Has anyone sucessfully changed their running form?

I used to be a heel striker and had quit running due to knee pain.  Took up Chi running about 10 mos ago and it set me free.  I can now run for hours without pain. 

Caveat:  Changing form is difficult.  It's like learning to walk again.  You have to re-train years of muscle memory = you feel like a retard for months.  Take classes, take it slow, be patient with yourself and concentrate on your form and it can change for the better.

x2 on Chi Running.  I started to change my form in July 2010.  It's a work in progress, so the changes don't happen overnight.  It's a little tedious at first implementing all of the changes.  After a while it becomes second nature, and I'm glad I took the time to do it. 

Off topic but forgive me I can't help it.  Please rethink your choice of words.  Thanks.

PUCHICA!!  Busted by the PCG!  (Political Correctness Gestapo)

thanks for the replies. Here are the reasons for contemplating a change. I am burning through running shoes in about 8 weeks. I am wearing the outside of the heels off at very steep angles indicating that I am heel striking and supinating. My ankles are very tight. I have always been a supinator, but it appears to be getting worse based on shoe wear pattern. I have been experiencing calf and hamstring cramps during races and long training runs.

Kevin

thanks for the replies. Here are the reasons for contemplating a change. I am burning through running shoes in about 8 weeks. I am wearing the outside of the heels off at very steep angles indicating that I am heel striking and supinating. My ankles are very tight. I have always been a supinator, but it appears to be getting worse based on shoe wear pattern. I have been experiencing calf and hamstring cramps during races and long training runs.

Kevin

I bought into the midfoot strike deal a few years ago and slowly changed my form. I can't say that it's the sole reason that I've improved, but I'm very comfortable running in this form now and have never been faster.

Good luck!

Back in '06 my tri coach put on a running clinic and wanted me to change from heel striker to mid foot lander. I did what he recommended adn within 2 weeks had PF issues then got achillies issues both which I struggled with for over a year.

Older you are the harder it is to change your running form and avoid getting injured as your body is used the movement pattern you have had for many years.

I was 45 when I made the change. Just be careful

This is coming from someone who doesn't really believe in the new 'running form' hype, but I do believe in a number of studies that showed that the cerebellum (lower-order brain function) is responsible for most of the run/walk motions, meaning it is subconsciously programmed. You can sever the spinal cord of a cat to disconnect the brain, walk them on a treadmill, and they'll still have a spinal walking and even running reflex. 

I'd recommend for all interested in changing their running form, to focus less on the mechanics of the form, and incorporating more short, fast (and even VERY fast) 100-200m pickups throughout their runs.

The purpose won't be to develop leg speed or explosiveness (although that is a good side effect if you do a lot of them) but rather to settle into a more efficient gait. As you start getting used to running very fast, you will automatically eliminate a lot of the inefficient motions.

Having run a lot in the past before, I'll also caution runners that looking as smooth as an olympic marathon runner at fast speeds is highly a function of fitness. If you're not a strong runner, it will be pretty much impossible to look like a strong runner at high speeds. In ramping from 30 to 70,80, and beyond miles per week, running 6-6:30 min/mile became not as big a deal, and I started to get a lot of comments about how 'smooth' I looked, when in reality, it was way more about the aerobic engine which allowed me to take those smooth strides.

PS for newbs as well - run technique (or the lack thereof) is vastly different than swimming, where actively acquired technique is crucial and fundamental. I pretty much never focus on my technique on running and just focus on running faster whereas I obsess about technique on swimming even if it means going slower.

If you made that change without drastically reducing your mileage and intensity, then it only stands to reason you had the physical issues.

More like busted by somebody who realizes what's acceptable and what's not on BT.

Obviously you're heel striking. Whether you're supinating is uncertain. Lots of overstriders land on the outside edge of the heel, then roll through to the big toe area. Supinators tend to wear out the entire outside edge, not just the heel. What kind of shoes are you running in? If you're running in a shoe meant to control overpronation, it could be part of the problem.

Anyway, as evidenced, people can successfully change their running form. It takes lots of work and it's a slow process, but it can be done. I did it several years ago and it took a year or so to get back to where I was speedwise. However since then I've continued to improve because the new form allows me to run more. I'm still getting better. Set a new 10 mile PR today.

Many have. I made the final phase of my switch in the last year. But it was also part of essentially starting over from scratch anyway due to other issues. In any case, what you want to do is this:

* Take shorter, quicker strides. Meaning your feet will hit the ground more often and spend less time on the ground on each step. Some people think the golden number os a 180 cadence. Just go in that direction.
* RELAX the lower leg. Don't try to stay on your toes.
* Keep your foot contact under your center of gravity. This means don't overstride. Much of the heel strike talked about so vigorously in the barefoot running community is a direct result of reaching out with your leg to meet the ground too soon, lengthening the stride by reaching forward instead of pushing behind.
* Use your hips and hamstrings for propulsion instead of the calves.

Forefoot or midfoot landing is your most likely result of doing the above, but should NOT be a goal in and of itself.

I just wrote up a post on my blog a few days ago about this...

Anyway, hope that helps.

I had a coach and he had a plan to have me gradually adapt and make the change. I had zero intensity but all easy running. They worked with other athletes (all were younger than I) to make changes to. I was the only one that had lingering issues from making the change.

About 4 months after I was struggling with PF and Achillies issues I read something Friel wrote that basically said if you are over 40 don't change your running style as it can cause injuries.