The medial arch and plantar fascia: Do they REALLY store and return 'energy

We hear a lot about the foot acting like a giant spring, deforming, storing energy and the booooiiiiiinng! returning it so the runner can zoom onto the next Impala like step!

But is this really what does happen? And, are there perhaps other structures that play an important role on the distribution of all that stored kinetic energy? Read on...