Running Barefoot

I recently read an article in the New York Times that was all about barefoot running and its benefits.  A man was told after his surgery not to run because he would make his condition worse.  The man couldn’t do that so he sought out ways to run that wouldn’t be harmful to his body.  This same man did research on shoes and what I got out of it is that less shoe is more. He quit wearing shoes and his injuries ceased and he went on to win many marathons as he got older and older.  When humans first starting running way back when we didn’t have shoes and we didn’t run for sport or profession.  Humans ran barefoot and time has evolved us to believe that shoes are the only way to run better and to prevent injury.  In the seventies shoes were lighter and not ‘supportive’ this made people have to depend solely on their bodies natural shock absorption. Injuries were also less in this time. Since shoes have evolved and are made for specific types of feet and how the foot specifically strikes the ground.  If shoes are a problem take them off. 

Is there really one way to run? People run in so many different forms and in so many different shoes.  Running fast is all about mechanics.  How your arms are in relation to your body, how much you swing your arms, how your body is leaning, and how your foot strikes the ground.  For some it isn’t even about running fast but about running efficiently.  There is so much that goes into making your body move forward and it is fascinating to think that shoes could be something that causes your body harm rather than helps it.  Shoes, those things that you put on your feet every morning to wear because it is socially unacceptable to be barefoot and they protect your feet from harm. I would have never thought that shoes could be a problem and cause possible injury.  As a runner, I am curious to see the further development about barefoot running.  If I am feeling up to it, I may even try it but for now I am going to stick to my handy Sauconys and Nikes.