It's the journey, and the destination.
Trying to play to people’s fears in an effort to stop them from being informed will surely fail. Especially when research from none other than Harvard is being published. Trying to combat information with fear doesn’t work for long (one need only look at some previous US administrations to see that). Indeed, the only effective way to go up against information is with credible and convincing counter-information.
Up until recently, running shoes have mainly been classified in terms of motion control, stability, and arch support. Such classification requires a whole vocabulary of words, such as neutral, pronation, and advanced. When Minimal shoes are included in the mix, though, a new classification is called for. Without more than one category for anything less than the regular, large running shoes out there, most people will remain confused and even misguided when it comes to “barefoot” running shoes.
This is a story of a guy who loves shoes. However, this guy has written a number of posts about the virtues of going barefoot – how it strengthens the feet, making you a better runner. So, how can he encourage people to try going barefoot yet wear stylish shoes himself? Well, a solution that marries barefoot minimalist form with fashionable design now makes this possible.
If you saw a strange, motley looking crew running in Palo Alto Saturday with naked feet, that was us. Contrary to what surely was the conclusion of most passersby, we are not the latest new age cult to hit California. We’re merely fans of natural running. Brought together by a common interest in running without shoes, we had gathered with Barefoot Ted (of Born to Run fame) to learn, practice, and improve our running form and have a good time. Both goals were met.
There are many tips out there on how to run barefoot, with more being offered up on a daily basis. Some of these tips can be confusing or downright contradictory to one another, though, which can kill curiosity and interest in giving it a try. Or worse yet, people end up injuring themselves and giving up. The confusion can make putting a barefoot running program together for yourself rather difficult. Here’s the training plan I put together for myself to run barefoot.
A few nights ago I dreamt that I was running freely down the trail in perfect form. There was no pain, no limping, no concerns whatsoever. Instead, I was having the time of my life. As I recalled the dream the next morning I was once again filled with the joy I had during my dream run. It was incredible just how much fun I felt while I ran.
A growing body of scientific research shows that runners experience less injuries and faster times when they run barefoot or with minimal padding. In fact, research published in Sports Science in 2001 by Michael Warburtin points out that, “Laboratory studies show that the energy cost of running is reduced by about 4% when the feet are not shod.” Translate the energy saved into time over a run and you are going to experience a personal record. Add the reduced chance you’ll suffer an injury and it’s a big win for us runners.
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You Won’t Run Barefoot
The reason so many people bristle at the idea of running without shoes on has little to do with the ickiness factor and everything to do with a story about an apple, a serpent, and a naked man and woman in a perfect world. Let me explain.