Pete Larson (RunBlogger.com) did a recent series of pieces, with references. I posted links to them here: http://goo.gl/nRTkU When I asked Pete whether the conference he attended addressed speed, as opposed to injury prevention and treatment, he said it did not.
As a licensed podiatrist I would say this they are interesting shoes, but nothing more. To my knowledge for something to be medically accepted as better there needs to be more research done. Right now there has not been enough done to definitively say they are 'better'. Personally I would stick to trainers and not waist my money. I am willing to bet that most others in my field would be willing to say the same.
Zola says that it is medically accepted because her children's pediatrician(s) in South Africa told her to keep her children out of shoes as long as possible. She says so in 2010's Newton running panel where she speaks 2 or 3 times on the panel. Find it on youtube.
I agree with them. I, too, grew up barefoot and do as much as possible barefoot. Last Saturday I raced over 6K XC barefoot in my Nation at 5:16 pmp.
I don't buy the evolutionary argument. Didn't humans evolve to be smart enough to make shoes because it hurt to be barefoot?
wilfredo wrote:
I don't buy the evolutionary argument. Didn't humans evolve to be smart enough to make shoes because it hurt to be barefoot?
i assume you're joking. i hope you are.
I like barefoot running but I've never actually tried it personally because I'm afraid I might step on something that's very painful. However, I wear barefoot running shoes instead like Vibram Five Fingers. Love the feeling and its benefits.
h t t p://barefootrunningshoes.org/vibram-fivefingers
i have to wear shoes to get my miles in, when im in more minimal flats i can feel much fatigue in my lower leg muscles. i keep my trainers for my longer/daily mileage and flats for speed/tempo work and racing. im sure i could "train" my legs to adapt to the muscular load to my lower legs by running 'minimal'more often, but im having no injury problem to date, im not sure the risk is worth the "benefits" of which. im still skeptical and confused on what those "benefits" are for people who are doing fine with conventional methods. running 80+ miles a week barefoot just sounds like an invitation to injury.
you'll say that orthotics and expensive motion controll and stability shoes are better for us because they keep people coming back to you. Also, how is it better to run in something that changes your stride to a very unnatural motion? Thus why our country has such a high rate of lower leg injuries!
I haven't been injured since switching to minimal shoes/vibrams over a year ago....this is after being constantly injured with achilles/plantar/knee problems. All the research I need is the fact that I enjoy running again.
If you accept "evolution" then women shouldn't be able to run barefoot at all since they were the "gatherers" while men were the hunters.
Feet come in all varieties, some are flat, some have a high arch, some are hypermobile, some are rigid, in toed, out toed, etc. Hence there is no ONE way that works for every foot.
For skinny African or Indian school children barefoot is probably ideal for them. For the typical overweight American, shoes would be the sensible(and hygienic) thing to do.
igotit wrote:
We also went through our entire evolutionary history only living for about 30 years at most. I didn't develop a single injury until I reached 35. Go figure.
I'm still waiting for any proof of "medical acceptance." Let me know when you find it. See you later. GFY.
Medical acceptance you say?? Don't care...we usually prove doctors wrong ex. women being able to run, sub 4min mile, over 100mi a week being good for you(mostly).
Why minimalist/barefoot?
I am skeptical of any anecdotal evidence until I try it to see for myself.
Don't knock it until you've tried it well I've tried it my friends and I'll never wear "normal" high heeled running shoes again.
I actually tried throwing on my old shoes a few times...end result was a complete revolt by my Achilles tendons. It felt like running in cowboy boots.
To bare-footers: stop pushing your agenda you just make the rest of us seem stupid. If you want to convince them train at over a 100mi/week and win some races even if its just local 5k's/10k/half/full marathons.