Barefoot Running

Here at Agony, while we say “Agony o’de Feet”, we don’t really like to put our feet through hell.  After all, if we don’t take care of our feet, we won’t be able to run.  So we can’t help but notice all the poor suffering feet of barefoot runners.

NYT had a little article this week about a doctor who took an interest at the number of injured barefoot runners. 

NYT says, “Those who believe in barefoot running often point out that humans ran and walked without shoes for millennia before footwear was invented. They argue that being unshod is normal for humans and should reverse past injuries related to modern running shoes and prevent future ones.” 

So why the injuries??  The good Dr. Douglas Brown was BAFFLED.  As any good doctors with a curiosity would do, he actually took the time to do some research to see if in fact, barefoot running can have an adverse effect.

…………………………….do we need a funded research for this?  Really?

Just look at the quote from NYT – how the whole argument of barefoot running rest on the fact that we use to run barefoot millennia ago.  But…you know what….?

·         MILLENNIA AGO, not many people were dedicated “runners” that competed regularly in endurance or speed road races.  If they ran, it was for a life reason – like hunting or going to war.

·         MILLENNIA AGO, places people ran the most wasn’t paved concrete or asphalt everywhere. 

·         MILLENNIA AGO, people ran slower, more cautious about where they stepped and how they stepped.  They weren’t training for a PR in Half Marathons.

·         MILLENNIA AGO, people did not do high mileage long runs.  Sure they may have ran long miles, but it was in little chunks. (see #1)

·         MILLENNIA AGO, people were smaller and lighter.  DUH. 

·         MILLENNIA AGO, our diet was totally different.  We probably ate more calcium and iron, resulting in stronger bones.  (see paleo diet)

While we always say “to each’s own” or “there’s always a top to the kettle” or “you’re always someone’s fetish” and we’re super liberal about everybody and everything in general, funding a research where the answer seems to lie in COMMON SENSE is not something we like to see.

Barefoot runners always like to point out the super fast African runners and say, “well Africans run barefoot!!”.   Yea.  African tribal hunters in Masai bush run around barefoot.  Last we checked in on Coach Alem’s friend, Haile Gebrselassie, he was wearing neon colored top of the line Adidas shoes.