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[Cycle Fan]

Really interested in this topic. About 8 years ago I started running and picked up bi-lateral plantar fascitis (injury in arch of foot). I spent the next 5 years (and about R40k) trying to sort the problem. It got so bad that I even landed up pn crutches for a while - I just coulnd'nt walk or even stand for longer then 5min. Was sent around from bio to physio to podiatrist to orthopeadic surgeon trying to sort the problem out. Even landed up at a Rhuematologist to check for Rhuematoid arthritist!

 

Long story short, I ended up with orthotics in my shoes and cycling shoes (was only thing I could really do) which caused it's own injuries and problems. I landed up at a Bio in PE who told me to throw away the orthotics and walk around barefoot as much as possible. Never looked back since. Turns out that all the cushioning, orthotics and 'babying' my feet made the muscles/tendons/ligaments so weak that they couldn't support my own body weight. Strengthened my feet with some exercises and walking barefoot as much as I can and now I'm A-for-Away!!

 

Managed to do Half & Full IM last year and doing it again next year. Working my way down to some barefoot running and minimalist shoes.

[SwissVan]

I have no idea as to the dropped metatarsals but people started wearing shoes because it was cold (europe) when Jan got here in 1652 everyone was still very much running around barefoot. Tell a boesman that he has "dropped metatarsals", I think he'll probably run away. . . barefoot.

 

Well if it was only for cold how come we dont have furry hairy feet and what about other creatures who live in the cold?

[Wyatt Earp]

 

 

I have a question for the barefoot clan, hopefully someone has an answer:

Q: What if someone has “dropped metatarsals” and experiences pain in the region of the affected metatarsal due to the close proximity of the joint to the sole (in the case of someone wearing shoes) or the ground in the case of someone who is barefoot, how does running in sandals, minimalistic shoes or barefoot affect these people?

I don't quite get what you are saying here, the metatarsal being the arch which I think you might be referring to ?

The cushioning you need is a function of the malleolus cushion.

We started wearing shoes because we became soft and also trends have changed, we could use the same argument around why chicks wear bra's.

[Zaskar09]

Well if it was only for cold how come we dont have furry hairy feet and what about other creatures who live in the cold?

 

Some of us do have hairy feet, and are you seriously asking me why other creatures that live in the cold don't wear shoes?

[TNT1]

Some of us do have hairy feet,

 

Hobbit much?

[Zaskar09]

Hobbit much?

 

Wait, wait, I get it! You're refering to those little people in Lord of the Rings with hairy feet. . . very clever. Very clever indeed.

[Thug]

I fully comprehend that we have built in "cushions" at the forefront of our feet and that running barefoot can alleviate problems with pronation/supanation (sp?) etc etc BUT this would be for short distances as opposed to anything greater than say 10 - 15k.

 

Don't forget that although we are mammals, running is actually a foreign concept to the human body and we are not built to run great distances.

 

I wouldn't have a problem trying to run with a minimalistic shoe for short distances but I reckon that longer distances in the long term would probably cause just as much damage as running in the latest cushioned {insert whatever brand here} running shoe.

 

My opinion.

[TNT1]

 

 

Don't forget that although we are mammals, running is actually a foreign concept to the human body and we are not built to run great distances.

 

 

Say what? For thousands of years we ran after our food daily. If you look at the build of a human, you can see from a physiological point of view it is perfectly built for loping along all day. I suggest you go read some Desmond Morris or something.

[Wyatt Earp]

I fully comprehend that we have built in "cushions" at the forefront of our feet and that running barefoot can alleviate problems with pronation/supanation (sp?) etc etc BUT this would be for short distances as opposed to anything greater than say 10 - 15k.

 

Don't forget that although we are mammals, running is actually a foreign concept to the human body and we are not built to run great distances.

 

I wouldn't have a problem trying to run with a minimalistic shoe for short distances but I reckon that longer distances in the long term would probably cause just as much damage as running in the latest cushioned {insert whatever brand here} running shoe.

 

My opinion.

 

Not true.

We are born to run, it's the way in which we have done it over the years that has forced us to re-look the distances to be achieved.

We are hunters by nature, the bushmen can still run an animal in to exhaustion and have it collapse dying.

 

As an aside, I found Innov8 to be k@k.

 

Anyone looking for a good shoe to try out forefoot striking and can't stand the thought of sandals or foot gloves.

Have a look at the New Balance Minimus.

[SwissVan]

I don't quite get what you are saying here, the metatarsal being the arch which I think you might be referring to ?

The cushioning you need is a function of the malleolus cushion.

We started wearing shoes because we became soft and also trends have changed, we could use the same argument around why chicks wear bra's.

 

I'm referring to the head of the metatarsal where the metatarsal meets the phalanges i.e. the forward end of the metatarsal bone or ball of the foot region. I have one or 2 of these heads on each foot that have dropped (been like this for as long as i can remember) and they don’t like it at all when I walk barefoot, never mind run barefoot, hell they dont even like it when i cycle long distances. I can feel the heads with my fingers protruding more than the others next to them. The malleolus cushion you refer to I suspect is pushed aside and does not protect the affected joints as it was intended to.

 

Bra’s..... I suspect chicks wear them to boost their appeal to [cave]men, but maybe it was also for comfort? Ladies??

[SwissVan]

Some of us do have hairy feet, and are you seriously asking me why other creatures that live in the cold don't wear shoes?

 

You started the cold theory I just find it strange that man was the only creature who evolved to wear shoes because of cold. While this might seem a logical conclusion to us now, how exactly did we establish why Oetzi or whoever... decided to wrap his feet in some sort of protection?

[jannosmit]

How is that Merrels grip on wet rocky patches, the other day we ran Robberg point as training for the Otter, they guy running with me slipped a few times then a few weeks after that we did another trailrun , this time officaily racing it

we ran First and second swopping the whole time but again he came down 3 times very hard onto his knees through slipping, he says he loves the shoes( it the new purple colour) merrels but the amount of times he slipped was not good so maybe it good shoes but the sole is not the best

might check these blue merrels out before i get sone inovs

 

I have ran down a hill, hard clay with green moss, just after it stopped raining. It was slippery but never lost control, because you are in much beter control with these shoes

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Grumpy

 

I will be very honest, reading your response I think you might have only perhaps seen one side of the argument.

The orthotics and cushioned shoes is where the problems started.

We have all been blessed with a malleolus cushion on the forefoot, this cushion can be found on all animals in nature.

The way we land on that cushion with a combination of the muscles as opposed to out joints dealing with the impact is where the validity of barefoot/forefoot running starts coming in to play.

As a forefoot striker you are also free from being pronator or supinator.

As rac. here I would opt for total barefoot freedom, the sandals don't appeal to me, I get a bit rough especially on the trail and I can see the thong bugging me.

The Vibrams kinda remind me of the movie Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs where the fella walks around in spray on shoes.

Grumps, get a book called Born to Run, it's really an awesome read.

 

Who wrote the book Dangle, I had a lookie on my kindle now but I dont see it there, maybe I'll have to go look at Exclusive books.

 

Yeah, I am probably looking at it from my perspective, I guess we all do that to a degree, but "Sheesh man", running barefoot on a beach is great, on a road....I dont know, think I'll stick to my Asic's a bit longer.!

[Zaskar09]

Who wrote the book Dangle, I had a lookie on my kindle now but I dont see it there, maybe I'll have to go look at Exclusive books.

 

Yeah, I am probably looking at it from my perspective, I guess we all do that to a degree, but "Sheesh man", running barefoot on a beach is great, on a road....I dont know, think I'll stick to my Asic's a bit longer.!

 

Christopher McDougall

[Wyatt Earp]

Who wrote the book Dangle, I had a lookie on my kindle now but I dont see it there, maybe I'll have to go look at Exclusive books.

 

Yeah, I am probably looking at it from my perspective, I guess we all do that to a degree, but "Sheesh man", running barefoot on a beach is great, on a road....I dont know, think I'll stick to my Asic's a bit longer.!

I would love to, but I am too soft.

 

The author is Christopher McDougall.

 

@ Van, sounds like you have a more serious problem there mate, it must hurt like crazy.

As for bra's, my guess nipple chafe

[Guest agteros]

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Edited October 30, 2011 by agteros