“My name is Chris Mello and when I found out you were a pole vaulter I just had to write to you. I love what you’re doing with Stem Footwear. I was a pole vaulter in high school for two seasons and for a year and a half in college. Like you, I suffered from a host of injuries; heel bursitis, plantar fasciitis, posterior tibias tendonitis, patella tendonitis, and the worst of all for me: compartment syndrome. I saw a number of orthopedists and other doctors and none of them had answers (some suggested it was in my head!). Needless to say, I was very frustrated. In college, I finally quit athletics all together because I grew to hate running so much as it was very painful. Well, after that I started hiking a lot more and found out that I could run on the trails without pain. Without knowing, it was because I shortened my stride and started landing more towards the midfoot. This year I started out running completely barefoot, and it has been wonderful so far. I wanted to do to much to soon, so I’ve had to back off a bit. I don’t know why I didn’t realize this earlier, but when I was younger and through high school I was always as fast as the fastest kids when I was barefoot, but throw on a pair of sneakers and it slowed me down.”

Regards,
Chris

Additional Articles

6 Voordelen van Cross Training

We begrijpen het. Je hebt je sport waar je van houdt en dat is alles wat je wilt doen. Maar wat als we je zouden vertellen dat er een manier is om blessures te verminderen, uithoudingsvermogen, snelheid en kracht op te bouwen, de motivatie te verhogen en je langdurig bezig te houden met datgene waar je van houdt? Het geheim? Cross training. Als je eenmaal de vele voordelen van crosstraining begrijpt, zul je staan te popelen om je nieuwe tweede favoriete sport te vinden.

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