Great article Mark, thanks for the link!

here is a good answer from Dr. Casey Kerrigan
http://naturalrunningcenter.co…

Mark

True…”natural” running is what comes naturally. Dr. Lieberman showed that shod individuals evolve to run in a different patern than unshod.  In my belief we were created to run in a pattern of the unshod.  Most of us have evolved to run in a different way that we did as kids…good point.

Mark

They’re here to stay. What needs to happen coincidentally is educating (as Mark says) runners about slowly transitioning into the shoes and adapting a running form that creates less impact to the body. 

Thanks, Jeff, for keeping this ball rolling,
Danny Dreyer

if there had been fads like this before….
going back to basics this time WILL NOT DIE

Noone,
for fun and interest…we are all still searching for the truth and none of us will ever get there completely

http://www.sciencedaily.com/re…

Mark

 “there are lots of risks on most running surfaces: pieces of glass, medal or rock–hidden below even the most groomed grass surfaces. There are also lots of surface irregularities that can produce serious trauma injuries in one step.”

Of COURSE there are hazards in a grass surface. That’s why barefoot runners avoid grass!  We run on smooth asphalt, or smooth concrete–where there are no hidden hazards.  Anyone who has taken up barefoot running and bothered to research the subject, or to speak to an experienced barefoot runner, knows this.  But evidently Jeff Galloway does not.  If he is ignorant about this most basic element of barefoot running, it is hard to consider him knowledgeable about any other aspect of barefoot running.

I admire and respect Jeff enormously, and often recommend his run/walk plan to other runners.  I will continue to do so.  He is clearly an expert on marathons and marathon training.  And I hope he will learn more about barefoot running….perhaps by trying it himself, on a good smooth asphalt road or bikepath.

Would you recommend that every individual get a preventative appendectomy at a young age to avoid the risk? Should we make all kids wear glasses from age 3 because their eyes might go bad at some point? That’s essentially what the current shoe philosophy is – put kids in cushioned, controlling, heel lifted shoes at a young age because some think it might prevent an injury. Only problem is there is no data to support this. No data to support reduction of injuries barefoot/minimalist either, but as an evolutionary biologist, I tend to think my default state is a better option from the outset than a heavily controlling shoe with no scientific basis for it’s utility. Particularly when we know quite well that ill-fitting shoes can alter the anatomy of our feet and legs with chronic use.

I find that uphill running is easier in barefoot-style shoes, but downhill running is a lot harder. Personally, I think I’ll probably always regularly rotate several different pairs of shoes. I have the most fun running in something like the Fivefingers, but when performance is the priority, definitely opt for something a bit more. Same goes for long distance in most cases – generally have more shoe underfoot. I find that using a mix prevents me from getting stale, and stresses my legs in different ways. Hopefully that reduces the likelihood of an overuse injury.

Pete

Thanks for your comment Laurie, always great to get perspective from someone
who spends their time treating injured runners.

Pete