Comments on: Should I Run? Part II http://dannymclarty.com/2010/05/should-i-run-part-ii/ Mon, 07 Apr 2014 16:25:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: danny http://dannymclarty.com/2010/05/should-i-run-part-ii/comment-page-1/#comment-97 danny Fri, 28 May 2010 16:48:53 +0000 http://dannymclarty.com/?p=1209#comment-97 Shrew, no doubt! I'm impressed with you!!! I actually just wrote an article for a basketball website on this very topic (don't know if they are gonna publish it, but if they do, I'll make sure to forward it to you). When we wear shoes with high(er) heels (like the worst shoe ever - Nike Shox) we lose proprioception in our feet. This can lead to problems further up the "kinetic chain." Afterall, every step we take starts with the foot. We also lose strength and mobility in our feet/ankle when wearing *most* shoes, ankle braces, and when we tape our ankles. This greatly increases our chances of ankle sprains and knee injuries (to name just a couple potential problems). Losing ankle mobility will also make it more difficult to squat to proper depth and lead to a greater chance of injury since it will be harder to keep our torso upright (proper posture). But you have to be careful. Going sans shoes without easing into is not the best thing to do. You should first purchase shoes with a barefoot feel and wear them around for awhile. I wear "Nike Free" shoes to work everyday. I walk around my house barefoot everyday. I usually warm-up barefoot (before lifting) and go barefoot for all deadlift variations. For the rest of my exercises I make sure to wear my Nike Frees and/or Chuck Taylors. You also have to be careful of the "elements." i.e. glass on the ground. Nike Frees should be plenty for now, but if you "graduate" to barefoot running, make sure to do so on a good surface. We have a lot of field turf fields here in Cali and when i do my sprints I often do them barefoot. I would NOT do this on concrete though. A track surface would also be good. You could also wear "Vibram Five Finger" shoes as well. These are goofy looking, but hard-core Steelers fans don't care what others think of them. A good book that talks a lot about the benefits of barefoot running is, "Born to Run." Alright my brotha, that's all I have for now. Good job of being smart! :) Shrew, no doubt! I’m impressed with you!!! I actually just wrote an article for a basketball website on this very topic (don’t know if they are gonna publish it, but if they do, I’ll make sure to forward it to you). When we wear shoes with high(er) heels (like the worst shoe ever – Nike Shox) we lose proprioception in our feet. This can lead to problems further up the “kinetic chain.” Afterall, every step we take starts with the foot. We also lose strength and mobility in our feet/ankle when wearing *most* shoes, ankle braces, and when we tape our ankles. This greatly increases our chances of ankle sprains and knee injuries (to name just a couple potential problems). Losing ankle mobility will also make it more difficult to squat to proper depth and lead to a greater chance of injury since it will be harder to keep our torso upright (proper posture).

But you have to be careful. Going sans shoes without easing into is not the best thing to do. You should first purchase shoes with a barefoot feel and wear them around for awhile. I wear “Nike Free” shoes to work everyday. I walk around my house barefoot everyday. I usually warm-up barefoot (before lifting) and go barefoot for all deadlift variations. For the rest of my exercises I make sure to wear my Nike Frees and/or Chuck Taylors.

You also have to be careful of the “elements.” i.e. glass on the ground. Nike Frees should be plenty for now, but if you “graduate” to barefoot running, make sure to do so on a good surface. We have a lot of field turf fields here in Cali and when i do my sprints I often do them barefoot. I would NOT do this on concrete though. A track surface would also be good. You could also wear “Vibram Five Finger” shoes as well. These are goofy looking, but hard-core Steelers fans don’t care what others think of them.

A good book that talks a lot about the benefits of barefoot running is, “Born to Run.”

Alright my brotha, that’s all I have for now. Good job of being smart! :)

]]> By: Matthew http://dannymclarty.com/2010/05/should-i-run-part-ii/comment-page-1/#comment-96 Matthew Fri, 28 May 2010 14:03:54 +0000 http://dannymclarty.com/?p=1209#comment-96 Danny, thanks for the great article as I am one who has never been a fan of running long distances. But i wanted to get your take on a new phenomenon. I recently watched a documentary on the Tarahumara tribe in Mexico who are able to run great distances with no stress/joint injuries because they run barefoot. Also, Troy Polamalu (safety for the greatest team on Earth) is famously known for his barefoot workouts which he believes helps his overall balance and agility. While I am not one who is willing to trek through the city barefoot, would you recommend incorporating barefoot workouts and do you believe it could help in strengthening joints and promoting balance? Danny, thanks for the great article as I am one who has never been a fan of running long distances. But i wanted to get your take on a new phenomenon. I recently watched a documentary on the Tarahumara tribe in Mexico who are able to run great distances with no stress/joint injuries because they run barefoot. Also, Troy Polamalu (safety for the greatest team on Earth) is famously known for his barefoot workouts which he believes helps his overall balance and agility. While I am not one who is willing to trek through the city barefoot, would you recommend incorporating barefoot workouts and do you believe it could help in strengthening joints and promoting balance?

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