A lot of soles are that way. Even Barefoot shoes. They taper in from the heel and then start to taper out again towards the toebox. I thought the natural foot shape was like a pizza, getting continuously wider, starting from the heel. I can understand this on the inside of the foot, where the arch is. Because technically you dont need a sole there anyways. But why on the outside? Sometimes you can even see that the shoe is build wider on top of that narrow part. So it begs the question: why is there no sole underneath that wider upper part of the shoe. Is there an explanation? Is it narrow so that the shoe has a secure fit?
I think a continuous sole shape that is not tapered in the midfoot area is something I will consider in future purchases.
this is what I mean:
https://preview.redd.it/gs94tg0yhl881.png?width=454&format=png&auto=webp&s=1743b1e5eb92486f245b563091d99245d5dbdcb0
hi, I'm currently interested in the maxroad 5 after seeing so many good reviews (basically a lightweight, cushioned, long run shoe), however i saw a YouTube comment that says that for a heel striker it feels that he's crash landing on it every time due to the exaggerated heel bevel, does anyone have similar experience?
for what it's worth, I've ran in the below shoes without problem:
Bondi
Glideride
Speed
Novablast
FFE3 - this one the heel feels fairly flat to me, meaning i can't really feel the foam, possibly due to the bevel or the cushion, not sure, so i can't run long in them, feels like my heel is "hanging"
thank you
I have been riding midfoot for a while. I used pateocleats from this website (https://mid-foot-cycling.com/).
Issue is i broke through 2 pairs. 1 during cycling and 1 while setting up (veeery sensitive).
I have a 150km ride tomorrow. I cannot ride non midfoot at all. My left foot stays stable while my right drops. Causing extreme pain on long rides.
What is the easiest and safest way to convert my current shoe to mid foot. I just got new lake shoes and dont want to destroy them trying to setup.
Based in Australia (Sydney). If there is a place that sells patrocleat- I am happy to buy again to get through this ride, despite the poor quality.
I have extreme heel drop with every stroke. Got a bike fit done too and its something natural that i cannot avoid.
Is there any bike shoe in Australia that is reasonably priced and can be setup midfoot without requiring adapters?
Only brands I found were Biomac (website does not look reliable) and Bont (too expensive, $800 AUD for midfoot shoes).
I have a pair of Lake 241 but cannot find the courage to drill them
Hey all,
I recently (within the last few weeks) began slowly working on changing to a midfoot strike due to some knee issues I was having. I'm happy to say that my knee issues have been mostly resolved! It's a bummer to lower my km logged per week, but i like my knees.
However, since I'm still consciously working on my form on all my runs, I'm noticing that my ankles and Achilles feel... unstable? I'm aware that they need to be stronger, since midfoot puts more stress on the achilles. I've been doing lots of stretches and exercises for my achilles, but is there any insight you guys have on strengthening ankles?
Most of the stuff I've found on the internet is geared more towards warming up your ankles and less about strengthening. Any help is much appreciated!
Note: Is it common to have trouble slowing down with a new form? To keep my cadence high I feel like my "minimum" speed is quicker than it was before.
I recently bought an ultraboost dna cc_1, the logo of clima cool is killing my mid foot, anybody has any experience like that, any suggestions?
Dr said midfoot fusion at the least... If not something else... But always with weight...
Yes I'm a big guy but I also carry almost 100 pounds of muscle on my body..
But yeah weight is hard and I promise it wa the other three surgeries that started my foot down this hill...
So long story short.. What Shoes do you all wear?
I know they have wide toe box but anyone with wide midfoot have success with the altras?
i’ve been running since i (17f) was a kid and for the past 2ish years i been heavily forefoot striking (almost running on my tip toes). after getting new hoka shoes for my long/easy runs, every time i run my big toe joint gets really painful. i’ve figured it’s because i run on my toes too much, so i’m trying to slowly change to having more of a midfoot strike. does anyone have any tips/exercises to do which will help me with this transition without getting injured?
EDIT: thanks for all the comments, they’re really useful and practical. To add to my original post, this change was made to stop my over striding which naturally seemed to lead to midfoot striking, rather than me just wanting to change from heel to midfoot.
ORIGINAL POST:
I’m looking for guidance, thoughts, opinions, everything, on runners moving from heel striking to mid foot striking please
I saw a running coach a month ago who filmed me and saw I was heel striking , which surprised me as I thought I was a total midfooter… Since then I’ve been re-training to become a midfooter as I understand it’s better for my knee health in the long term, via shorter strides to land under my body and bigger leg extensions backwards. I’m seeing the coach again this month to reassess how I’m running
… HOWEVER I’m having sore knees since changing which has limited my running. My speed has dropped big time too. Is this a normal part of re-training my muscles to midfoot strike? Any other tips would be great too please, like best shoes for this new style ..?
I've been learning to midfoot strike in my regular running shoes. My right calf gets sore while my left doesn't at all. Am I doing something wrong? I don't feel like im putting more weight on one side than the other.
What are some exercises that will help me ingrain and practice this behavior on a daily basis?
Anyone who has tried the zoom freak 2, I have a question for you!
I heard that the decoupled midsole makes the shoe bend in the middle, heavily stressing the arch/foot, but most youtube reviews say support is good- did you have this problem?
Im a wide footer, specially in the midfoot area and I want an affordable durable shoe for outdoors... im considering AC8 but im nervous if it will fit me good. is it wide in the midfoot?
Also to add to this, I was reading an article the other day and Hayward said he has a picture of him and kobe framed up in his house (it was them during his last game). He also said Kobe sent him multiple messages and emails during his recovery and they stayed in touch ever since. He still reads the messages from time to time ever though he’s fully recovered and playing better than his Utah days. They also worked out together.
Background
Jogging casually for fun for 10+ years. Switched from heel strike to midfoot strike in 2019 fall (almost 2 years ago) due to recurrent knee problems. My usual "race pace" is 5'30km to 6'30/km depending on the distance (5k to half). Age 23, female, tall, BMI 20-21ish, flat feet, bad knees, asthma. I'm not serious enough about running, but I've been lazy in a consistent way (months off/months on) over the years, with more months on since the switch.
How I switched: imagining being pulled forward at the hips, driving the knees and relaxing everything below.
I wasn't expecting to get slower using the famed "superior" technique.
Stats now, according to Garmin:
- my vertical ratio is above 10% (red zone, ± bottom 5th percentile of runners)
- my ground contact time hovers at 300ms (orange zone, ± bottom 10th percentile of runners)
- my vertical oscillation is around 11cm (orange, ± bottom 25th percentile of runners)
- my cadence isn't super quick either, it hovers around 167spm, I can push it with great effort to 175spm but usually at the expense of speed (HR goes up so I assume my efficiency goes down).
Other than that:
- I'm better at short bursts now (calf muscles, hello), but picking up the pace for a tempo run kills me.
- my old easy pace takes more effort now, HR doesn't lie.
Previously I was in the green zone for every metric. My old data doesn't have vertical ratio, but my GCT was around 235ms, VO was 9cm, cadence around 162 (same HRM, different watch).
To conclude
My cadence went up by 5spm, my other metrics plummeted. My knees are cured (so no regrets) but my speed said adieu. Even after a look into form/technique, I can't pinpoint how to fix things, so this just doesn't work well for me without further instruction. Midfoot wasn't a magic potion for speed in my case, despite how easy everyone makes it look.
Tips are very very welcome, I'd love to learn and fix this.
Tl;Dr: 2 years passed and my knee problems are gone, but now I feel like a slug and my economy metrics went from average to pretty bad.
a few months ago i found out i had a heel strike (i knew NOTHING about form & still know relatively little) and i was told that by fixing my form i could get significantly faster. i now have the time to devote myself to developing a midfoot strike and i wanted to know if anyone had any tips. i also have a question: i’m a lacrosse player so i do a lot of interval runs, should i focus on a midfoot strike when doing these types of runs? thanks!!!
I think I know the answer to this, double checking here. Saucony guide and omni only come in 2E and are too narrow in the middle to accommodate low arches. The only thing that fits is the Adrenaline GTS 4E but rails only add stability not arch support and the 12mm aren't ideal.
Everything else I've found is really narrow at the arches (ie NB 860 in 4E) or giant, heavy, rigid shoes (at that point the added stability cancels out with instability from the extra bulk). I tried a few of the Asics I've seen mentioned in other posts, the 4E have moderate to huge toe boxes but consistently narrow other wise.
Is their a shoe I missed that would work?
I cannot think of a better place to ask this question then this subreddit! I fractured my navicular, medial cuneiform and anterior process of the calcaneus 2/17 and had surgery 2/26. I transitioned out of the boot about 3 weeks ago but I’m really struggling with shoes.
I am a Middle aged woman who was once athletic but for the last handful of years, I’m in the active category. Something I truly never considered is foot function, likely due to the fact my feet never inhibited any activity I was subject to. Since my injury I have familiarized myself with the anatomical functions of the foot for obvious reasons. In addition to shoes. I have a closet full I wouldn’t dare put on even after I regain full function.
The only pair that I’ve been able to withstand any lengthy comfort is Saucony echelon 8’s they allow a bit of flexibility in the midfoot to allow for inevitable swelling, the collar and tongue are heavily padded which is essential for right now. I have naturally high arches, however in my bad foot my arch has dropped and I need the support on the right side. I have an insole in the right shoe I have now and my gait pattern is good with it for the short distant I’m able to walk unassisted.
I have been eyeing topo phantom 2’s but am no where close to a retailer so I’d be at the mercy of online ordering. If anyone’s familiar could you please let me know if it would meet or exceed my needs?
Two months of buying and returning dozens of shoes here's what I got
Saucony echelon 7 or 8 (not 6): if your foot prints is the shape of a shoe box, these maybe right for you. Toe box is as wide as the wider new balance options, but minimal narrowing throughout the rest of the shoe. Drawback is, without the midfoot tapering, it's very hard to properly lace it.
Brooks Dyad and Beast: Neither are comfortable or at the same level of roominess in the midfoot, but both are high above the curve.
Most other Brooks models that come in 4E have decent amount of midfoot room, none are super narrow in the middle.
New Balance Fresh Foam More and 880: Even the 4E/6E new balances shoes get much wider in the middle (ie 1080 2E is 0.5in wider toe box but 0.1" wider midfoot). The More and 880 are less narrow in the middle to begin with so the 4E has ample midfoot space although wind up looser in the heel than the brooks options.
Super weird finds: Walmart's Athletic Works brand and Avia brand sneakers are cheap low quality sneakers, however they're "wide" versions are 0.4" wider throughout the entire shoe... obviously it's because of the cheaper manufacturing process but makes a weirdly great fit if you have low arches.
I need some new minimalist shoes for light hiking and trail-running which can handle different terrains. But first of all, they has to be wide enough from the midfoot, and rounded/squared enough for my long toes (Roman feets). Any recommendation?
I’m looking for guidance, thoughts, opinions, everything, on runners moving from heel striking to mid foot striking please
I saw a running coach a month ago who filmed me and saw I was heel striking , which surprised me as I thought I was a total midfooter… Since then I’ve been re-training to become a midfooter as I understand it’s better for my knee health in the long term, via shorter strides to land under my body and bigger leg extensions backwards. I’m seeing the coach again this month to reassess how I’m running
… HOWEVER I’m having sore knees since changing which has limited my running. My speed has dropped big time too. Is this a normal part of re-training my muscles to midfoot strike? Any other tips would be great too please, like best shoes for this new style ..?
