If you have seen my previous entries you will know that the average 10 and a half stone  runner  puts 60-90 tonnes of force through each leg for every mile he/she runs *. This is a phenomenal amount of load to endure, which, with poor technique, can quickly lead to a variety of conditions ranging from shin splints and knee pain to the more serious stress fractures of the foot bones (metatarsals), shin bone (tibia) and long term wear and tear such as osteoarthritis. I see this happening to recreational and competitive runners in clinic every week.