So what's all the hype about Five Fingers? I've started seeing them at the gym, on the trails, and even strolling around town on a Sunday afternoon.
The makers say they are like going barefoot. But I thought my mother told me never to go barefoot?
Going barefoot is nothing new. Not only has man been running around barefoot for centuries, but he's been doing so rather quickly. Tribal runners around the world have long since been running barefoot. We've even seen a few Olympic athletes run this way during competition. But is this the way all of us should hit the pavement?
Research tells us a few things.
Running without shoes can strengthen the foot, ankle, and leg.
It is thought by many that the excessive cushioning provided by some shoe technology weakens the foot and leg muscles. For a some time, we have had Birkenstock and other shoes that encourage the natural gripping and work of the foot.
Among those who do run barefoot, the foot strikes in the mid or forefoot. The cushion of our running shoes, shaped like a wedge, forces a change in the way we strike the ground. Without the wedge, the mid or forefoot naturally make contact before the heel. The arch is strengthened by this motion. And when the forefoot or midfoot strike first, the likelihood of injury is far less as is the impact to the joints.
Even more interesting to me was the fact that running with a forefoot strike actually uses about 5% less energy than running with a heel strike. That's like never paying the tax on your purchases again, or having your energy bill reduced by $5,000 over a lifetime. When we run barefoot, we also consume (or need) less oxygen. Simply put, we are more efficient.
It would seem that all signs are nudging us to run barefoot, or close to it. So why was the ultra cushioned running shoe created in the first place? We have become accustomed to shoes, namely to keep our feet protected. Protection developed into correction, but now it seems we are correcting the very problems we tried to avoid by cushioning our feet. Did we simply let this get out of hand?
Reversing this process can take time and practice. So if and when you decide to try running barefoot (or with Five Fingers-- gravel and glass don't feel good during your morning run), do so carefully and gradually. If you had never run before, you wouldn't take off for a marathon, right? Ease into your Five Fingers. Your foot, body, and mind will need some time to adjust-- be patient and your feet will keep you going the distance.
Research tells us a few things.
Running without shoes can strengthen the foot, ankle, and leg.
It is thought by many that the excessive cushioning provided by some shoe technology weakens the foot and leg muscles. For a some time, we have had Birkenstock and other shoes that encourage the natural gripping and work of the foot.
Among those who do run barefoot, the foot strikes in the mid or forefoot. The cushion of our running shoes, shaped like a wedge, forces a change in the way we strike the ground. Without the wedge, the mid or forefoot naturally make contact before the heel. The arch is strengthened by this motion. And when the forefoot or midfoot strike first, the likelihood of injury is far less as is the impact to the joints.
Even more interesting to me was the fact that running with a forefoot strike actually uses about 5% less energy than running with a heel strike. That's like never paying the tax on your purchases again, or having your energy bill reduced by $5,000 over a lifetime. When we run barefoot, we also consume (or need) less oxygen. Simply put, we are more efficient.
It would seem that all signs are nudging us to run barefoot, or close to it. So why was the ultra cushioned running shoe created in the first place? We have become accustomed to shoes, namely to keep our feet protected. Protection developed into correction, but now it seems we are correcting the very problems we tried to avoid by cushioning our feet. Did we simply let this get out of hand?
Reversing this process can take time and practice. So if and when you decide to try running barefoot (or with Five Fingers-- gravel and glass don't feel good during your morning run), do so carefully and gradually. If you had never run before, you wouldn't take off for a marathon, right? Ease into your Five Fingers. Your foot, body, and mind will need some time to adjust-- be patient and your feet will keep you going the distance.
i remembered the first time i wear my vibram pairs..was an odd light feeling but as days goes by, i get use to it..and now im actually loving it
ReplyDeleteCool. Have you read "Born to Run" by McDougall? He is a huge advocate of vibram shoes and it is a fun read.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sold. I wear super light shoes whenever I run (Mizuno Waverider 13) and I'm a mid-foot striker by nature. So these shoes ought to be a no-brainer for me. But every time I think about them, I think about how hard the pavement is around me and how much nastiness is on the streets around me. Have they done research re: how much it helps on concrete and asphalt versus dirt and trails?
ReplyDeleteWhat about the impact to your joints? Any data about that?
ReplyDeleteFloye- some pretty strong research has been done and published in journals. On varying levels, ALL of it shows that the joint impact is less when we are barefoot or close to it. In part this happens because it changes our stride to a more natural one which is safer for us. We also strengthen the foot, ankle, and knee by leaving the Likes at home. You can read more about it here:
ReplyDelete