More Science of Sport discussion on barefoot running (Read 2796 times)

This seems like commonsense, but some of my friends who prefer barefoot and had it help do think that everyone needs to do it.  I don't believe this as when I talked to an injury treatment guy (ART), he said he's seen many more injuries (granted, different injuries, usually) since barefoot has taken off.

 

Full disclosure, I wear built up shoes.  And after over 25000 completely injury free miles in the last 12 years, I have no intention of changing.  I like them.  I think they help my decidedly un-runner-like body run a lot.   I hope everyone finds what works for them, but if one more person gets on me about my shoes again (though I get injured less and run more than the most vocal guy in my life who does this) I might stick the entire stable shoe up his behind.  (I also wear glasses.  I'm failing my evolution there, too.   )  Though I will say that I do go barefoot most of the rest of my life and will do barefoot strides after runs in the summer.  That's just enjoyable.

Can we really trust the "unbiased" opinion of Shoe?

I'd say about the same as "Barefoot (fill-in-the-name)".

I have trouble with Merrell.  They just decided to call their product 'barefoot shoes'.  Dude. I can't trust that.

There is far more to barefoot running than simply taking off your shoes. First and foremost is that cultures with economies too poor to allow for buying shoes, are also economies too poor to buy concrete as well. The human foot needs a soft surface for optimum natural interaction. That reality simply doesn't exist for the vast majority of shoe wearing individuals.

Second is fact that most of us learned to walk and run wearing shoes, which has completely distorted our context to understanding what a "natural" running technique is supposed to look and feel like.

Those who live in city or run on hard surface environments attempting to run barefoot are more accurately running without shoes, rather than to think its the same as running truly barefoot. that difference is conveniently overlooked by most coaches of both barefoot or shod running techniques.

Barefoot cultures don't walk like shod cultures, nor do they run like shod runners. And that technique difference is an advantage to them shod or not. Which is why after 30 years and the hundreds of millions spent on "research", no coach or athlete raised in a hard surface and shod culture has been trained to beat them.

Since the vast majority of runners seek guidence to finish a marathon, rather than win one, running without shoes is an improvement simply because they're not trying to run under the influence of having their feet literally duct taped to a board. But taking away that board of interference means you're left with a foot with 20 muscles that have absolutely no strength, endurance, or coordination in how to function.

The running technique that's promoted for running without shoes is based upon reliance of the only muscles in the foot that have any training whatsoever, which are the ones in the forefoot because that's the only place in a typical shoe that allows for any bending at all. The primary point of flexation in most shoes is right behind the structure known as the toebox.

With only one point of flexation, its no wonder that removing your shoes results in a forefoot landing process, because the muscles underneath the modern shoe flex point are the only ones with any strength in them at all. However that leaves out the vast majority of muscles in the foot that have no clue how to move. That reality as well is quickly overlooked by people who can't explain how they're supposed to function naturally given fact they've never been taught what that means.

And until you know what that means, you'll find barefoot running more comfortably, and reducing ones injury risk, but the cost is expending much more energy per step, as well as running at a slower pace. But if finishing the race is your goal, then there's nothing wrong with that.

However if you're looking to truly improve your speeds or actually win the race outright or maybe in your age group, then that requires learning how barefoot cultures actually walk and run; which Lieberman, BORN TO RUN, or any typical barefoot technique promoter cannot do.

-A 19 year teacher of barefoot athletics- 

Has it really been several years?

All I know is the return of sport jester has made me consider what a waste of time this space is and that I'm generally better off in almost all areas of life when I don't check in with this space for a while.

Peace out, playas.

Got away from recreational athletes.

Most of my private clients are all military. Running to them is a survival skill rather than an ego based one.

barefoot military training? 

Ninja training, yo!

Basic army recruits, marines, as well as Navy SEALS. 

Considering they carry over 100lbs every day in combat, the ability to carry, run, and move more efficiently is quite appreciated actually.