Fleet On Naked Feed
by Sean Angus
WINNIPEG (CUP)—A simple concept
could make you healthier, and
shoe companies should be thankful
that it hasn’t become more popular.
Take your daily run or jog, but
leave the shoes behind.
Barefoot running is becoming
more and more accepted, and is
now practised by runners of both
the casual and competitive nature.
For those wondering why something
as bizarre as barefoot running
is gaining popularity, just ask barefoot
runner and advocate David
Sypniewski.
“Running barefoot really helped
me fall back in love with running,”
Sypniewski says. “I was happy to
start running again after a year of
pain with shoes.”
Before becoming a barefoot
runner in 2002, Sypniewski fell victim
to numerous leg injuries, which
hindered his ability to run long distances.
“I just started having one injury
after another,” Sypniewski says. “I
went to specialists, I had expensive
orthotics made for me, I went
for massages, I went for deep tissue
therapy, and nothing helped.”
He came across barefoot running
on the Internet and it made
sense to him. He recalls the first
time he tried running barefoot.
“I grabbed a pair of aqua socks
from my bag of snorkelling gear
just to be safe. I went to a local park
and I just ran back and forth on the
grass for probably about 25 minutes,
and I was just amazed that the
knee pain and the thigh pain that I
had for a year of wearing shoes was
just gone.”
Sypniewski’s first attempt at running
barefoot was on a soft grassy
surface, but he then progressed to
hard pavement.
When first starting on pavement,
runners should not overdo
it. According to barefootrunner.com, an average runner’s first
barefoot run should be between five
and 10 minutes. Because of different
posture and foot strike-points,
different muscles are used and need
to be developed; they will likely be
sore at first.
The concept of barefoot running
does go beyond people’s daily jogs,
as the strategy has been employed
in competition as well. Two of the
most notable competitive barefoot
runners are Abebe Bikila and Zola
Budd-Pieterse.
Bikila trained and competed
barefoot on his way to an Olympic
gold medal as a marathoner in
1960. He also won gold in 1964, but
didn’t run barefoot in that race.
Budd-Pieterse is another accomplished
runner who trained
and competed on bare feet. In 1985,
she broke the women’s 5000m world
record.
The natural feeling of running
barefoot is appealing, but it’s the
health aspect that really sells it. According
to physiotherapist Michael
Warburton in a Sportscience paper,
barefoot running reduces the risk of
ankle injuries and reduces energy
exertion by four percent. This extra
energy allows barefoot runners
to run longer distances than they
would if they wore shoes. Shoes add
excess weight, making each stride
slightly more tiring.
Though barefoot running does
have its advocates, there are those
who say it’s better to run with
shoes.
Jim Norris, an athletic therapist
based in Winnipeg, is an example
of this.
“Running barefoot exposes
your feet to injury,” Norris says. “If
you are running outside, there are
rocks and pebbles, glass, and other
hazards that can injure your feet. If
your foot gets cut two miles from
home, how do you get back? Rather
than having people chuck their
shoes, they should be educated in
proper running technique, which is
safe and efficient,” he says.
The negative effects apply primarily
to the soles of the feet.
Scrapes, bruises; and punctures can
occur when the soles are not protected.
However, Sypniewski disagrees.
“I’ve never had an injury or a gash
or [a] cut from running barefoot.
I’ve only had blisters from overdoing
it sometimes.”
Other negative effects include
sensitivity to colder temperatures
and, notably, dirty feet.
Karly Melnyk, a physical therapist
from Winnipeg, finds a balance
between Sypniewski’s and Norris’s
views.
“The muscle and joints’ ability
to sense movement, surfaces, and
terrains improves when running
barefoot,” Melnyk says. “But some
feet require that extra cushioning
and absorption that a good-quality
running shoe can provide.”
Running barefoot has been forbidden
in some running organizations
and competitions.
James Slade, past-President of
the Manitoba Runners’ Association
and occasional barefoot runner,
says, “In some races you might not
be allowed to participate if you’re
barefoot, that’s up to each individual
race director. If they decide to allow
barefoot runners in their event,
then go for it.”
He then adds jokingly, “Just
don’t get stepped on.”