Running: the technical part

Few things catch me off guard as much as the ongoing debate about footwear and running form. While I don't intend to try to provide comprehensive guides or repeat work presented better elsewhere on the internet, it is in keeping with my basic principles that there be a simple, accessible approach if something is considered natural. So how does fixing running form tie in to our basic animal nature? Remove your shoes. Given time, you should be able to develop a robust, efficient and effective running style. But that would make for a short post, so let's talk a little more.

Heel-striking. The balance of discussion is certainly shifting, but even those with some experience are hesitant to commit fully to arguing against it, and all the technical papers and biomechanical analysis make little impact because even when scientists can draw conclusions with high certainty they are not invested in mass marketing. And this confusion then allows new runners to be misled. There should be no debate. Heel striking was an artificial invention by a man who thought he saw an opportunity to make some money. It may look like running but it really isn't the same thing. It's only possible by designing heavily padded shoes. And the same trend has progressed to 'fix' a litany of problems, orthotics, stability control, coil springs in the soles. The answer has always been more technology. This is the guy who founded Nike. Similarly people have since benefited from this trend by selling machines such as ellipticals, which are intended to mimic aspects of running while fixing issues that didn't exist. Heel striking is not a natural activity. All the benefits and discussions on the utility of running are thrown out the window if someone insists on heel striking. It's like using a Smith machine to squat. It may look like squatting but it's really not the same and when it comes to injury prevention all bets are off. In fact it's like doing squat mornings on the Smith machine with the pussy pad on a bosu ball.

The studies are there, the more expensive and 'advanced' your running shoe, the more likely you are to get injured. 80% of runners get injured every year as it is. And somehow we have a generation who accepts this as normal and still believes and trusts capitalism to provide the solution if only they pay enough money and put in enough technology and expertise. Are entire body has evolved to be able to run. This is why we stand upright. This is why we have big glutes. This is why we have fantastically complicated feet full of bones and tendons. Take a look at our progress so far at re-engineering this with running bipedal robots. There's no contest.

Ok, so if going barefoot is self-correcting, what can we do to merge this with the real world? Well still nothing is as instructive as doing it yourself, even if it's not all the time your body can learn a lot from its own feedback mechanisms, and you can learn how it feels to run short distances barefoot - and if it's on concrete you'll learn quickly! The basics of form follow fairly naturally. Compared to the cushioned jogger, there will be higher foot turnover, you'll land around the midfoot, pronate naturally as the foot and leg absorbs the impact directly beneath your body. Any lengthening of the stride comes from the legs stretching behind you rather than stretching in front, but it's not efficient to do so at the cost of fewer steps. Compare the effort of pressing 100lb overhead 50 times or an empty barbell 100 times. For sprints, sure, use the strength and push harder, but otherwise it's an endurance game, and if you keep your feet moving it's very hard to go wrong. Take the time to build the strength, and your ankles, arches, achilles, calves, quads, hamstrings, glutes, hips, abs arms and neck and more will all develop to do their job of keeping you on your feet. Go on uneven, varied terrain and the return will be increased exponentially. You may not be going as fast, but you'll be able to keep going, and that's the aim. To keep going, not get injured, and be able to tackle anything that comes at you after a long run.