Barefoot Running
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Barefoot Running
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Re: Barefoot Running
#2Since high school cross country in the 1970's, we were told the proper distance running form is rolling heal-to-toe, while for the short distance sprinters the form is to land on toes or the balls of the feet. This could be one of those shockers where something I've learned turns out to be false.
Still, I'm still finding it hard to imagine running, say, ten miles by landing on the front part of the foot and not the heal first. Maybe we humans aren't naturally evolved to run ten mile distances. I give it a try, but I suspect I'll be a heal-to-toe distance runner.
Re: Barefoot Running
#3Since high school cross country in the 1970's, we were told the proper distance running form is rolling heal-to-toe, while for the short distance sprinters the form is to land on toes or the balls of the feet. This could be one of those shockers where something I've learned turns out to be false. Still, I'm still finding it hard to imagine running, say, ten miles by landing on the front part of the foot and not the h…
There is a great deal of evidence that humans not only can run long distances, but have evolved to do so. The idea is that before primitive weapons (bow and arrow or whatnot), this is how we caught food -- by simply running it down.
From other sources:
"Biomechanical research reveals a surprising key to the survival of our species: Humans are built to outrun nearly every other animal on the planet over long distances."
Re: Barefoot Running
#4Since high school cross country in the 1970's, we were told the proper distance running form is rolling heal-to-toe, while for the short distance sprinters the form is to land on toes or the balls of the feet. This could be one of those shockers where something I've learned turns out to be false. Still, I'm still finding it hard to imagine running, say, ten miles by landing on the front part of the foot and not the h…
I really recommend that you check out the book Born to Run [1] which examines barefoot running and how we've evolved. It's been a while since I read it, but I believe it even includes a chapter about persistence hunting [2].
1. http://www.amazon.com/Born-Run-Hidden-Superathletes-Greatest...
Re: Barefoot Running
#5Since high school cross country in the 1970's, we were told the proper distance running form is rolling heal-to-toe, while for the short distance sprinters the form is to land on toes or the balls of the feet. This could be one of those shockers where something I've learned turns out to be false. Still, I'm still finding it hard to imagine running, say, ten miles by landing on the front part of the foot and not the h…
There is a great deal of evidence that humans not only can run long distances, but have evolved to do so. The idea is that before primitive weapons (bow and arrow or whatnot), this is how we caught food -- by simply running it down. From other sources: "Biomechanical research reveals a surprising key to the survival of our species: Humans are built to outrun nearly every other animal on the planet over long distances…
Here's David Attenborough narrating a modern-day persistence hunt. It's fascinating stuff.
Re: Barefoot Running
#6Since high school cross country in the 1970's, we were told the proper distance running form is rolling heal-to-toe, while for the short distance sprinters the form is to land on toes or the balls of the feet. This could be one of those shockers where something I've learned turns out to be false. Still, I'm still finding it hard to imagine running, say, ten miles by landing on the front part of the foot and not the h…
Strange. I can't image running heel-to-tow on any distance. While I usually walk heel-to-tow -- running this way just feels painful. By landing on the front part my muscles act like a spring upon impact. I find mid-foot strikes barely acceptable.
Edit: Re-read the article. I guess I just ran in cheap "minimal footwear" all my life. Now is this a good or a bad thing?
Re: Barefoot Running
#7A couple of recent HN threads about barefoot running:
Re: Barefoot Running
#8Nature is one of the top scientific journals out there -- awesome to see them covering barefoot.
I've been wearing Vibram Five Fingers and running on the fore- and mid-foot for about two years.
Running barefoot and landing on your heel jars your entire body (knees in particular) and isn't sustainable for long distances. Cavemen certainly didn't run this way, and we haven't evolved fast enough for our optimal mechanism to be any different.
There's plenty of evidence that humans have evolved to be better long-distance runners than any other animal. The amount of impact energy returned by our tendons is highest, and human ultrarunners can go over 50 miles in one sitting.
For a couple weeks, my calves screamed and my feet were sore as they strengthened. Then after a month I started to get used to running on the balls of my feet. After two months, I felt totally comfortable with the new style.
Also, my trouble with Illiotibial Band Syndrome disappeared within two weeks of starting to run barefoot.
Re: Barefoot Running
#9Since high school cross country in the 1970's, we were told the proper distance running form is rolling heal-to-toe, while for the short distance sprinters the form is to land on toes or the balls of the feet. This could be one of those shockers where something I've learned turns out to be false. Still, I'm still finding it hard to imagine running, say, ten miles by landing on the front part of the foot and not the h…
Of all the primates, only humans have giant Achilles tendons and glutes, both of which are distance running adaptations. Ditto for our highly efficient sweat-cooling system.
Re: Barefoot Running
#10Since high school cross country in the 1970's, we were told the proper distance running form is rolling heal-to-toe, while for the short distance sprinters the form is to land on toes or the balls of the feet. This could be one of those shockers where something I've learned turns out to be false. Still, I'm still finding it hard to imagine running, say, ten miles by landing on the front part of the foot and not the h…
Strange. I can't image running heel-to-tow on any distance. While I usually walk heel-to-tow -- running this way just feels painful. By landing on the front part my muscles act like a spring upon impact. I find mid-foot strikes barely acceptable. Edit: Re-read the article. I guess I just ran in cheap "minimal footwear" all my life. Now is this a good or a bad thing?
Until middle school I ran toe-first and also walked toe-first, or at least definitely not heel-first -- that changed when I joined the marching band.