Today is day 2098 of my running streak. I have run every day for nearly six years and covered 16,153.65km towards a lap of the world, which is 40,075km. 23,921.35km remain. On today's run I noticed a flaw in my form which took me almost six years to spot. I want to explain what I found.

Why my comfortable stride held me back

Over the years I searched for the most comfortable way to run. Long distance running rewards this. Your stride shortens, your cadence settles and your breathing stays easy. For recovery runs this is the right approach, and a daily streak needs plenty of recovery runs. I run barefoot-style in Vibram FiveFingers, which also encourages a light, gentle contact with the ground.

The problem appeared when I wanted to run faster. I tried to turn my legs over quicker with the same shortened form. Nothing drove each step forward. I used more effort and gained little pace. My stride was inefficient and lacked power.

The running form hack

I read a short article in Runner's World. The advice was simple: as you run, try to kick your backside with your heels. Nothing more. Within a few strides I felt an increase in power. On the video you see me doing exactly this, and I look as if I am trying to kick myself.

My understanding is this. The heel flick swings the leg through and drives it forward, so each push from the ground carries me ahead rather than my leg trailing behind. I am not a coach, and I have not tested this in a lab. This is what I felt on the road today.

I also want to be honest about the effort. At first, running this way took more work. The extra pace came with extra effort. The real test is whether the new form becomes my normal form. When this happens, I expect to hold a faster pace at the same effort, even on slow runs. Today, at an easy pace, I still felt the drive from the flick.

Why many runners miss this

A lot of runners never work with a coach. Without one, nobody watches your form and nobody questions your habits. You repeat what feels comfortable. I did exactly this for years. The fix was not complicated or expensive. It was one sentence in one article.

How to try it

1. Start on an easy run, not a hard session. 2. For a few strides, think about flicking each heel up towards your backside. 3. Keep your breathing steady and notice the change in drive. 4. Repeat for short sections until the movement feels normal. 5. Let the flick stay in your stride at slower paces too.

What the streak taught me

The lesson for me is that consistency locks in habits, good and bad. 2098 days of daily running built discipline. The streak also set my form in place. I never questioned a stride I had repeated for years. Daily repetition rewards review as much as it rewards effort.

The second lesson is patience. New form feels clumsy. I have to practise at an easy pace before I ask for speed. This matches what the streak has always asked of me. Small, repeated work beats one big effort.

Where this sits in the mission

Every kilometre belongs to a larger aim. I am running a lap of the world, 40,075km, and working towards raising £1M for children's causes, including Great Ormond Street and BBC Children in Need. 23,921.35km remain. A small gain in efficiency, repeated across those kilometres, is worth finding. A better stride does not change why I run. More people watching the vlog means more support for children's causes.

If you want to increase your running pace, try the heel flick on your next easy run and tell me what you notice in the comments. If you believe in the mission, subscribe, share and follow along. I will be back out tomorrow for day 2099.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/vOSsvhTr6ms