Over the last few years I’ve thought a lot about running shoes. My biggest frustration is that there really isn’t much careful explanation out there about why running shoes are designed to make you run differently that you would if you were barefoot. (Photo: Asics Gel Hyper Speed 3. My current running/training shoes.)
Is running really all that bad for you? And are we all so poorly constructed as runners that we need copious amounts of “support” and “motion control.” Maybe our predecessors didn’t run on concrete or pavement the way many of us do today.
But even for people who run on dirt trails through the woods the assumption is that we need hi-tech shoes in order to run properly.
My latest experiment is to minimize my footwear. Currently, I’m running in a pair of Asics racing flats. These are shoes that have a minimal heel to toe drop. In these shoes, your feet are more like they would be if you were running barefoot. There is little cushioning under the heel, but enough to get the job done.
It’s been a couple weeks on this pair and I’m blown away at the scores of new muscles I’ve activated just by running in shoes with less “construction.” Has my lower leg really been this weak for so long?
More later…