As long as we accept the terms "strike" and "impact" to describe the
way we run, it will be nearly impossible to find a gentle landing
approach.

The key is not to strike, not to "absorb" impact, but to decelerate
the foot, as it approaches the ground, by lifting the foot, before
the foot "TOUCHES" the ground. The lifting of the foot is done by
bending the knee, and raising the foot from the ground, instead of
pushing the foot into the ground.

Impact, and it's absorbtion becomes almost meaningless, as one gets
close to perfecting (no one is ever perfect) this technique.

Have fun,
-barefoot ken bob

--- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, tetsujin87@... wrote:
>
>
> Jamie - the triumverate and other rough-texture RBF'ers seem to be
able to
> time footfalls to strike right under the body's center of gravity
(even though
> it may look like the foot is extended out in front even
milliseconds before
> striking) and they seem to have a very soft landing that allows the
foot to
> sink a little into rough, uneven surfaces (even collapsing the knee
and ankle
> to absorb shock if necessary). It seems something like parachute
landings or
> jumping off a high wall to better absorb shock by not looking at
the ground
> by not looking directly at landing spot.
>
> It also seems worthwhile to experiment a little to see whether the
footfall
> for each person should be on the ball of the foot, middle of the
metarsus
> pads, slightly on the outside edge, etc. I'm still learning and
getting better
> too so don't expect it to happen very fast (though it might).
>
> Incidentally, not many would expect to be able to run over large
pieces of
> gravel. :-)
>
> - jon
> first barefoot marathon - 1990
>
> In a message dated 5/8/06 5:08:09 PM Central Daylight Time,
> KenBob@... writes:
>
> Today, after running my second marathon in 8 days, I am not
running.
> I did a nice slow easy walk with my wife and our dog.
>
> It's called recovery. Shod runners do it too.
>
> Have fun, relax a little.
> -barefoot ken bob
>
> --- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, "Jamie" <giant_rider@>
> wrote:
> >
> > I find my situation almost comical.
> >
> > With the chronic problems I had and all, prior to this year, I
> > always doubted whether I would ever heal enough to be able to
run
> > seriously, shod or unshod, again.
> >
> > I have been very fortunate in my opinion because this year I
seem
> to
> > be able to run with no flare ups from my chronic problems. I am
> > talking no pain. No muscle pain, no joint pain, etc. (knock on
> > wood). On top of that my technique seems to have improved in
that I
> > am not experiencing anywhere near the problems I had with
blisters
> > when barefoot running.
> >
> > So now I learn that I am wimp of the highest order. During the
past
> > 10 days, I have gone for 5 barefoot 2.5 mile runs. That is big
for
> > me. I have also started running a few days in a row. Even bigger
> for
> > me.
> >
> > This past weekend though I totally wimped out. The gravel the
city
> > puts on the roads in the winter is still on the roads. They
clean
> up
> > this month. Anyone who has seen what Denver is like in the
spring
> > knows what I am talking about.
> >
> > So Saturday I am all psyched to enjoy a nice run, when 2 minutes
> > into it I pull up and wonder how the hell I have been able to
run
> on
> > the gravel for the past few weeks. I land on some large pieces
with
> > my metatarsals and it was all over. I tried for another 10
minutes
> > on and off and then packed it in. I couldn't get up the courage
to
> > continue.
> >
> > I then tried to run in the middle of the road where there is
much
> > less gravel (it all collects at the sides). But the rough
asphalt
> > surface was too abrasive. So I bailed. How wimpy.
> >
> > I went for some barefoot walks to try to condition my feet.
> >
> > Can anyone else relate? I don't want to shave the skin off my
feet.
> >
> > Ted, Rick, Ken, others, how to you deal with it?????
> >
>