Have we all gone mad? The Hipocracy

Anyone read the latest Outside magazine? I can’t believe I missed this, but inside is a guide to this year’s Olympics which include an article called “The 15 Things You Must Know About These Games”. The second section of this article is “It’s a “Fast Pool”. Here is what is written:

To promote the breaking of swimming world records, the Chinese have optimized their Water Cube pool for speed by (1) Keeping the water at 80.6 degrees, the temperature considered optimal for swimmers; (2) pumping “microbubles” into the pool to break the water’s surface tension; (3) building the pool to a depth of 42 feet, which prevents water-temperature interference; and (4) introducing a ventilation system that whisks chlorine fumes off the surface of the water, allowing the athletes to breathe clean air.

So here is the question: Has the world gone mad? This would be the equivalent of the Tour de France organizer placing a van in front of the break out to ensure that a record setting pace could be realized or those organizing Kona placing artificial reefs around the swim course to minimize the effects of waves on swim times. Of course during the cycling leg, the elite athletes will also be encouraged to draft during all opportunities because it’s a record breaking time that we are concerned about correct? Is it the wonder that comes from a man or a woman overcoming all odds and obstacles in the route to greatness that we celebrate in sports or something that I am completely missing? This is a cry for help, because I want to understand this insanity.

In a world were we debate asterisks, doping, and the validity of a disabled athlete competing among able bodied athletes, the only thing that seems to be real is that the world is lost and nothing within athletics is real anymore.

……and long runs on the beach

Today I find myself in Hermosa Beach, Ca. What better way to soak up my surrounding than a barefoot run on the beach. Woo Hoo! Barefoot? Yes barefoot! Especially on the beach. I’ve been tooling around with barefoot running for many years and its probably been the most influential aspect of my running routine. While I don’t run barefoot 100% of the time, I do go on at least 2-3 barefoot runs each month because of the benefits that it provides. What benefits? Here are a few:

1. Better body alignment
2. Full-foot running rather than heel running
3. Greater awareness of self
4. More efficient running

I wont go into great detail here because there are plenty of websites that explain it better than I ever could, but I can tell you it works. As I circled back on my out-and-back run this morning, I paid close attention to my foot steps from my first half of the run. The first thing that I noticed is that I no longer had that heel skid into my foot placement that I used to see. What I did see was a foot print that was even but with the toes digging in at the end (push-off). Also, my arch seems to have become less apparent. Is this possible? One thing that I here from non-runners (no not I’ve got bad knees) is the fear that running will cause their arches to fall. What!?? That is pure running shoe propaganda there. None of my shoes have any arch support what so ever and I have what appears to be a strengthening arch. Please note that I say “appears” I’m not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV but from my limited knowledge, the arch is a series of muscles and tendons. It seems that its only natural for muscles and tendons to get stronger as the are worked, correct? So why do we need arch supports?

Bottom line is that barefoot running has changed my approach to running in drastic, but very positive ways. Here is the website that started it all: Barefootrunning.org.

1:16:19 / 7.52 mi / 4:30 A.M. / 4 minutes of 50 lunges and 50 squats at middle point of the run

Runners: If you do nothing else today, you must read this.

There are others out there speaking the truth about running shoes. For 3 years now I’ve been exclusively been running with the Puma H-Street shoes. They are light, they provide a thin barrier for those sharp stones but no structural support at all, and I am a better runner for wearing them. I’ve repeatedly received those gasps of surprise and bewilderment from other runners when they take notice of my shoes but I will profess their superiority over traditional running shoes until the end of time. Pretty strong statement right? Are you curious why? You should be. If you do nothing else today, you must read this article by Joseph Froncioni titled:

ATHLETIC FOOTWEAR AND RUNNING INJURIES

For those of you short on time, here are a few highlights:

• “there has been no decrease in the incidence (some authors say there has been an increase) of running injures in spite of yearly ‘improvements’ in running-shoe technology?”

• “During barefoot running, the ball of the foot strikes the ground first and immediately starts sending signals to the spinal cord and brain about the magnitude of impact and shear, getting most of its clues about this from the skin contact with the surface irregularities of the ground. Take away this contact by adding a cushioned substance and you immediately fool the system into underestimating the impact. Add a raised heel and the shod runner is forced to land on it.”

• “The heel of a runner upon striking the ground generates a force that can equal 2.5 times body weight at the foot and as much as 7 times body weight at the hip. Repeat this 1000 times per mile and it’s easy to appreciate the stress the old bones are under. “

• “when the impact from a running human is measured the impact increases with softer materials”

This is not an article that promotes barefoot running nor do I believe in running 100% of the time barefoot. While I do partake in barefoot running from time to time, it should be noted that the majority of us are running on man made materials such as concrete and asphalt. This unnatural material, in my opinion, requires us to wear some type of protection to protect us from the friction that it creates. Even a very thin rubber layer (no cushioning) would be appropriate. My ideal shoe if money and technology provided no limits: a coat of rubber surrounding my bare foot perhaps dipping my foot in a liquid material that immediately forms into a protective barrier surrounding my foot.

It’s good to know I’m not the only one out there with similar thoughts on running shoes.

Additional reading:

A Thorn in Nike’s side

Are your running shoes hazardous?

ChiRunning by Danny Dreyer

Pose Meathod