't choose how to run then some people just happen upon or evolve into an efficient way. some don't evolve into an efficient way and stay with an inferior technique that limits the result towards their maximal potential. or for those that believe in coaching (or change through observation of others) you can choose to run a more efficient way by emulating others, or by understanding the biomechanics.

so again i ask, if 2 people are equal in all other physical aspects, would the techniqe used in their running have any outcome on the result?

do you choose your handwriting style? can it be improved through proper coaching and training?

and proper information and coaching during the formative years can make a large amount of difference.

So 1 more time. All else being equal, technique will make a difference in the outcome of not?

.............................. wrote:

will make a difference in the outcome of not?

or

Can any other person possibly write as many words as you do and say absolutely nothing?

For the 1000th time. Runner's techniques vary. There is no 'proper' technique.

"why do some strike on heels, some on toes, but most flat? why not an equal random distribution if it truly didn't matter?"

Random distributions in nature are not equal. I wouldn't expect them to be.

You're a stubborn bulldog who has bitten down hard on the bone of contention. Only you don't realize the bone that you are obsessively slobbering over is an illusion.

luckily i'm only asking you for one word, yes or no. (which you've avoided repeatedly)

when all other physical qualities are equal, when the gun goes off and the athlete "just runs," will the efficiency of differing foot contact techniques matter?

i say that if in your own words that most are flat contacts while only some are heel and some are toe is because nature is showing you which is most efficient and that it matters.

#1 the largest numbers of the highest achievers will naturally trend toward the most efficient technique.

#2 those with equal or even better potential but who choose or evolve into a less efficient technique will rise to the highest observable levels in fewer numbers.

and i'm not even arguing what is the "best way to run." I'm arguing that there are more and less efficient ways, while you say it simply does not matter.

who cares?

.............................. wrote:

and i'm not even arguing what is the "best way to run." I'm arguing that there are more and less efficient ways, while you say it simply does not matter.

Are you out of your mind? That's exactly what I'm saying. Since you don't seem very experienced, and haven't watched many great runners run, I'd suggest that you go to youtube and watch race after race. You will find that runners have all different kinds of gaits, all different kinds of arm carries, and all different kinds of foot-strikes.

It simply doesn't matter.

Malmo, just because Morecelli did it doesn't mean you can justify all the other athletes who have not done it and have become significantly more succesful. If I'm not mistaken, after his brilliant 1500m Wr he suffered injuries(possible caused by Heel Striking) and also he sort of Plateaud after the 1996 games. He was only as succesful as he was because he was a brilliantly talented runner and their was not a lot of competition.

And we're not saying that Heel Striking is going to cut down 10 seconds on your time. In the 1500m at top level though, it could have slowed him down a good 2 seconds at World Record pace, a massive margin for the 1500m. If he had just improved his form slightly, then it is truely possible he could have been a faster runner. So don't use those as facts.

Also the strike in the 1500m doesn't matter as much as the strike in a 10k, Half Marathon, or Marathon. So that once again is a major flaw on your part. Go find a marathoner with a non- Midfoot or Forefoot strike who runs under 2:10.

Didn't seem to hurt these guys: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D56ZAvcxN0&feature=related

First and foremost, they are NOT heel striking. In fact, Gebrsalassie is one of the most major forestrikers I know. And Tergat is Forefoot running also. Yes, there heel strikes the ground, but that's not heel striking. If you can tell they are putting the most pressure on their forefoot, which is basically Forefoot striking. So no, that is not Heel striking.

..And all of them but Meb are Midfoot-Forefoot striking...

When I talk about Forefoot striking I am not talking about the Pose Method. I am talking about putting the most centre pressure on your forefoot. I hope that cleared up some confusion to you guys.

RoffR wrote:

First and foremost, they are NOT heel striking. In fact, Gebrsalassie is one of the most major forestrikers I know. And Tergat is Forefoot running also. Yes, there heel strikes the ground, but that's not heel striking. If you can tell they are putting the most pressure on their forefoot, which is basically Forefoot striking. So no, that is not Heel striking.

Geb is a little questionable, but Tergat's heel is definitely hitting the ground first. That is what is meant by heel striking, no? If you mean slamming heel first into the ground, then clearly no elite runner heel strikes. Do you know why? because no one runs like that! It would be painful and unnatural! If that is your definition of "heel striking" then this whole thread has been a straw man argument.

Heel Striking Enthusiast wrote:

Didn't seem to hurt these guys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D56ZAvcxN0&feature=related

They don't heel strike. They do a mid foot. Your point proves you are wrong. Their foot is already in a backward motion on impact with the ground. You can't do that with a heel strike.

I'll say it again. YOUR CALCANEUS IS NOT MEANT TO ABSORB THE IMPACT OF RUNNING.

Look at a group of unelite people running and look at a majority of their foot strikes. Then look at the elites. You would not understand this concept until you actually anaylyzed it. Also, there is some evidence behind the fact that running on your heels at some point during the race( having the ability to Forefoot- Heel strike) is actually beneficial. I am not neccesarily saying Heel Striking is horrible, but it slightly does cause ineffeciency in SOME parts of the race.

Wrong again. Check our past 30 seconds, especially on the turn. There is no such heel strike.