Changingman: "The Foreman"

Who's your favourite striker? Michael Owen, a Barnsley Miner...... certainly not a heel striker.

My normal running style is one where the heel hits the floor first and the foot rolls forward until you are onto your toes. The heel actually acts as a brake and potentially slows you down.

Time for a change. The winter months seem the ideal opportunity to change my running style from heel striker to forefoot runner. I'll continue the Paul Weller theme as I look to make changes to training etc. but hope to avoid any "Running Style Council" gags.

The forefoot running style is where the forefoot makes contact with the ground and the heel makes very brief contact with the ground. This style is typically favoured by faster runners and will hopefully lead to faster times for me too. It's actually how the body is designed to run. A heel striking style has only been adopted because running shoes will permit this style. If you took your shoes off and ran you'd be forced to run on your forefoot or fracture your heel bones. Don't try this at home kids.

It does feel more natural and I'm starting with some 20 - 25 minute runs to break myself in.

Hopefully my glass feet will prefer it.

"I'm the Changingman.... What I can't be today, I can be tomorrow"
Paul Weller