Is Heel Strike Running Bad for Performance?

Is Heel Strike Running Bad for Performance?

High impact running comes at an economical cost. By impact standards, heel strike running is a significantly more force-intensive style of running than forefoot running where according to some research high impact requires more vigorous muscle tuning response to attenuate shock ~a process that requires energy. Simply put, high impacts (like in heel strike running) drains energy from the system whereas stark decreases in impact (like in forefoot running) enhances running economy.

Bretta Riches

"I believe the forefoot strike is the engine of endurance running..."

BSc Neurobiology; MSc Biomechanics candidate, ultra minimalist runner & founder of RunForefoot. I was a heel striker, always injured. I was inspired by the great Tirunesh Dibaba to try forefoot running. Now, I'm injury free. This is why I launched Run Forefoot, to advocate the health & performance benefits of forefoot running and to raise awareness on the dangers of heel striking, because the world needs to know.
Bretta Riches