Footers VS runners

[LeeAnne]

What is the difference between footers and runners? The rep told us that runners would generally be the best way to go, but as I read I keep running into "footers". What is the difference, (is there, or is it just different terminology for the same thing?) Would one prove a more stable foundation over time? The area that we are in has clay soil and is less than an hour from the gulf coast.

[Eugene]

A runner is just a long footing, that usually will have 4 piers rest on it, runners run perpendicular to the home chassis. footers are individual, one per pier. If they are done right, they both will perform equally well.