Looking closer at form- Centerfoot Landing

     With the proper attitude established, an understanding that recreational running should be easy/light/smooth, we can begin running instinctively. Running is basically a series of small jumps repeated... That's it.... We instinctively know how to do this and only when outside influences hamper us do we struggle. Some people believe our gait and stride is predetermined and we should not change things. I disagree, and have found like many other sports and activities running form/technique can be taught and improved.
     Centerfoot Landing is the first core principle I would like to address. I refer specifically to landing, not striking, as some call it. This is to accurately describe landing softly and controlled, as opposed to striking haphazardly. When focusing on the landing phase, I like to emphasize the lowering of impact forces and the attenuating of shock. Landing somewhat on the outer or lateral part of the foot allows a proper amount of pronation to occur. I have found this will come naturally when smoothing out the landing, and it is not necessary to focus much on it.  This landing should ideally occur under your center of mass. Danny Dreyer of Chi Running correctly points out the importance of alignment and posture which in terms of landing puts the feet, under the hips, under the shoulders.
     I realize there is much debate going on regarding forefoot vs. midfoot, heel to toe vs. fore/midfoot landing. My choice of Centerfoot Landing is accurately describing what I "cue" in on and strive for when running. Because the landing is dynamic, not static- it is somewhat variable. That is ,we don't land and run with the exact same stride or landing every step. A variety of factors such as terrain, fatigue, uphill/downhill, choice of footwear and many others make the landing unique and variable, not fixed.
     I view landing as a spectrum, in which while focusing on Centerfoot Landing, anything between running "up on your toes" and heel striking can be acceptable, when appropriate. I do focus on using as much of the foot as possible between the forefoot and the heel. My target is the center of the foot. One reason many people switch away from heel striking is to, among other things, help avoid overstriding. I agree with this as overstriding, or reaching your leg out in front of your body when running, causes many problems. But be advised- even when landing correctly it is possible to reach too far forward or overstride.
     Below is a link to an excellent article in Running Times related to this topic and some people who are doing great work in the field.......................       http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=20356