Barefoot running is becoming a popular alternative way go for a run without the traditional running shoes. We were allegedly originally created to run without shoes to survive, to hunt for food from other animals as well as move camp in search of food. Since then, for better or worse, asphalt got created and we apparently have to protect ourselves from those hard surfaces. The longer term impacts of this on the body long term are not known. The size of the barefoot running community is growing fast, but so is the anti barefoot running comments from many sources.
Those who prefer to run without shoes and promote it, do make a large number of alleged benefits of running barefoot. They do claim that the barefoot running locomotion is more efficient and effortless. They also claim that there are less running injuries in those that do run with no footwear. There is virtually nil data from the sceintific research literature to support that running without running shoes is any better than not. Those who support the concept of barefoot running point to a lot of assumed evidence, which does not stand up to scrutiny when looked at closer. The barefoot running movement and discussions is largely dominated by many who are cult like and passionate about barefoot running. It is almost like trying to have a religious argument with them and those types of arguments have no winners. Barefoot runners have been called zealots.
All this debate, does not necessarily mean that barefoot running might not have any benefits. It is highly probable that running barefoot could be used by most runners who can tolerate it, provided it is done in moderation and as part of a overall balanced fitness program.
More on Barefoot Running. The reaction of the barefoot running community to thing negative about barefoot running can be interesting. Even the French are debating barefoot running.
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