Forums > General Running > Scoop: Cover of Nature on barefoot running!
But of course it does, but I do not think people who run in shoes are are evangelical hippies -- just folks who happen to run in shoes. Just like I'm someone who doesn't.
There are surely benefits and detriments to each, and those benefits and detriments are unique to each person.
Most shod runners don't join groups promoting shoes, blog about running in shoes, or post shod-running links in their forum signatures. It would be funny if they did, but those behaviors suggest evangelism to me.
Again, the hippie comment was not my personal opinion, that's just what I hear people saying when they see barefoot runners.
I'm not saying there's anything wrong with evangelism for a good cause. I just wish the cause was to promote forefoot/midfoot striking which is actually supported by science as being better--shoeless or not. As a side note to the forefoot strike cult, it would be noted that most large heeled running shoes make proper forefoot strike difficult and are not "supported" by its followers.
Taz
Why do you refer to forefoot strikers as a cult?
It's hard to tell if I'm being trolled or not, so I'll just assume I am, since I can't possibly argue any further. The hypocrisy of your argument hurts my brain andan attempt to refute it will only cause my further pain. So I'll skip to the conclusion and leave out the petty stuff (well I did get in one shot there)
1. Running is good.
2. Experimenting can be beneficial.
3. Options aren't going to hurt people if they take the time to understand. If they don't, than they will get hurt. This happens regardless, and often even in spite of understanding.
Barefoot and happy
The thing that started this whole thread was a study conducted at Harvard and published in Nature. What constitutes "real science" in your mind?
Quote from wyerock on 2/6/2010 at 7:30 PM:
Do you have any "real science" to back up that statement?
It's actually really difficult to injure yourself that way -- you would stop from discomfort way before you get a significant injury. No magic required.
"Bring it"
Man, this barefoot running thing is getting a little big for a cult...
Jason that just means you will have to lead more people! We need to buy lots of land in Texas and build a ranch
I got lots of guns!!!
I was proposing tongue-in-cheek alternative to barefoot running groups, focusing on forefoot striking. Not derogatory, more along the lines of "Cult of Mac", "Cult Classic", etc... I was going for the irony of calling forefoot strikers a cult, when the study had positive scientific evidence for forefoot striking.
I was referring to the fact that some people use scientific findings incorrectly to back their own conclusions by making jumps in logic.
Real Science:
Forefoot striking is better
Most barefoot runners forefoot strike
Assumption:
Barefoot running is better than shod
Easier to understand now? This is not to say that shod is better than barefoot, just that study didn't gather evidence to show that either way.
Better than all of you
Too lazy to start a new thread... Figured people like Ed or Jason would like to hear.
Lorraine Moller, the bronze medalist in 1992 Olympic marathon at the age of 37 and my partner with Lydiard Foundation, just sent me a draft of her up-and-coming column for "Marathon & Beyond". It's about the fastest shoes in the market--the one you were born with. Come to think of it, yeah, she WAS talking about that when she came over here and I took her to a couple of grade schools to talk about running to little kids.
I don't know exactly when it's coming out--I'd say in mid to late March or early April??? So stay tuned.
Ed:
I was just thinking about you last night (really!)...and Jason. I'm right here in the meeting room with Lorraine Moller and Dick Brown, former coach of Mary Decker (things got a bit slow so I'm checking my internet).
Lorraine took me to this meeting at a local restaurant here in Boulder; it's about barefoot running. This guy, can't remember his name, invited all of us; I actually couldn't believe (sorry!) the pace was PACKED! We must have had some 40 people; we had this guy came in and gave us a presentation--pretty well put-together. He wasn't quite a proponent of barefoot running but he talked about problems with "modern shoes" and what kind of shoes are better--close to barefoot. He got me on a spot as a "representative of Lydiard Foundation" and we, after the guy's talk, Q&A and it went on for quite some time. This other guy talked about how he runs up the hill (tough trails in CO) actually faster barefoot but slower downhill, etc... Quite interesting.
I didn't know what I was getting myself into but it was quite interesting and lively. I wished I brought my camera and took some pictures and put something down on our blog at LF... You would have enjoyed it a lot. Oh, they also had great Indian food for dinner!
PS: Forgot to share; there's this guy who sat next to me and he was also introduced by the host. He has the website called www.invisible.shoe.com and he makes/sells/teaches people to make this slippers. He said that FiveFinger stuff is still quite stiff--said something like 6~8mm rubber. He uses a very thin rubber of 4mm and works much better than FiveFingers, he said. I can't remember if it was him or some other guy but said something like his second toe is longer than the big toe and FiveFinger just didn't fit.
Now, sorry those of you who are a real barefoot runner; I personally don't run barefoot. I think it makes sens and I run in minimalist shoes. Some shoes help--I admit that. But my point is a lot of so-called "modern shoes with high tech features" actually HURT people.
PS: Forgot to share; there's this guy who sat next to me and he was also introduced by the host. He has the website http://www.invisibleshoe.com
Edit:
fixed link
Thank you! Sorry.
Run Stupider
I've mostly seen zealots on one side here.
(Not sure if you were actually trying to assert that zealots exist from the other side, or if it was kind of a trite aphorism attempting to promote diplomacy and reduce the level of anger.)
