Barefoot Running

Barefoot running seems to be getting more and more press these days; some good, and some bad.  Advocates of barefoot running see its underlying value being increased muscle activation and utilization, while opponents view this "new fad" as a quick route to injury (from plantar fascia to torn achilles tendons and other such calamities).

If one looks at running logically, barefoot running does make sense. As stated in Explosive Running (Michael Yessis, PhD), "From a technology standpoint, (modern) shoes may be extremely valuable in treating certain foot problems.  But it is important to determine if all these supports are needed by an individual who has a well-functioning, normal foot.  Have modern-day runners become invalids who now require such foot support?  If yes, I often wonder how man survived running before the advent of shoes."

This last sentence rings particularly true to many in barefoot running and scientific community.  Touched upon in Born to Run (Christopher McDougall), "persistence hunting" is believed to have been an integral part of human evolution.  Put simply, this theory postulates that before the advent of tools, humans would literally run down their prey to the point of exhaustion.  Oddly enough, this is not the only evolutionary tale that includes running.  Other theories believe that distance running provided humans with a useful advantage against other scavengers before the advent of tools.  Regardless, if any of these theories is true, they would also imply that humans, and their feet, have evolved and adapted to distance running over millions of years.  Our bodies should therefore be quite adept at running, and more importantly, running barefoot.

Recent studies would seem to validate these beliefs.  Harvard University, for instance, has found that unshod runners naturally change their gait to minimize initial foot strike forces.  Where shod runners experienced foot impact forces of 1.5 to 3.0 times their body weight, unshod runners experienced negligible amounts.

If you are looking for a great overall informational website that ties many barefoot running ideas together, Harvard's website provides a great resource.  Keep in mind that the information contained in this particular website was funded by Vibram, the manufacturer of FiveFingers "minimal footwear" (i.e. disclosure is made on the website, but biases may still exist).

Running Barefoot or in Minimal Footwear (Harvard University Skeletal Biology Lab)

Other good resources, including personal blogs, websites and forums related to barefoot running include:
Barefoot Ken Bob Saxton
Barefoot Ted
On and off the Track
Runner's World