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Barefoot Running

nature.com

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Re: Barefoot Running

#11

Post by kgroll »

teye wrote: post #8

Nature 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 mechanis…

Not only is heel planting unsustainable for long distances, it is also extremely uncomfortable when running any distance. If you're planting poorly in forgiving, modern running shoes, you can get away with it. Switch to Five Fingers however, and you're immediately aware of a bad foot strike position. For me, this kind of feedback was exactly what I needed to improve my stride.

For the mountain bikers out there - think of a full suspension bike versus a hardtail. The full suspension is undeniably a smoother ride, but it's universally agreed that a hardtail forces you improve your technical riding, since you don't have all that squish to eat up your mistakes.

Re: Barefoot Running

#12

Post by baltoo »

I feel that there seems to be a, albeit perhaps weak, correlation between hackers/geeks and some kinds of physical activity. Mostly I'm thinking of running and mountain climbing.

While of course I'm biased and base my observations upon the plural of anecdote, I still find this observation to hold true.

I could of course hazard some kind of guess to why, but more interestingly, I think, would be if there was any kind of non-anecdotal data covering this.

Has anyone heard/read about any evidence for or against this?

Re: Barefoot Running

#13

Post by ekanes »

karzeem wrote: post #5
unignorant wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUpo_mA5RP8

Wow. That was amazing, thanks for the link.

Note that you can see (supposedly) how his feet land as he runs at 3:11

Re: Barefoot Running

#14

Post by toplakm »

kebaman wrote: post #2

Since 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…

You can get used to landing on your toes. It took me quite a while to get used to, but I managed to run a half-marathon six months after I started doing it.

Re: Barefoot Running

#15

Post by lmkg »

baltoo wrote: post #12

I feel that there seems to be a, albeit perhaps weak, correlation between hackers/geeks and some kinds of physical activity. Mostly I'm thinking of running and mountain climbing. While of course I'm biased and base my observations upon the plural of anecdote, I still find this observation to hold true. I could of course hazard some kind of guess to why, but more interestingly, I think, would be if there was any kind…

I saw a study a few years ago across athletes in school, correlating cross-country running with a higher average GPA. In fact, cross-country was the only sport with a GPA higher than the student body as a whole. I realize this isn't exactly the same as "geeks," and I apologize for the lack of specifics, but yes, there is evidence for some sort of link.

Re: Barefoot Running

#16

Post by mbrubeck »

baltoo wrote: post #12

I feel that there seems to be a, albeit perhaps weak, correlation between hackers/geeks and some kinds of physical activity. Mostly I'm thinking of running and mountain climbing. While of course I'm biased and base my observations upon the plural of anecdote, I still find this observation to hold true. I could of course hazard some kind of guess to why, but more interestingly, I think, would be if there was any kind…

No less anecdotal, but the classic "Real Programmers Don't Eat Quiche" includes:

"Real Programmers don't play tennis, or any other sport which requires a change of clothes. Mountain Climbing is acceptable. Real Programmers wear climbing boots to work in case a mountain should suddenly spring up in the middle of the machine room."

http://www.lib.ru/ANEKDOTY/quiche.txt

Re: Barefoot Running

#17

Post by tel »

teye wrote: post #8

Nature 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 mechanis…

I just started last week and can I ever reiterate the calf-screaming bit.

I think that's fascinating though. Until just recently I never even touched on how weak my calves must be. Now I'm hoping to learn the depths of it.

Re: Barefoot Running

#18

Post by noahlt »

lmkg wrote: post #15
baltoo wrote: post #12

I feel that there seems to be a, albeit perhaps weak, correlation between hackers/geeks and some kinds of physical activity. Mostly I'm thinking of running and mountain climbing. While of course I'm biased and base my observations upon the plural of anecdote, I still find this observation to hold true. I could of course hazard some kind of guess to why, but more interestingly, I think, would be if there was any kind…

I saw a study a few years ago across athletes in school, correlating cross-country running with a higher average GPA. In fact, cross-country was the only sport with a GPA higher than the student body as a whole. I realize this isn't exactly the same as "geeks," and I apologize for the lack of specifics, but yes, there is evidence for some sort of link.

This might be because at most schools there are no cuts to the cross country team.

Re: Barefoot Running

#19

Post by thras »

It's not just the forefoot striking (also, Vibram != barefoot, call them minimal, if anything). When you run barefoot, you don't do anything stupid with your feet, like subjecting them to lots of impact, because it hurts!

Re: Barefoot Running

#20

Post by realitygrill »

baltoo wrote: post #12

I feel that there seems to be a, albeit perhaps weak, correlation between hackers/geeks and some kinds of physical activity. Mostly I'm thinking of running and mountain climbing. While of course I'm biased and base my observations upon the plural of anecdote, I still find this observation to hold true. I could of course hazard some kind of guess to why, but more interestingly, I think, would be if there was any kind…

Also anecdotal, but physicists and mathematicians are traditionally attracted to mountains. Tends to produce some notable deaths..

http://scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=355 http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/20/science/20CLIM.html?pagewa...

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