A couple of years ago I read the book Born to Run. It was essentially a book about why runners get injured, yet this tribe in Mexico has always been great distance runners, seemingly unhampered by injury. For me, it was the first time I had really thought about how my foot lands. Personally, I don't think I'm a fast enough runner to be effected, but after reading the book, I did run out and buy a pair of nike frees. (I was hoping to work up to the vibram five finger shoes, which look like gloves for your feet, but didn't.)
It's supposed to help a runner change or be more aware of their foot strike. Anyway, I've stuck with my conventional running shoes, because I was getting pain from the transition and, with marathons last year and the year before, I didn't want to mess with too much change.
An article in the New York Times is making me reconsider. A study based on data from Harvard's track team found that heel strikers were more prone to injury - a twofold greater risk. It might be time to really change and make sure I'm a forefoot striker.
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