The more expensive a running shoe, the more likely the chance of an injury. That confrontational conclusion catapulted itself in my face the other day when I was reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. The pain felt even more intense because I had bought new (expensive) running shoes that same week. Two pairs. Their boxes gaped at me from the hallway.
Now I understand that the truth is not so black and white. Yet the facts seemed to pile up. After a few chapters of almost activist paragraphs, McDougall managed to pry a hole in my worldview. Not much later I found myself in front of my laptop. My screen filled with tabs and windows. Video after video. Article after research paper. More and more seemed to indicate that my spent money was wasted on nothing more than just a new marketing story…
Resilient cushioning for a light and fast feel, I read. A snug fit and smooth transitions. A good supportive fit. Mesh in the upper feels lightweight and breathable. Super soft foam. The raised design provides a softer feel while running. Nike ReactX foam that gives you 13% more energy return than Nike React foam to help you stay fresh and bouncy. We paired the ReactX foam with Nike Running’s best-fitting Flyknit yet, so you can go for it anytime, anywhere with firm upper support and breathability. This shoe offers unprecedented peace of mind so you can go longer, faster and further than ever before with an intuitive design that supports every step.
Like I said, marketing…
Now I really believe that shoes are not pure all evil. Too many top athletes use optimally upgraded footwear. There must be a reason for that. On the other hand, many top athletes are keen on speed and distance. Not on injury-free running. In top sport you don’t think about how your body will look at 50 years old. You hope to win as many races as possible in your prime time. So we shouldn’t get caught up in this argument right away.
The more research I did, the more my doubts grew. Ultimately, there are no clear answers. Ultimately, experiments only go so far. There is only one way to discover what barefoot running can do for me. Real-life testing. I’ll give myself a year, maybe two, to find out if this will be my new style.
I have now surrendered to my new world view three times. I already ran more than 15 kilometers through Rotterdam. That’s not a lot, but barefoot more than it should be. The muscle pain in my calves sometimes takes me out of running for a day. And, I even found three blisters on my left foot. Something I’ve never had in shoes. In any case, my feet will have to get used to the new surfaces, but there is more to this. For example, I read on the barefoot running thread on Reddit that I probably need to adjust my stride. Especially if I experience more blisters on one foot than the other, I could very well be wrong. It will probably mean doing something with my right foot that I’m not already doing with my left foot. Or vice versa.
Those blisters are perhaps the best thing about barefoot running. The direct feedback your body gives when you’re not running optimally. For example, I notice that my whole body forms so differently during these ‘cavemen’ adventures. I walk really well. Not too far forward or back. My legs move much more fluidly than with shoes on. My body has to too, because otherwise it can’t handle the impact.
What frustrates me sometimes is the advice of others. Not just others, but from the ‘experts’. During several visits to the Runners World, I have been foisted on expensive shoes and told to run with a heel strike. This would reduce the impact on my calves and thus the risk of injury. “Your bopven legs can take a lot more”. That sounded logical, but now seems more like a fallacy. Of course a heel strike is nicer. And, of course, my thighs can handle more. My body has been exposed to shoes and thus this running technique since childhood. It will take a while, but my body can also adapt again. My body is able to stretch the calf muscles again and make them more elastic. My calves have the potential to strengthen. My body is able to adapt to a ‘natural’ form of walking again.
During the adventure I will write a lot and capture it on image. Perhaps I can also inspire you to think differently about the way you move. I would also like to hear your experiences with or without shoes. If you have any to share, please send me an email 🙂 I love reading them!