barefootrunning

There is a small but growing revolution happening in the health and fitness world. It is a revolution of minimalism. Of finding the truth by removing the unnecessary. One of the things being questioned  is the use of athletic shoes. Do they benefit us? Who says?

The problem is that our ancestors didn't have shoes. They ran barefoot and more evidence is surfacing that suggests they were faster and stronger on average than most Olympic level athletes.

So why shoes? It seems to me, that shoes came about as a precaution against certain terrain. At first it was little more than a piece of leather tied to the sole of the foot to prevent a scrape or cut from a sharp rock. As less and less of us had to chase after our meals they slowly changed to resemble more modern shoes and our feet and health have suffered for it.

Then came the athletic shoe. Again, at first it was a flat soled shoe that provided a bit of stability to help prevent injury. But as the marketing machines caught on, shoes changed into the foam and rubber things we expect that provide us with unnecessary protection and shock absorption.

These shoes are proven to be a lie every time a marathoner from a poor third world country demolishes a race in record times. They didn't have access to $100 shoes. But what about arch support? Their foot does what it is supposed to do. By running barefoot most of their lives the muscles of their feet have gotten stronger to support the strain of running and their arches support their arches.

To make the transition to barefoot running, there are a couple of options. The most widely acclaimed being the Vibram Five Fingers (VFFs). I have been using these for my training and noticed almost immediately a difference. My stride felt more natural. I didn't get shin splints which I frequently suffered from and I fatigued a lot later. The next day, there was a soreness in the muscles in my feet and along my lower legs. These were the muscles that were atrophying from athletic shoes and dress shoes coming back to life.

The subject will continue to be researched but after my experience, I am converted to the world of barefoot running. I look forward to the day when I can cast off even my Vibrams and run barefoot with the likes of Erwan LeCorre and his MovNat course.

Has anyone else had a similar or opposite reaction to barefoot training?