Running without shoes is the most natural style to jog on any path
By: Scott Tomiko
Submitted: 2010-08-04 17:37:20 | Word Count: 555
I have spent my whole life running with sneakers on, thinking this was the only method to run. Approximately a year ago, I had an injury in my leg that barred me from doing any running or training at all. I was too anxious to wait for my leg to mend, I wanted to sprint, and I had to find a way to make this occur. My injury started at my calf muscles traveling all the way down to my Achilles heal. I was concerned that if I kept running I would permanently injury my leg. Initially, I researched different styles of running shoes that were accessible. They all advertised several claims but how could I find the right shoe and would it work after I spent a great deal of cash? While I was researching for sneakers I found people who jog without shoes on, called “Barefoot Running”.
I started a new direction in my examination. I wanted to find out about barefoot running. What were the benefits and were there any downsides. I found out that people have been running like this ever since humans came into being, where running shoes have only been around for about the last century. How come we as a civilization have been programmed to wear sneakers to be able to jog? The thought of being able to run barefoot had never crossed my mind. Would my toes be able to manage the pain? Would there be any pain? I already had an injury, would this make it worse or healthier? This was an idea that I also knew would cause countless looks and stares.
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The discrepancies in the two versions of running are profound. Running with shoes on, causes your heel to contact the ground first, followed by the ball of the foot then toes. This is how we normally walk. With barefoot running, the ball of the foot touches the ground first then the toes and finally the heel if it touches the ground at all.
If you look at a runner who has footwear on, then you will see their stride is forward of their body thus causing a great deal of shock with every hard hit with the heel to the ground. This may be what is creating some of my tenderness and injuries? A jogger who is running barefoot typically has their stride under their body. This means the ball of the foot strikes the ground even with or somewhat behind the rest of the body. This takes a great deal of weight off of each strike to the ground and each pace looks very normal and painless.
My study on barefoot running stateted that someone new to this style should start off with a short run of 5 minutes or less. This could then be followed with a gradual build of time and miles. Well, this was worth a try. Since I cannot run my regular way perhaps this different technique may proof helpful.
