Back in 2009 when Born to Run
was published, barefoot running transitioned from a small cult following into
mainstream phenomenon. Following
the words of Christopher McDougall, many runners threw caution to the wind, dumped
their overly cushioned trainers in the trash, and laid bare foot to pavement in
an effort to reduce their risk of injury, connect with their run, and perfect
their strides.
Before I delve into a diatribe, I should acknowledge that I
have never spent any time running barefoot, so perhaps there is a “don’t knock
it until you try it” aspect that I’m missing out on. However, speaking as someone who has some background in
kinesiology and biomechanics, I hope I can offer some perspective.
To keep it short and sweet, the main problem I have with barefoot running is the one-size-fits-all
philosophy. Every runner has a
slightly different stride which they adapt to fit their body type and distance
requirements. Some runners have anatomic deficits that require support shoes or custom orthotics. Some runners have a build that necessitates extra cushioning in their shoes. Also, whether or not
it is the widely accepted belief amongst barefooters, what I see a lot is
“everyone can (and should) barefoot
run. If you’ve had patellofemoral
pain, plantar fasciitis, tibial and/or metatarsal stress fractures, what you need
to do is get rid of those cumbersome shoes and relearn how to run on your own 2
bare feet.” While there is
certainly compelling anecdotal evidence that runners who convert from shod to
barefoot running are able to limit their injuries, I don’t entirely buy it. Since most people in this country wear
shoes starting at a very young age, the average person’s intrinsic foot
musculature and ligamentous structures cannot handle as much stress as, say, a
Raramuri. When people who have run
shod their whole life throw their shoes out and hit the road, the incidence of
injury skyrockets within the first several runs as people try to retain their
previous speed and distance. It also troubles me that so many road runners have taken to barefoot running, as concrete and asphalt aren't exactly forgiving surfaces to run on with no support.
I also believe that there
isn’t enough emphasis on transitioning from shod to barefoot running. Shoes like the Brooks PureProject line,
Saucony Kinvara, and even the Skechers GoRun are ideal for this transition period,
but the barefoot zealots would have you believe that all shoes are made to
cause you injury and dismay while you dole out increasing amounts of money to
buy the newest models.
The 3 basic themes of barefoot running are 1) runners should strike on
their forefoot, 2) take shorter strides that place your feet closer to your
center of gravity, and 3) have a quicker stride rate. I do stand by barefoot runners in the belief that these 3
modifications will lead to a more efficient stride, which will allow for
significant increases in endurance and pace. However, you will find that these can all be accomplished
while wearing shoes, which allows for a margin of error if you heel strike or
start to lengthen your stride slightly.
I’ll cut it off here, though I could keep going for a while. What do you think of barefoot
running? Is it the real deal? Or just a fad that will go the way of Tae Bo, Walkmen, and the Atkins diet?
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