Introduction

In recent years there has been an increased interest in running mechanics and improving running form. Magazines are producing more articles about proper running form and injury avoidance. However, when it comes to shoe manufactures, it seems we are still split into two groups; heel strikers and mid-foot/forefoot strikers. So is there a proper way to run and why aren't more big brands putting their foot down (pun intended) and getting behind one or the other type instead of sitting on the fence? Some of the larger companies are now making some great minimalist running footwear, but it's hidden under a plethora of other products, making it difficult for those less informed to choose the right shoe. It suggests that they're still trying to please everyone whether they are running correctly or not instead of going with the research giving us a product that will help us run better. Opinions on what is a correct running technique should form your ethos on how you run a brand and how you design your product. So I wonder how you can put your knowledge and beliefs behind two different forms of running that seem to contradict each other. 

How can a company that believes in this...

... also make this?

Instead, it is left to smaller innovative companies to produce smaller lines of specific running footwear which mean it's usually done at a higher price for example; inov8, Vibram, Vivobarefoot etc. So as you may have guessed I am a forefoot runner and an advocate of minimalist running as a tool for improvement of form, and for some, a way of running.

So how did I get here?

I used to be a heel striker for as long as I remember, and typically wore a neutral Asics which I used to find very comfortable. I experimented with forefoot striking before but found it very tough on my calf muscles and initially gave up and returned to heel striking thinking "it's not for me". I've been plagued with injury and  recently had to have surgery to correct a cartilage issue. So early in the spring of 2012 I attended a barefoot running conference to learn more about this new craze that has people walking around in odd looking finger shoes. I used Vibrams for my resistance training sessions and running drills and very short runs of about 1km at first. On longer runs I looked at reducing my ground reaction forces and vertical travel by increasing my cadence and increasing my heel lift during the recovery phase. After a few months I switched to running in a lighter shoe with a smaller heel drop, the Mizuno wave musha (the gold racing shoe pictured above). I really like this shoe, it's light and has a very small heel:toe drop, which allowed me to start running with a forefoot/midfoot strike but also give the the option of dropping to my heels when my technique fatigued. After about 8 months I was at a stage where I felt like a natural forefoot runner; faster, lighter and if I tried to drop back into heel running it felt odd. I could even run 8km outside on tarmac in Vibrams.