Your Daily Apple: Running Barefoot

One big draw of running is that it's so easy to do--all you need is a pair
of sneakers and an open road or trail. Well, that's what I've always
thought, until this recent deluge of data that keeps telling us that
running shoes are actually bad for you ...

Since getting two stress fractures in the past year, I've been extra
interested in research on running injuries. After my first fracture (hip),
I did what most people do: I bought new shoes, shoes with lots of cushioning
and support and gel and shocks and fit them with orthodics specially
fitted to my feet and, just for good measure, I bought an extra pair so I that can
rotate running shoes every other day.

After my 2nd fracture (foot), I started looking into this barefoot running trend. I
read Chris McDougal's new book Born To Run, which studies a tribe of Indians who
run for hours every day in leather sandals and NEVER get injured as
well as some really inspiring American ultra-runners and which outright states:
"Every year, anywhere from 65  to 80 percent of all runners suffer an injury.
That's nearly every runner, every single year. No matter who you are, no matter
how much you run, your odds of getting hurt are the same" and suggests the underlying
enemy: "Running shoes may be the most destructive force to ever hit the human foot."

Here's how it works: human feet were designed to run long distances and
all these super-cushioned shoes are impairing our natural abilities. The
midfoot and arch are made to absorb impact. But running shoes cushion the
heel and support the arch, a system that makes runners land on their heels
(and the bony stub of our heel was never intended to absorb impact); this
leads to poor form and injuries.

Since the advent of running shoes, injury rates have not decreased.
Studies have found that the more expensive and cushioned shoes are, the
more likely their wearers are to get injured. Yikes!

So I'm using myself as my own guinea pig for this new barefooted running
trend. I bought a pair of these:
My sister calls them lizard feet, but they're  Vibram Fivefingers, $80
shoes that simulate barefoot running for those of us who don't have
leather callused feet. I've worn them once b/c my injured foot is still
pretty weak, and I felt so much lighter and my form was instantly better.
One piece of advice: ease into these puppies, or your calves will kill.

And a more normal-looking pair of these:

Nike Frees 5.0, Nike's response to the barefoot trend; they have hardly
any cushioning and stregnthen the same often-neglected foot muscles as
barefoot running. Not reccommended for runs over 40 min.

But, I have to admit, I still do the majority of my runs in my trusty New-B's

Although I AM much more aware of my form--I lean forward (don't want to
resist gravity!), land on my midfoot and shorten my stride. So far, no
inkling of injury, so as my feet get stronger, I'm keeping my options open
for barefoot running.

With injuries so common, all this shoe stuff can get pretty stressful. I
worry that if I choose the wrong shoe, I'll end up with another bone
problem. So if you want a break from all this angst-inducing technical
stuff, get some inspiration (and running form to emulate!) and watch Jenny
Barringer dominate Pre-Nats this weekend.