1. | May 18, 2014

Well since I put my story on here before, I thuhgot I would come back and give an update. I have recently in the last month switched back to heel first in walking. However, I don't heel strike anymore. What I mean is that in the several months I spent walking forefoot first, I learned how to put my heel down without slamming it or shearing it sideways. I figured out I can now do this before putting my forefoot down. I touch my heel down without transferring my weight, feel how hard the ground is, and then land on my forefoot which really means I am spreading the weight across my arch. To keep the weight from going into my heel, I keep it on my back leg as long as possible. The other thing I realized was that when I used to heel strike, I wasn't just putting my heel down, I was also pushing it back at the same time, resulting in a sideways force in my heel, which I think was the real cause of the bruises. Now I just put my foot down and lift it up (stepping), instead of trying to roll through it like a wheel, which is the habit I think I learned in shoes. I switched back to heel first touching because forefoot first walking was causing me tendinitis in my achilles tendon, which has gone away now. I also find this is easier than walking forefoot first (feels more efficient and I can walk faster this way) and I am also using more muscles in the backs of my legs and glutes in walking. I find that for this to work for me, I have to be able to feel how hard the ground is so that means walking barefoot or in very thin flexible shoes with no cushion (I have vivobarefoot with the insole removed). I still land forefoot first when running, but I don't have to try to do it and it is very close to flat footed (mid foot?). I feel that I am basically walking very similar to how I learned from forefoot first which means not overstriding, I just am touching my heel first without striking and this has been much better for my achilles. I feel that I couldn't have got to this point without walking forefoot first for a while.

2. | Jan 1, 2014

Jesse! I've been making the triotisann to a barefoot/minimalist lifestyle now for a couple of months. I decided to start the process after the mini marathon in May. I've been doing the corrective exercises, stretches, foam roller etc. When I began the actual training I started out with the walk/run routine completely barefoot. It was amazing what I could feel. Then I got a cadence tracker to help with my tempo. (that really helped!) I was strolling along, doing pretty well and now I'm getting really frustrated. I'm having that top of the foot pain that I was warned about, and I'm feeling it in my arch as well. This pain is only on the left foot. I have a raised right hip, giving me that awesome functional length difference. I've tried many different things to balance or realign, but just can't make any progress. (including chiro, massage, yoga, egosque method) Because of this when I walk, I feel like my left foot is landing harder and has the tendency to heel strike. Because of this I'm trying to walk, lifting my knees and feet and trying to land toe to heal. This ends up looking and feeling so unnatural, almost like a horses gait:) haha I'm not incorporating any running in right now because of the pain. I did get the vibram 5 fingers a couple of weeks ago and have been wearing them or going barefoot. Will my length difference eventually correct on it's own after my body adjusts? Should I add any exercises to strengthen one side? I also feel my waist shift on my left side slightly as I walk/run my right side stays neutral for the most part. Uugghh .I've watched a ton of youtube videos on technique that I don't see how I'm not getting it! Do you know of any barefoot running coaches in the Indianapolis area? I need help! I want to run again! Help!!! Thanks Jesse!~Amy