Foot Motion While Running

by Elaine
(Grand Forks, ND)

With each running step should the foot be flexed backward at the ankle (toes pointing downward) or should it just be lifted more or less parallel to the ground with the ankles remaining in the same angle (toes pointing forward)?

Answer by Dominique:


Hi Elaine,
Thanks for your running question. At some point during the step-cycle you will have to point your toes downwards.

What happens is that you at first hit the ground with your heel.
Then your foot makes a rolling move, almost like a wave. The rest of your foot gradually comes down, up till the point where your toes touch the ground.

Then your heel lifts again and rolls up the rest of the foot. As your toes leave the ground and go up into the air, they are pointing downwards, pretty much at a ninety-degree angle with the ground.

However this does depend a bit on the speed with which you run. If you go slower, the swing up is not that high and as such, the toes will not make as big an angle with the ground.

I hope I described that well. It is hard to put into words what your feet do while running!
Hope it makes some sense.


Best of luck and enjoy your running!
Cheers,
Dominique