Harvard Barefoot Running Studies Support Invisible Shoes

What are the benefits of barefoot running?Well, Harvard's Dr. Daniel Lieberman has another answer. His studies from 2 years ago showed how barefoot runners who forefoot strike put less force into the ground and, therefore, less force into their joints.Now he has 2 new studies that have just come out that support how proper barefoot running form and minimalist running shoes can result in fewer injuries and more efficient running."Foot Strike and Injury Rates in Endurance Runners: a retrospective study" looked at college cross-country runners and found that those who heel-strike (landing on their heels first) had approximately twice the... Read full post here

Running Sandals for Health!

Yet another study showing how running sandals and barefoot running could be better for your body! Flip-flops and sneakers with flexible soles are easier on the knees than clogs or even special walking shoes, a study by Rush University Medical Center has found. And that's important, because loading on the knee joints is a key factor in the development of osteoarthritis. The study has been published online in the journal Arthritis Care & Research. "Traditionally, footwear has been engineered to provide maximum support and comfort for the foot,... Read full post here

Barefoot Running is Bad For You!

Ever since Chris McDoguall's book, Born to Run, became popular (interestingly, long after it came out), the debate about barefoot running has become heated. There was no big argument when Zola Budd ran barefoot, or when Abebe Bikila won the marathon without shoes. But once "regular folk" started kicking off their kicks, it's become a rhetorical battlefield out there -- the converts touting the great benefits of barefoot running, and the critics assuring everyone that taking off your running shoes is akin to playing Russian Roulette. Then the Harvard study came... Read full post here

Tynan loves his barefoot sandals

This just in from Tynan: I stumbled upon a company called Invisible Shoe. They send you a rectangle of 4mm thick Vibram sole material, some rope, and you get to build your own shoes, called huaraches, according to the directions on the site. So, one rainy afternoon about six months ago, I found myself huddled on the floor of my RV, using my Ryobi drill to bore holes in the rubber to feed the rope through. The resulting sandals looked ridiculous, and I somewhat timidly made the two block walk to Samovar. But, six months later, I... Read full post here

Phil Maffetone On Invisible Shoes Barefoot Sandals

I don't get starstruck, but I do get excited when I meet someone who's work I've admired and appreciated for years. And Phil Maffetone is one of those people.I got my copy of Phil's book In Fitness and In Health in 1997 and, way back then (even earlier, really), he advocated minimalism and barefoot running. Reading his books almost made me want to switch from sprinting to marathons.So, I was thrilled when Phil responded to my email asking if he wanted to try a pair of Invisible Shoes, even more thrilled when he said yes, and ecstatic to read his... Read full post here

4 Reasons NOT to Run Barefoot

Being barefoot and running barefoot is a blissful and consciousness-expanding endeavor. The feedback supplied from the ground is powerful enough to force even experienced runners to try it for only a mile or so, if they make it that far. Barefoot running, however wonderful, should not be subscribed to dogmatically.There are myriad resources available expounding on the benefits of being barefoot. Most of their reasons, methods, and warnings have merit. Unfortunately many of them sway to heavily towards the one-size-fits-all solution.Experiencing life unshod isn’t always the best option. Putting on a pair of huaraches or other minimalist shoes can serve... Read full post here