I do nearly all my running offroad and anything up to 13m will go minimal (VFF or vivobarefoot) anything over I go for 'flatter' trail shoes. If anything offroad is better as you have less of a tendancy to overstride as you don't want to 'commit' each footfall so much in case it isn't stable. The one bit of advice would be to bend your knees. (if you read Gordon Piries book- avail free as a pdf on the internet if you look. He was a distance runner in the days before trainers as we know them so minimal was the only option). He says: Let us start at the very beginning, with the person standing to attention in bare feet. Raise yourself up onto tiptoes, and overbalance forward. You must take a step forward to keep from falling over. From the position which results (it is impossible to step forward onto the heel), you should begin to run at a slow velocity - but with very light, quick steps - making sure to feel the stress on the toes. The runner's legs should remain flexed at the knees. A feeling of "sitting" with the seat down "like a duck" is employed with the body upright. An athlete who runs correctly will actually appear to be shorter than other runners of the same height who are not running properly. By keeping his knees flexed and by landing on the ball of the foot on each step, and with the foot beneath the body, the runner will spring along very quietly. As the weight of the runner's body rides over the foot, the entire sole will rest flat on the ground - do not remain like a ballet dancer on your toes throughout the weight-bearing phase. Alison Roe did this, and was constantly injured. Basically - bend your knees. A fully shod heelstriker locks the leg and relies on padded shoes to cushion the blow. A barefooter relies on tendons and muscles to do the same job. \if you are landing mid-foot you are half way there, but if your knees are still locked you will have issues. |