1

Balance Issues (Read 168 times)

Airman4343


    I've been running for a while, but I'm looking for some feedback.  I just ran a 5K today @ 24:11.  Not a horrible time for me, but I know I can do a lot better.  I tend to run kind of funny though, as I land on the ball of my foot a lot.  I've tried correcting this with different shoes and putting inserts in my shoes to help with my pronating and to compensate for my arch.  I still have too much of a forefoot strike and I'm certain it's going to cause problems later (I'm a 30 y/o M btw).  I'm confident this is a balance issue, but i'm not sure how to address it.  Advice? 

      What makes you so sure its a balance issue, or even an issue at all?

      Runners run

      Airman4343


        I'm not sure honestly.  I'm hoping someone can throw out some suggestions on other things it can be too.

         

        Oh, and one of my legs is minorly shorter than the other.  You wouldn't even notice if you saw me, but it's the truth.


        MoBramExam

           

          Oh, and one of my legs is minorly shorter than the other.  You wouldn't even notice if you saw me, but it's the truth.

           

          You would be abnormal if it wasn't.

           



          Marylander


            What part of your foot do you think you ought to land on and why?

            Airman4343


              Pretty sure i'm supposed to land on it mid-strike.  I land on the ball of my foot way too much.

              TeaOlive


              old woman w/hobby

                Pretty sure i'm supposed to land on it mid-strike.  I land on the ball of my foot way too much.

                 

                Personally, I think that foot strike is an individual thing and not a right or wrong issue.

                steph  

                 

                 

                  Footstrike is about the last thing people should worry about. If you run tall with you back straight, and hips under you, your foot will take care of itself and do what it's designed to do.

                  Runners run

                    I don't think changing foot strike consciously is possible, you will revert to your most economical stride/foot strike for the pace you are running if you don't force it.

                    For me if I am jogging really slowly, I am a heel striker, land mostly midfoot for the majority of the run and also 'appear' to heel strike when I am kicking at the end of a race or running intervals.  Run different paces and see if this applies to you and how your stride length and other mechanics change according to the pace.

                      I'm not sure honestly.  I'm hoping someone can throw out some suggestions on other things it can be too.

                       

                      Oh, and one of my legs is minorly shorter than the other.  You wouldn't even notice if you saw me, but it's the truth.

                       

                      I am 36, but really I don't look a day over 28. That's neither here nor there. 

                       

                      I am pretty sure that I have balance issues, as well. I can, for example, stand on my right leg far longer than on my left.  I have been working on it with strength training.  A doctor measured my hip-to-ankle lengths and found that the left is 1/4" shorter than the right. Since, then I have been running with an insert for the left leg only. 

                       

                      I really hesitate to say anything not living in a House of Learned Doctors. This worked for me and I only did it because I was really hurting, and the issue became very obvious and the solution, just as obvious. I have only being doing this for a few weeks. It is a temporary hack and, for the long term, I am working on my strength. 

                       

                      All that said, there are few people who don't run a little funny. If you're not hurting, don't fix it.  

                       

                      Mikey is right. Foot strike takes care of itself and there is nothing better I have done for myself than to almost totally forget about my footstrike.  

                      "If you have the fire, run..." -John Climacus

                      Zam


                        .

                          My left leg is 30 mm shorter than my right leg.  I run on the wrong side of the road when I can.  Not a balance issue.

                            I've been running for a while, but I'm looking for some feedback.  I just ran a 5K today @ 24:11.  Not a horrible time for me, but I know I can do a lot better.  I tend to run kind of funny though, as I land on the ball of my foot a lot.  I've tried correcting this with different shoes and putting inserts in my shoes to help with my pronating and to compensate for my arch.  I still have too much of a forefoot strike and I'm certain it's going to cause problems later (I'm a 30 y/o M btw).  I'm confident this is a balance issue, but i'm not sure how to address it.  Advice? 

                             

                            I've been a forefoot striker for at least 5 years. I can totally wear out the fore foot of my running shoes  but have barely any if any wear on the heals of my shoes.  I have balance issue's now however it has nothing to do with me being a forefoot runner. BTW I'm a 44 y/o F

                            Your toughness is made up of equal parts persistence and experience. You don't so much outrun your opponents as outlast and outsmart them, and the toughest opponent of all is the one inside your head." - Joe Henderson


                            running metalhead

                              OK, I think I assume that what you mean is that you are landing on the toes, ballerina like.

                              I wouldn't be able to say, but it's maybe an issue with paying too much attention to the strike. Forefoot strike is OK as long as you don't get pain in your legs because of it.

                              So called "Mid foot strike" is actually the same. AFAIK what we call "fore foot strike"  means that the first part of your foot to strike the ground is a point between the 4th and 5th metacarpal; the external part (small toe and it's neighbour) of the ball of your foot. Your feet adapt by themselves to the way they fall.

                               

                              If you are lading this way and don't feel any pain it's OK. A bit of soreness is normal.

                              Check your urine for blood or excessive colouring, this may indicate excess foot strike hemolysis.

                              What you may want to try is running barefoot on a soft surface for 10 minutes or so a few days a week and learn to "forget" your feet.

                              You may also want to add cross training to strengthen your core to your plan, a very good full body exercise are lunges, of any kind, Try doing 2 or 3 sets of 20 walking lunges with bodyweight only a few times per week. It does wonders.

                              I would also forget about insets and other things, specially about pronation and arch control. If you land on your forefoot your arches should be able to absorb the shock, of you don't allow this you will be sore and your forefoot will suffer.

                              In any case: I would visit a specialist or let my gait be analysed as I'm only talking generally from my own experience as a "natural" forefoot striker.

                               

                              Well, time for my 20 miler Wink

                              - Egmond ( 14 januari )            :  1:41:40 (21K)
                              - Vondelparkloop ( 20 januari ) :  0:58.1 (10K but did 13.44!!!)
                              - Twiskemolenloop ( 4 maart )  :   1:35:19 (3th M45!)

                              - Ekiden Zwolle (10K)   ( 25 maart )
                              - Rotterdam Marathon ( 8 april )
                              - Leiden Marathon Halve ( 27 mei )
                              - Marathon Amersfoort ( 10 juni)