Tag Archives: shoes

Your feet are perfect; shoes are not

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There was a minor epidemic of aching feet among runners I know recently. The epidemic apparently started shortly after the arrival of a new batch of shoes from a certain running brand.

One of those who complained of the pain showed me the new pair of shoes that caused it and one thing that immediately stood out was how thick the sole and how stiff the shoe was. I didn’t ask but I was willing to bet anything that it was one of those shoes that attempt to “correct” perceived imperfections of a runner’s feet and deficiencies in his or her form.

Foot strike difference between barefoot and shod runner

FOOT STRIKES. The difference in foot strikes of the same person running barefoot and wearing a shoe. Running barefoot, the person (described as an elite Kenyan runner who grew up running barefoot) has a forefoot strike. When running in shoes, he has a midfoot strike event without changes in positioning. A Harvard University team said "the wedged shape midsole of the shoe affects how the runner's foot contacts the ground." (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

When runners talk, one will inevitably ask another whether he or she is neutral or stability or cushioning. These are, of course, shoe types as defined by manufacturers.

I often get asked that question and I just answer “neutral.” But the truth is, I can’t recall the shoe type recommended for me when I had my feet and gait tested.

I do not know the scientific bases behind segregating runners into different shoe types but I do not believe it. I think the best shoes are those that work with the feet and not try to control it.

When I choose a shoe, my primary consideration is comfort. I want to be able to move my feet, to flex it. I do not believe in those so-called anti-pronation features. “The foot is supposed to pronate,” said Dr. Gerard Hartmann, the physical therapist of such runners as Paula Radcliffe and Haile Gebreselassie.

Shoes with features that “correct” runners’ gait or feet cause injuries, according to the seminal running book “Born to Run” by Christopher McDougall.

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Humans evolved to be long-distance runners

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Humans evolved to become endurance runners to be able to hunt animals for food. According to a paper in Sports Medicine by Harvard evolutionary biologist Daniel E. Lieberman and University of Utah biologist Dennis M. Bramble, “several characteristics unique to humans suggested endurance running played an important role in our evolution.”

The New York Times article “The Human Body Is Built for Distance” says the book “Born to Run” by Christopher McDougall “has reframed the debate about the wisdom of distance running.”

IMG_4113 ELITE Kenyan runners lead the pack of the Smart Subic International Marathon 2009. The Kenyan runners look built for the sport with their thin frame and long, lean legs. Scientific studies have shown that humans evolved to become endurance runners. Click on photo to enlarge (PHOTO BY MARLEN LIMPAG)

In the book, Mc Dougall studies Tarahumara Indians, a tribe in Mexico known for running long distances wearing only thin-soled sandals.

Tara Parker Pope writes in her article:

“Mr. McDougall makes the case that running isn’t inherently risky. Instead, he argues that the commercialization of urban marathons encourages overzealous training, while the promotion of high-tech shoes has led to poor running form and a rash of injuries.”

The article said many runners get injured because most people only start running in adulthood. Poor form also causes and exacerbates injuries.

“What’s the solution? Slower, easier training over a long period would most likely help; so would brief walk breaks, which mimic the behavior of the persistence hunter. And running on a variety of surfaces and in simpler shoes with less cushioning can restore natural running form.”

While writing the book, McDougall, who has suffered running injuries, corrected his form and stopped using thickly cushioned shoes. He has been running without injury for three years.