TIP: STOP THINKING. START ACTING.

What are you thinking about when you run? Your upcoming race? Your dinner plans? A warm bath? If you’re thinking, “Should I be landing on the outside of my foot and rolling in?” or “Should I be running more on my toes?” then you’re thinking about the wrong things. The human foot is an amazing shock absorber and if you’re wondering about how your foot is interacting with the ground, then you’re not taking advantage of what the 26 bones in each foot can do for you. Every week someone writes into the Q&A regarding this issue; some people ask how they should be running - “Should I run on my toes?” - while others describe how they’ve changed their natural mechanics and are now experiencing injuries in their foot and/or lower leg. I’ve struggled with foot injuries myself and I’m empathetic to those of you with foot issues, but please don’t change your mechanics and please don’t try to change how you foot strikes the ground; this will only lead to other injuries, potentially injuries as far away from the foot as the hip. Instead of thinking about your foot-strike, find a podiatrist or chiropractor (ideally one who also runs) who can help you with a pair of orthotics and/or some preventive/propholactic exercises. Plus, you’ll have one less thing to think about on your run.

Coach Jay coaches athletes at RunnersCoach.com and blogs at CoachJayJohnson.com. And don’t forget, if you have training question for Coach Jay, ask it here!