tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25570835.post559975718389788491..comments2023-10-24T07:43:04.056+13:00Comments on GaryMoller.com - Health, Fitness - Naturally!: Running barefoot is better, researchers findGary Mollerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12046982185323982734noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25570835.post-163779532320813252010-02-22T22:28:02.349+13:002010-02-22T22:28:02.349+13:00The discussion is about the techniques of running....The discussion is about the techniques of running.<br />But let's not forget about the running surfaces. Parks and public areas these days are mown by big gang mowers which chop garbage like aluminium cans into small shards of shrapnel, and bury them amongst the clippings.<br />Meanwhile louts and vagrants hurl bottles onto synthetic tracks and pavements and even the best cleaning leaves the smaller splinters to be imbedded in bare feet...<br />Its simply not safe to run in bare feet, whatever the science says!<br /><br />GeoffUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06836918825045630811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25570835.post-44142641228684539992010-02-17T17:11:18.197+13:002010-02-17T17:11:18.197+13:00only those people of lean build are still adapted ...only those people of lean build are still adapted to run long distance, the human body has eveolved to form different body shapes, some are big and muscular and broad, they are too heavy to comfortably run very far at all, everytime they make footfall their larger bulk takes more energy to lift them off the ground and more damage is created when they hit the ground, they have evolved for feats of physical strength, such as shifting weights, rather than shifting their own weight over the ground. its wrong to think you can get a shoe to help everyone run free from injury, the heavier your build the bigger the problems you will have even before you confider issues such as pronation and supination and imbalances.<br />some people shouldnt try and habitually run long distances, they can't tolerate the mileages of the lean runners.Waynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13582374966270259947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25570835.post-776686854941153052010-02-16T22:23:46.662+13:002010-02-16T22:23:46.662+13:00My personal experience (70kg ultradistance runner)...My personal experience (70kg ultradistance runner)<br />Since changing from heel strike to midfoot strike ('pose technique') 3 years ago I got rid of multiple Achilles and ITB ailments and run today (49 years old) just as fast as 5 years ago. Also, midfoot striking makes 'freewheeling' downhill much faster with less strain on the knees and quads. I run in Nike Free or racing flats.<br />Just my 5 cents worth...<br />PaulAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25570835.post-48681687048607451532010-02-16T22:10:07.983+13:002010-02-16T22:10:07.983+13:00Why do we have to always (and only) consider how t...Why do we have to always (and only) consider how the foot has evolved to perform? Why not also consider how the body has acclimatised/adapted to the stressors that it has been exposed to during an individual's lifetime? Example - a distance runner who has weak hip abductors is typically prone to over pronation. If the foot isn't accustomed to this, the runner may experience grief in the archilles, tibialis posterior, medial aspect of the tibia, plantar fascia, etc. My notion is that most good running shoes will either lessen the degree of over pronation and/or reduce the impact placed on the medial aspect of the foot/lower limb. No shoes = opposite = excessive tension in tib. post. + plantar fascia and much much more.<br /><br />My view - barefoot running can be ideal, but only if the individual is suited for it (biomechanically). Sure; we all may have evolved to run barefoot. But, because of some "modern occupations", some people may not be suited for it due to changes that have occured in the balance that the body holds between different muscle groups. <br /><br />Interesting article. Love it.<br /><br />RyanUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06588452038570695692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25570835.post-89147202058651783172010-02-16T08:36:56.206+13:002010-02-16T08:36:56.206+13:00Paul,
That I can agree with! As per my earlier co...Paul,<br />That I can agree with! As per my earlier comment, my barefoot childhood explains why I seldom wear out a pair of running shoes. It also explains why Lorraine's shoes were always in such good condition whenever she gave me her old shoes.<br /><br />I think shoes should be as close to moccasins as one can comfortably do, bearing in mind the terrain and the principles of allometric scaling.<br /><br />Gazelle run very differently to the way of the elephant.<br /><br />Thanks for the clarification Paul.Gary Mollerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12046982185323982734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25570835.post-52483366044903355472010-02-16T06:49:59.772+13:002010-02-16T06:49:59.772+13:00Hi Gary. The writers of that report said that it w...Hi Gary. The writers of that report said that it would be widely mis-reported by the world's media with exactly the 'throw out your shoes' reaction that we are seeing. The actual title of the report is: Foot strike patterns and collision forces in HABITUALLY barefoot versus shod runners. Dan Lieberman who wrote the report said ""controlled prospective studies are needed to test the hypothesis that individuals who do not predominantly RFS either barefoot or in minimal footwear, as the foot apparently evolved to do, have reduced injury rates" Basically the report confirms what has been known for years, that barefoot runners show lower impact forces. The report is available here:http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v463/n7280/full/nature08723.html<br />Kind regards<br />PaulAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25570835.post-85500683921974217242010-02-13T10:39:46.079+13:002010-02-13T10:39:46.079+13:00If you look at some of the photos of my sister Lor...If you look at some of the photos of my sister Lorraine you will see that her marathon shoes are very light basic shoes. Her racing weight was under 60kg.<br /><br />I have the same size feet so have several pairs of her shoes that I still jog in. Some are as old as 30 years and still usable.<br /><br />If a runner is light and runs efficiently, then sole wear on the shoes is minimal as is wear on the legs.Gary Mollerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12046982185323982734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25570835.post-61438648570712377532010-02-13T09:18:33.138+13:002010-02-13T09:18:33.138+13:00i think theres some psycological phenomenon about ...i think theres some psycological phenomenon about buying sports gear,<br />Sir bob jones said the secret to becoming wealthy was charging people a lot of money and htey would think they are getting a good service.<br />people are convinced in advance that by forking over the big bikies they are getting something better. when they may be getting overkill.<br />perhaps it also encourages them to use it and value it because they have forked out all that money.<br />teh shoes youi want when you are a slow runner are probably different than the shoes you want when you are a fast runner, <br />throwing money at a problem is not necessarily the best answer,<br />there are plenty of other sports that will take all teh money you have, I thought hiking coats were expensive till I saw a sailing coat that was three and a half times the price of my expensive hiking jacket!<br />dont be too quick to pursuade yourself you can buy yourself into something better.<br />arthur lydiard said, "there are no shortcuts" running shoes won't put the hard effort in or make you much faster.<br />an triathlete in NZ turned up to a top national triathlon with a steel racing bike twice the weight of the high tech alloy and carbon bikes and came third!Waynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13582374966270259947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25570835.post-72559161496875537082010-02-13T07:49:42.384+13:002010-02-13T07:49:42.384+13:00heavy runners ned decent shock absorbing, i doubt ...heavy runners ned decent shock absorbing, i doubt racing flats will work for them if they are running a reasonable mileage.even at 75 kilos I"ve found teh amount and quality of shock absorbing matters, not to hard , not too soft<br />racing flats also ten to have a thin outer sole and a general lighter construction all round and dont last as long.Waynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13582374966270259947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25570835.post-20784585966432060022010-02-11T17:03:53.766+13:002010-02-11T17:03:53.766+13:00The arch works during heel strike.
The great fact...The arch works during heel strike.<br /><br />The great factor being overlooked in this whole debate is allometry.<br /><br />I'll do an update to further explain my position.Gary Mollerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12046982185323982734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25570835.post-91090506627261881622010-02-11T14:05:48.705+13:002010-02-11T14:05:48.705+13:00I agree, I would not wish to run on a man made sur...I agree, I would not wish to run on a man made surface barefoot, but heel striking is not natural, only shoes with a high heel will allow it.<br />Run in a light flexible shoe ball-heel, if you land heel first you are missing out on the foots natural shock absorber, the arch!!! which not only takes in the energy of foot strike but gives you return of energy like a trampoline :]RICK'S RUNNINGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15836338956751369408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25570835.post-16738312467575929362010-02-11T09:09:17.988+13:002010-02-11T09:09:17.988+13:00Thanks for the link Rick. I have seen this before...Thanks for the link Rick. I have seen this before and have now embedded it into the article.<br /><br />I'll wait and see the response from readers and then do an update. I believe I am right and they are wrong - to the extent I have explained in the article.<br /><br />While I type this I am barefoot but I am not about to go and run on the pavement without shoes. Barefoot on the beach is okay for me. How about you?.<br /><br />Incidentally, the shoes I race and train in are light racing flats - I weigh just over 60kg.Gary Mollerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12046982185323982734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25570835.post-27667975088794246872010-02-11T05:18:51.006+13:002010-02-11T05:18:51.006+13:00This video shows that heel landing causes much gre...This video shows that heel landing causes much greater shock than ball - midfoot landing<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jrnj-7YKZERICK'S RUNNINGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15836338956751369408noreply@blogger.com