“After stepping away from Altra a couple of years ago, I wanted to continue my mission of helping people reduce running injuries and achieve new heights by improving their running form…What became the FloatRun Harness is the perfect tool…”

At last! Our FloatRun Harnesses showed up the other day after a lot of hard work and development. Before doing this and Bridge Soles, I had almost forgotten how incredibly difficult bringing even a relatively simple product to market really is. Because my wife and oldest daughter were instrumental in their creation, we all celebrated together after checking out the finished product. Now, some background:

Origins

The original driving force behind creating Altra was to help people avoid injury and get faster by improving their running form. Due to Kenyan-style, low impact running technique, I had watched my father become an elite runner and win the St. George Marathon, despite being bone-on-bone with no cartilage in his knee. I had frustratingly seen first hand at my family’s running store how the shoes we were selling people were encouraging them to over-stride, and eventually, get injured. I had also seen how teaching people efficient running form changed their lives and eliminated chronic injuries. Altra’s were designed as a product to help people improve their running form, but more importantly to raise awareness and get people excited about it.

Unfortunately, as time went on, much of the running technique messaging and education were lost in corporate red-tape. However, my desire to help people eliminate injuries and smash personal records by improving their running form never diminished.

The origins of the FloatRun Harness go back to my first formal running technique lessons just before running my first marathon in 3:08:05 as a ten year old. My dad let Dr. Tom Miller—author of the fantastic book ‘Programmed to Run’—work with me on a visit to work with the Sojourners Running Club. Dr. Tom had originally devised a primitive string-like device that choked across your neck if your form wasn’t great. Effective…yes. Comfortable or marketable…not so much. Over the years, the device was modified, elasticized, etc. and at one point we almost commercialized a version for Altra to sell. This would be the ultimate training tool to pair with a new pair of running shoes promoting form improvement. Unfortunately, corporate red-tape struck again.

After stepping away from being at Altra full-time a couple of years ago, I wanted to continue my missions of helping people reduce running injuries and foot problems, and achieve new heights through natural foot care and by improving their running form. What became the FloatRun Harness is the perfect tool for helping people dial in their technique. I’ve tinkered with perfecting this device for many years. After what feels like a million iterations, I feel like it’s finally there.

I truly believe the FloatRun Harness is possibly the most effective and revolutionary training device for runners ever made. Not because it’s super techy, or genius, or anything like that…but because it’s like having a form coach there with you every step of every run until efficient, low impact technique becomes second nature. It also allows for individuality, while promoting the four things we see common in almost all great (never injured or elite) runners:

• Compact arms with the elbows back
• Proud, tall posture
• Higher cadence of 165-180+ depending on pace
• Footstrike under a bent knee

Why the Harness is Necessary (and Better than Classes or a Coach)

For 20 years, I typically taught running technique classes multiple times a week to groups of up to 200 people. I experimented with different cues and ways of teaching for 20 years and felt like I got really good at knowing how to explain and phrase things so people got the desired outcome. Unfortunately, if people remembered a small percentage of what I taught them the next day, that was pretty successful.

It’s a bit hard for me to admit, but the average runner is better off with a FloatRun Harness than they are spending two hours with the best running technique guru in the country. The beauty of the harness is that it’s there gently correcting and helping you improve with every single arm swing and step you take. After 6 weeks or so, those positive changes become second nature and permanent…and you don’t need it anymore aside from using it for a checkup every once in a while. At that point, if you felt like you really needed it, then it might be beneficial to go get some slow motion video analysis and feedback from a running form coach.

Yes, it’s an elastic band with strategic sewing, a logo, and some very in-depth instruction inside a slick little box. And yes, you could possibly make the band itself on your own for less money if you’re handy. But the time and money you put in to making it probably wouldn’t be worth it.

If you or someone you know would like to a run faster and more efficiently, or is struggling with chronic injuries like shin splints, knee pain, or hip issues, give the FloatRun Harness a try and then tell others about this simple, inexpensive, little device that makes it easy to make BIG improvements permanent.

Happy Running!

_{Use Code RUNGOLDEN25 to get a FloatRun Harness for 25% off}