If I ever wrote anything of substance, this will be more important for you to take in.
Over the past months, after more than a year fighting running and even skating unjuries in what seemed my ankles, I have stumbled on a truth you wont't often hear about.
RUNNING SHOES CAUSE INJURIES
Let that settle in, give this statement an honest chance.
No study has ever been able to show that runners with high-tech running shoes, enjoy a reduced injury rate. That's odd, because the first thing we do when we decide to pick up running (for whichever cause), is to go buy running shoes.
Just like when picking up cycling, you go get a bike. Skiing may be slightly different, it's so far out there, that most (as I) at first rent some to try the sport itself out.
Anyway, studies DO show a correlation between shoe price, and injury rate. Cheap, old shoes, bringing their owners fewer injuries.
HOW can this be, you ask?
Well, it was brought to my attention that our forefathers were born barefoot. Just like us. However, they were raised barefoot, and they died barefoot. They may have used animal hide to prevent frost bite, but no shoes were found. The Egypians, who supposedly built pyramids, did so barefoot. They artworks testify of this.
The Tarahumara people in the Mexican Sierra Madre mountains, are one of the last cultures that embrace the natural ways of homo sapiens. They runs, and only use the minimal footwear, for long (100 miles, typically). Sandals from car tire treads, laced to their ankles. NO CUSHIONING, just protection from trail hazards, hot roads, etc.
Homo sapiens may well have gotten the better of Neatherthales, by being better runners. Our feet, Michelangelo wrote, are engineering works of art.
We were created, or evolved, to run barefoot. We're really good at it. But, 99.999% of us, have forgotten this. Our feets, legs, spines, have weakened from rigid support of our foorwear.
I wrote to ask a cycling friend I trust, whom I had previously considered a weirdo for proclaiming to run barefoot, to ask fot tips. Easier than turning the internet inside-out what I normally do when I get obcessed.
He adivsed me to get Allstar type imitation, low-quality, thin-soled sneakers. Those are apparently great for practicing natural running (landing on the forefoot as I was already trying the past year+).
Such sneakers can currently be had for €4.95-€7.95. Only, the larest 46 size is too small for me.
The alternative, even more extreme solution (when you want to delay the inevitable purchase of the ultimately better Vibram FiveFingers) is to get water/aqua socks/shoes/boots, whatever they are called. Made to wear while surfing, hanging out on a marble infested beach, etc. Super thin soles.
The body, when barefoot or on water shoes and the like, will not run like we are taught. We're supposed to land our heels first, and then roll the foot forward, right? That, as it turns out, is proper form for WALKING.
Running is landing on the outer-forefoor, absorbing the impact (reducing kniee/hip/back injury rates), and then tapping the heels for good measure. This requires stronger calfs, but they will be trained when nurtured into it.
So I just completed 10 minutes on my water shoes. Without the insoles they are really loose around my feet, although the big toe might have enjoyed a bit more space. It's like a sock though, it stretched nicely.
Running is really like one might imagine on winter socks. Just about barefoot. I could sense all the structure in the pavement. Extremely liberating. Made the street exciting again. My legs need to adjust, as it's stressful at first, but it's like being a kid again.
I truly deeply believe that we'd been fooled by Nike et al. They are not slowly introducing minimalist shoes (not minimalist prices) that go against their more-cushion-is-better approach of the past 4 decades.
I fully expect to become a much better runner when I keep up the (almost or completely) barefoot running. I now have anti-pronation insoles in my running shoes, but may not need those anymore at some stage. Although when you're going to wear a shoe anyway, it may not hurt the form of the body more than a shoe that isn't even a good shoe.
I walked through the mall today on some light racing shoes, and that felt really nice also. Light, more natural that my typical high-heel (2-3cm) casual shoes, or even high cushion running shoes.
There is a lot out there on barefoot running on the internet, and it's strongly gaining acceptance. I feel like I've alway been lied into believing the earth is flat. As an athlete, I would have preferred to live in the time of that particular lie than this one, actually. I'm 33 year old, and have just found out that I've tried to run all my life on fundamentally flawed shoes.
It's like the 29" vs. 26" wheel debate I got involved in. But this goes even deeper. This is not just ignorance, it's denying our roots, our creation/evolution.
Yet to try, but I'm already convinced they'll be great for me : Feelmax Toesocks. Geeky like heck. But so are smelly feet.
I'll try to throw in some pics.
Vibram FiveFingers KSO (keep stuff out)
The universally accepted medicin, that ends up making us weaker, and sicker:
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