I was browsing some stuff today about barefoot running (which is, according to the literature, different from running barefoot..?), and I encountered a FAQ with the following ridiculous Q+A:
Q: Why don’t we see more barefoot runners at top levels of competition?
A: Most elite runners can probably run nearly as fast with or without shoes. However, these days, any consistently competitive runners, have already been offered running shoe endorsement/sponsorship deals. Most of the elite runners we see winning big prize money, wouldn’t be able to enter those races without sponsorship, most of which comes from running shoe companies.
If you know me, you're probably aware that I'm fine with taking on "the man" or "the establishment" or what-have-you. But I find this stuff utterly ridiculous. I guarantee you that Haile Gebreselassie , Kenenisa Bekele, Ryan Hall, and all the other top distance runners in the world wouldn't give two shits about lucrative sponsorships if wearing shoes prevented them from setting a new world record or winning the Boston Marathon.
This isn't even the right question. A better question is, "Why don't we see more barefoot runners winning and placing well in local and regional races?"
Well I've got an answer: Barefoot running is a bunch of BS. It's dogma. Doctrine. It oozes with the same type of irrationality that causes so many to blindly follow extremist religions and captivating-but-nonsensical political fear mongering.
Let's look into this a little more closely. Take another look at the FAQ linked above; it's loaded with simple-minded and flawed logic.
It answers the question "Why run barefoot?" with a series of questions such as, "Why run with shoes?", "Were you born with shoes?", "Did you evolve to run with shoes?", etc. First of all, this is not an argument. But if we assume that it is, it's a terrible one. There are many things that I was not "born with" that benefit me very greatly. Or no, perhaps civilization has torn us away from everything that is natural and pure. We don't do what we are "meant to do" (what does that even mean?)
But I digress. We change our footwear choices to adapt to particular settings. Trainers, racers, spikes. Maybe there is a place where a barefoot option is optimal. But to claim that barefoot running is ALWAYS the BEST...!! This brings me back to my rant about barefoot proponents' absolutist dogma.
Oh, here's another great one:
Q: Isn’t it just Plain old Common Sense that we Need Shoes?
A: What passes as “common sense” is rarely sensible. Real sense is not common.
!@$#@!#@$$@ !!!!! Ok, breathe. Phew. Speechless.
I'll just leave it at this: The day a barefoot runner beats me in a race is the day I will consider even beginning to entertain this "philosophy."
Have you seen the movie, "Runningthesahara.com"? Evidently even those sand runners wore shoes!
ReplyDeleteSo this is gonna sounds awful, but i was running by the UofR on lunch (next to the river) and saw a dude coming towards me wearing those Vibram barefoot shoes (if you can call them shoes?) Now this guy was not a light runner to begin with, he was pushing a duece, "duece and a half" at least! I've gotta think carrying around that much weight and running barefoot has to be bad for your feet. I would want the extra cushioning if I were him!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this a lot. I run with shoes and will probably always run with shoes, but I'd like to try some barefoot training. The FAQ you were browsing is full of what passes for logical argument in this day and age, but don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Just because the fellow on the corner saying the End is Nigh is an idiot doesn't mean the end isn't nigh. I bet some of the elite athletes you mentioned do a small amount of barefoot training, but to again reverse my argument, we don't all need to start drinking the Kool-Aid they're handing out.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone who reads this site actually seen the movie "Running the Sahara"?
ReplyDeleteMy personal gripe is all the 'judgment' that goes along with both sides of the issue. If running barefoot motivates you to get out there and run more, than that's great. If fancy shoes makes you excited about running, super! I think the real worry is that rather than listening to what's right for their own bodies, people are following hype and propaganda. People need to be mindful about what choices are right for them and their bodies. If I were an elite runner who's always run with shoes (and most likely shoes that were fitted for my particular gait, etc.) I doubt that I would switch to bare feet. For the non-elites, I think it's more important to find a way to make running fun and injury-free, whatever way that happens to be.
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