With high school cross-country running teams entering their last legs of their seasons across the United States, it happens to be the most spirited time to be both a participant and bystander to endurance at its purest form. Notwithstanding mud, rain, and sleet (and yes sometimes snow if you're running in the Midwest), running shoes have had an enduring lifespan unto themselves for quite some time. Whether runners opt for the traditional running or cross-training shoe--or perhaps even the "distance spikes" now in vogue--shoes have always seemed to be a necessity for comfortable and long-lasting running.
Or are they?
A growing trend sweeping communities of long-distance and marathon runners alike throughout the nation have dismissed running shoes as if they were the Dodo bird. As shown in a recent article appearing in the National Post entitled "Bare feet take over as trend in long-distance running," journalist Dorene Internicola of Reuters chronicled the influx of barefoot runners now appearing in settings as vast as marathons to new barefoot-tailored shoe manufacturers. In essence, both barefoot runners and barefoot shoe manufacturers argue that running barefoot removes the encumbrance of shoes and can free your feet to run as nature intended.
Although barefoot running can be a successful practice as it has been for centuries, current medical research has not conclusively ruled on the effects--either positive or adverse--that this can pose to your foot health. As Dr. Terrence Philibin, of the Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Center in Columbus, Ohio, noted:
"A lot of people who do barefoot running are really knowledgeable about long distance and I'm guessing they're in really good shape, so it might be acceptable for them to run in bare feet."
"But the typical patient I see is not a world class athlete and for them wearing a good shoe that gives excellent support is the way to prevent injuries."
So, when you consider throwing your running shoes away for the thrill of barefoot running, just remember that the safest way to prevent injury is to wear a comfortable running shoe. Also, with the arrival of any new running season, it is always important to assess the condition of your running shoe to detect if indeed it needs replaced. Any signs of significant wear or disintegration of the the sole of the shoe should be used as indicators when evaluating whether your running shoes need replaced.
Again, plesae exercise good judgment and caution when considering your feet's safety.
For more information on this topic, please visit: http://www.nationalpost.com/life/story.html?id=1764073
Or are they?
A growing trend sweeping communities of long-distance and marathon runners alike throughout the nation have dismissed running shoes as if they were the Dodo bird. As shown in a recent article appearing in the National Post entitled "Bare feet take over as trend in long-distance running," journalist Dorene Internicola of Reuters chronicled the influx of barefoot runners now appearing in settings as vast as marathons to new barefoot-tailored shoe manufacturers. In essence, both barefoot runners and barefoot shoe manufacturers argue that running barefoot removes the encumbrance of shoes and can free your feet to run as nature intended.
Although barefoot running can be a successful practice as it has been for centuries, current medical research has not conclusively ruled on the effects--either positive or adverse--that this can pose to your foot health. As Dr. Terrence Philibin, of the Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Center in Columbus, Ohio, noted:
"A lot of people who do barefoot running are really knowledgeable about long distance and I'm guessing they're in really good shape, so it might be acceptable for them to run in bare feet."
"But the typical patient I see is not a world class athlete and for them wearing a good shoe that gives excellent support is the way to prevent injuries."
So, when you consider throwing your running shoes away for the thrill of barefoot running, just remember that the safest way to prevent injury is to wear a comfortable running shoe. Also, with the arrival of any new running season, it is always important to assess the condition of your running shoe to detect if indeed it needs replaced. Any signs of significant wear or disintegration of the the sole of the shoe should be used as indicators when evaluating whether your running shoes need replaced.
Again, plesae exercise good judgment and caution when considering your feet's safety.
For more information on this topic, please visit: http://www.nationalpost.com/life/story.html?id=1764073
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