Do running WR's exist held by heel strikers?

3:26.0

The heel striker that comes to mind is Abdi Abdirahman, although he is not world record level. I saw a picture of Mary Keitany in Running Times striking completely heel first.

So the dominating technique in jogging (mass sports events) is in fact quite rare among elite athletes. Why would that be?

Recently a Dutch guy ran sub 2.10 in the marathon. He's a heel striker for all I know. That being rare here, it's sortof the winning technique for Dutch runners, albeit way off the global pace and well removed from NR.

Anyone know how much quicker midfoot strike is supposed to be, for joggers to elite runners? Are some elite runners perhaps world class runners that never made the switch (back) to normal running?

The whole heel striking thing really isn't as big an issue as it's made out to be on LR. If you are heel striking, you are overstriding slightly. Some people can run fast while overstriding slightly just like some people can run fast while understriding slightly.

The overstriding is just part of the matter I thing.

Many midfoot strikers overstride as well, thinking that they picked the right technique and are thus golden.

When I manage to really focus, reducing my overstride to the point of possibly understriding, the "push in the back" is uncanny. A very fine like to walk, let alone run.

On shallow hill repeats, I notice that I get huge speeds from pusing the strike right under my center of mass. People say WTF, why are you running down. I am not, my breath is actually recovering better than when jogging down slowly. Doing it on the flats is very hard though.

It "strikes" me that the millions of joggers are alll taught to ram their heels into the ground, are sold "performance" shoes, and yet the folks we watch on the tele will only plant a heel during interviews and medal ceremonies.

Denis Nizhegorodov is the 50 km race walk (which is really a run).

In short, that articles says that you are somewhat off base.

Also, I'm curious as to your idea that "millions of joggers are alll taught to ram their heels into the ground". Are there jogging schools and clinics of which I am not aware? In order to go for a casual run, do you first need to take a seminar on mechanics that is pro-heel strike?

No. Beginning runners do exactly what feel natural to them, with very little thought about the process at all. Since most people walk heel to toe, most people run heel to toe. Running shoes have thick heels because most runners land heel first. Anyone who tells you that most runners land heel first because running shoes have thick heels is misunderstanding "form follows function".

The running shoe industry doesn't care how your foot hits the ground, they care about making money. Running shoes with padded heels are more comfortable for heel strikers, so they sell better.

Not a WR holder but a WC. Take a look at Kirani James stride.

Kirani James has the worst form of any world-class sprinter alive.

If he had better form he'd have the world record, but there's no point, because sprinters who run on talent alone burn out in a year or two.

I'd heal strike, but I'm anti-union, commi. I will now.

Crack Head wrote:

Kirani James has the worst form of any world-class sprinter alive.

If he had better form he'd have the world record, but there's no point, because sprinters who run on talent alone burn out in a year or two.

He's been going hard since he went sub 47 as a 14 yr old. When is going to burn out?

In a year or two, after they reach the top. So KJ has about 1 year left.

Crack Head wrote:

In a year or two, after they reach the top. So KJ has about 1 year left.

He's been at the top of the world in his age groups for 3 years now, but ok.

Remind me to bump this thread in 3 years when he wins the 2015 WC

Fluffy wrote:

Remind me to bump this thread in 3 years when he wins the 2015 WC

That's gonna be all Borlee, take your pick which one.

At the end of Patrick Makao's world record run in the marathon he appears to be heel striking. While I doubt he was heel striking at the beginning of the race he was at least heel striking for part of it. Fatigue can cause lots of things to happen to a person. It is also possible that by changing from one footstrike pattern to another mid race Makao was able to utilize his muscles differently and slow the rate of fatigue thus helping him run faster than he would have if no switch had been made.

Now, I will admit that this is speculation based on 30hz video shot during a very brief period of time at the end of the race. I was not able to see Makao's footstrike pattern at all during the early portions of the race.

It's not all about stride length. The African's, especially the 5k and under crew, forefoot or midfoot strike and overstride. Footstrike is a conscious decision whether to plantarflex your foot at impact or dorsiflex. Stride length comes into play somewhat but its not all about that. Also, it is more difficult to forefoot strike in the shoes with significant heel toe drops, which is why you may at times see a certain elite wearing said shoes, either for the photo shoot or for a long run, heel striking.

People need to stop pretending there isn't a better way. Some people can heel strike their whole life and not be injured, but it still won't lead to optimal performance.

Do swimming WR's exist held by doggy-paddlers?

jeffmc wrote: It is also possible that by changing from one footstrike pattern to another mid race Makao was able to utilize his muscles differently and slow the rate of fatigue thus helping him run faster than he would have if no switch had been made.

I find this interesting - sort of a Feldenkreis approach to running.

Now you are the one who is off base. Your assumption that shoe companies cushion the heel because the masses were heel strikers prior to heel cushioning is not true.