stephenhk23's Space http://stephenhk23.posterous.com Most recent posts at stephenhk23's Space posterous.com Tue, 25 Sep 2012 15:02:51 -0700 Xero Shoes Barefoot Sandals in COLOR! http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/xero-shoes-barefoot-sandals-in-color http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/xero-shoes-barefoot-sandals-in-color Houston, we have color!I am extremely happy and proud to announce that you can now get Xero Shoes (our new name... website is almost done) in 4 WAY COOL colors. And to celebrate, you can also save 20% if you order by October 2nd!In addition to our Coal Black, you can now get Mocha Earth, Electric Mint, Boulder Sky, and Hot Salmon.Combine those with our different lace colors...Well, here are a few combinations that you'll see around our office:Lena in her Mocha Earth with matching brown laces and a bunch of Brass BeadsOur office ultra-runner (and customer service manager), Bill,... Read full post here

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Mon, 06 Aug 2012 13:08:23 -0700 Dan Lieberman on Running Form http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/dan-lieberman-on-running-form http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/dan-lieberman-on-running-form Harvard's Daniel Lieberman is one of the stars in Chris McDougall's book, Born To Run. In the book, Chris describes Dr. Lieberman's anthropological theory that humans ability to run long distances (while maintaining their body temperature) allowed us to chase down animals that, for short distances, are much faster than we are. He also details Lieberman's research into running mechanics and running form, including the famous study that demonstrated how barefoot running puts less force through your joints and can be better/safer for you.Well, thanks to Pete Larson at www.runblogger.com (who turned me onto the following video), and thanks to Tuck... Read full post here

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Fri, 20 Jul 2012 16:41:20 -0700 See, Barefoot Running is NOT Bad for You http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/see-barefoot-running-is-not-bad-for-you http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/see-barefoot-running-is-not-bad-for-you The media is an interesting thing.One day, they love you, the next day they hate you. As long as there's controversy, they're interested... ish.The last time barefoot running made all the news it was when the University of Colorado study (done right up the hill from me) apparently showed that barefoot running was less efficient than running in shoes (see my analysis of that study here). In fact, when that study got published, the media went crazy, practically insisting that this was the death knell for those of us who run unshod.So, I'm not sure what it means that they've... Read full post here

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Wed, 04 Jul 2012 21:19:23 -0700 Dress options http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/dress-options http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/dress-options Read full post here

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Tue, 03 Jul 2012 11:52:36 -0700 Vibrating insoles, bare feet, and balance http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/vibrating-insoles-bare-feet-and-balance http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/vibrating-insoles-bare-feet-and-balance The Wall Street Journal online published an article describing the research of James Collins from Harvard. James wondered why people get less steady on their feet as they get older.His conclusion: They get less feedback from the ground and lose the ability to balance.So far so good.His solution: An insole that provides random vibration to stimulate the nerves in the feet.Can anyone here think of another way of doing the same thing, but without all the electronic bells and whistles? Anyone? Beuler? Beuler?If you said, "Take off your shoes!" you win any prize on the second row!If you said "Take... Read full post here

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Wed, 27 Jun 2012 09:07:53 -0700 Barefoot Running... The Movie! http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/barefoot-running-the-movie http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/barefoot-running-the-movie I know many of you are eagerly waiting for the Born To Run movie (I am, too). Well, until that's out at your local gajillion-plex, check out this trailer of the new barefoot running movie by Michael Sandler and Jessie Lee, authors of Barefoot Running. I'm forever grateful to Michael and Jessie... when I decided to try running barefoot as a way to deal with my persistent running injuries, I was fortunate enough that they were teaching a workshop that very weekend, right in my backyard (metaphorically speaking... it was 3 miles away). Even... Read full post here

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Sat, 02 Jun 2012 13:34:06 -0700 How to think like a shoe company http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/how-to-think-like-a-shoe-company http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/how-to-think-like-a-shoe-company You know the saying "when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail"?Well, it's true for shoe companies, too. When all you have is padding and motion-control, everything looks like it pronates and lands too hard!Check out this video about the "secret" Adidas development center. Especially watch at the 2:10 mark where the "best people in the world" analyze Ben's sprinting gait and conclude:a) That he pronates and heel-strikes (NOTE: He over pronates BECAUSE he heel-strikes since, when you land on your heel, the ankle muscles can't can hold the foot/ankle/lower leg in place).b) The solution: Making... Read full post here

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Thu, 31 May 2012 08:42:16 -0700 How to prevent running injuries, a medical explanation http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/how-to-prevent-running-injuries-a-medical-exp http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/how-to-prevent-running-injuries-a-medical-exp Finally, a medical explanation for why runners get injured. And, even better, treatment options, a plan to eradicate the true cause of running injuries, and an explanation of why barefoot running is CLEARLY not the answer (if you haven't figured it out by now, this is a joke). Check out what esteemed research scientist and physician, Dr. Musculoskeletal has to say about a condition that affects over 99% of all runners, and over 99.1% of all humans. It's a silent epidemic that clearly must be addressed. And with your help and support, we can find a cure for... Read full post here

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Fri, 18 May 2012 06:04:59 -0700 Invisible Shoes on Shark Tank?! http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/invisible-shoes-on-shark-tank http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/invisible-shoes-on-shark-tank Lena and I are HUGE fans of the show Shark Tank which is the U.S. version of the British and Canadian show, Dragons' Den.If you haven't watched either show, the premise is that entrepreneurs come on and pitch their product/business/idea to the Sharks (or Dragons, as the case may be), hoping to secure an investment of both money and talent from at least one of the Sharks/Dragons.The investors are using their own money, so these are real deals being made (more about that in a sec).Whether you end up making a deal or not, though, the show is INCREDIBLE publicity.... Read full post here

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Thu, 26 Apr 2012 08:38:20 -0700 Randy Kreill's Marathon Huarache Tying Technique http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/randy-kreills-marathon-huarache-tying-techniq http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/randy-kreills-marathon-huarache-tying-techniq Invisible Shoe customer Randy Kreill the opposite of me.I'm a "short sprinter". The 100m and the 60m (indoor) are my races of choice. I run a 200m under protest. And, yes, I'm also a "short sprinter" in that I'm 5'5" ;-)Randy, on the other hand, is a tall, ultra-runner.Here's a picture of him finishing up his first 50k in his 4mm Connect barefoot sandals.Personally, I don't even like to DRIVE 50k. ;-)Randy is also one of those guys who likes to experiment. He started with the basic huarache tying pattern, but tweaked it to something he uses for his long-distance... Read full post here

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Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:43:15 -0700 Why Walking Barefoot Is Better For Elderly People http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/why-walking-barefoot-is-better-for-elderly-pe http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/why-walking-barefoot-is-better-for-elderly-pe Thanks to our friend Chris Highcock of http://conditioningresearch.blogspot.com and the author of one of our favorite ebooks, Hill Fit (about strength training for walking and hiking... and running, too) for pointing us to this great study:Altering gait by way of stimulation of the plantar surface of the foot: the immediate effect of wearing textured insoles in older fallersThe gist of the study: by stimulating the feet of "older fallers" with textured insoles (I think with something like a "reflexology" insert), they got an immediate effect of a slower and more cautious gait.What does this have to do with barefoot walking... Read full post here

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Sat, 31 Mar 2012 20:23:49 -0700 Run in Peace, Micah True http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/run-in-peace-micah-true http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/run-in-peace-micah-true There's no way to adequately thank one of the great inspirations in the running world, Micah True, also known as Caballo Blanco ("White Horse"), who was found dead just hours ago. Micah, arguably the "star" of Christopher McDougall's best seller, Born To Run, went out for a run on Tuesday and did not return. There's no news at this moment about a cause of death.As Micah would often say in signing off, "Run Free!" Read full post here

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Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:15:53 -0700 Vibram FiveFingers Class Action Lawsuit -- Does It Have Merit? http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/vibram-fivefingers-class-action-lawsuit-does http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/vibram-fivefingers-class-action-lawsuit-does BIG news in the barefoot running shoe world today. Vibram has been named as the defendant in a class action lawsuit seeking $5,000,000 in damages for the use of deceptive statements about the health benefits of Vibram FiveFingers.Is there anything to the case?Well, I'm not a lawyer, and I don't play one on TV.But I read the case (posted here), and have some thoughts (and I'm looking forward to yours).My first few thoughts, having nothing to do with the merits of the case, are:a) I like Vibram. Even though the products don't work for me, and as you know I've... Read full post here

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Tue, 27 Mar 2012 23:13:59 -0700 University of Colorado Barefoot Running Study http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/university-of-colorado-barefoot-running-study http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/university-of-colorado-barefoot-running-study The media is having an anti-barefoot running field day thanks to a study published by some people right up the street from me at the University of Colorado (BTW, I've been living in Boulder for 19 years and nobody has been able to explain why they call the university CU instead of UC.).Each of the dozens of articles about the study has a distinct flavor of elementary school playground taunting, "Nah, nah, nah, nah, boo, boo… barefoot running isn't good for you!" I mean, check out some of the headlines:Debunking the Barefoot Running Myth - Sydney Morning Herald (barefoot running isn't... Read full post here

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Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:37:18 -0800 Dr. Mark's brilliant Natural Running video http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/dr-marks-brilliant-natural-running-video http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/dr-marks-brilliant-natural-running-video Dr. Mark Cucuzzella is not only FAST (he won the US Air Force Marathon this year), he's committed to understanding the facts of barefoot running (and minimalist, too).As a physician, professor, and owner of Two Rivers Treads running shoe store, Mark is all about getting people running safely, enjoyably, and easily. Plus, he's a really nice guy.Mark just released an incredible video about "Natural Running." His emphasis in the video is about running barefoot, but his point is that if you run with a natural gait, you may be fine in a minimialist running shoe, too.Check out this video and... Read full post here

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Tue, 06 Mar 2012 08:11:49 -0800 Barefoot in Asia - Regev's Review http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/barefoot-in-asia-regevs-review http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/barefoot-in-asia-regevs-review I just realized that I have a strange history with barefoot running, barefoot walking, and minimalist shoes.First, like most of us, I spent a lot of time barefoot as a kid in the Summer. I went to a camp in the Pocono Mountains (Camp Shohola just in case any readers also went there) and whenever I had the chance, I was barefoot (made easier by the fact that I spent half of my days doing water sports). I was a competitive diver, too, so that kept me out of shoes.In junior high school and high school, I was a gymnast,... Read full post here

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Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:37:35 -0800 What A Barefoot Runner Does http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/what-a-barefoot-runner-does http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/what-a-barefoot-runner-does Following up on the "What I do" meme, I offer you this:Feel free to share it! Put it on your FB wall! Tweet it. Pin it. Enjoy! Read full post here

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Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:38:09 -0800 Sh*t Runners Say to Barefoot Runners http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/sht-runners-say-to-barefoot-runners http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/sht-runners-say-to-barefoot-runners Okay, barefoot runners, friends of barefoot runners, people who think running barefoot is silly, and anyone else who has ever seen, heard of, made fun of, or been married to someone who maybe heard of running barefoot or saw a picture of some Vibram FiveFingers (in other words: Hi, everyone!)...Here's the follow-up to the viral Sh*t Barefoot Runners Say (almost 100,000 views as I write this).Inspired by, well, all the things I've heard runners say as I trotted about town without my shoes, or in my huaraches running sandals, it's Sh*t Runners Say To Barefoot RunnersArrrrrhhhhh! Read full post here

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Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:46:10 -0800 Barefoot Sandals - the best minimalist running shoes http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/barefoot-sandals-the-best-minimalist-running http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/barefoot-sandals-the-best-minimalist-running Every now and then, someone will smugly say to me: "Barefoot Sandals is an oxymoron. If you're barefoot, you're not wearing sandals, and if you're wearing sandals, you're not barefoot!" Yes, technically, that's true. Barefoot is barefoot and shod is shod. And, I'll admit, I'm normally a stickler for grammar. I hate when people say "very unique" (something can't be VERY one-of-a-kind), and don't even get me started on "a whole nother" ("nother" isn't a word! You mean "another whole"). But for "barefoot sandals" or barefoot shoes or even bare feet shoes,... Read full post here

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Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:15:22 -0800 How To Run Barefoot http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/how-to-run-barefoot http://stephenhk23.posterous.com/how-to-run-barefoot "How do I start barefoot running?""What's the best book/course/coach for learning to run barefoot?""Can you show me what barefoot running form looks like?"I get these questions a lot. And, frankly, I don't want to answer them. In fact, I've resisted writing this post for, well, months.Here's why (in no particular order, even though I'm using numbers to delineate my reasons):Frankly, if all you did was take off your shoes, go for a run, stop when it hurts, and experiment to find ways of running that don't hurt, you would learn more than I, or anyone else, could tell you.Those of... Read full post here

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