Active Community: Message List - Reactions to the book: Born to Run

Re: Reactions to the book: Born to Run

guest — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:36:47 GMT

I loved Born to Run! Probably one of my favorite all time books. It actually inspired me to run my first marathon- and of all the ones out there I could have chosen the Leadville!

I have my degree in exercise physiology and my husband is an exercise physiologist (also did the Leadville) and so we really believe in the science behind barefoot running. We have been doing it for years- even before the book came out- to complement our training. We probably only do about 10% of our training barefoot but it REALLY helps!

We actually came up with the idea to put on a barefoot 5k and 1 mile event which is in 2 weeks in Highlands Ranch Colorado. So any of you fellow barefooters should check it out: thenakedfoot5k.com

My next goal is a 50 miler, not barefoot of course : ) But I still continue to run barefoot about twice a week. If you haven't tried it, give it a shot, it feels great and will really help your running form. Make sure to start really slow though and build up, my first mistake was trying to do 5 miles, not smart! Now I stick to 2-3 miles at a time.

Good luck!

Re: Reactions to the book: Born to Run

guest — Tue, 25 May 2010 02:17:47 GMT

Buoy, I have to ask, based on your comments, have you read the entire book? They seem on the surface based more on what you've heard others say about the book. And as for shod runners being "destined for injury", well, destined might be strong as it is not 100% but the numbers mentioned in the book can be verified in about 30 seconds of google hunting. a VERY small percentage of runners escape injury. Period. Your odds of suffering an injury are very, very high. Not 100% so maybe everyone can hope they are the aberation. The percentage of barefoot runners injured is less. However, admittedly, the numbers of documented barefoot runners are very small and can skew the statistics.

As for McDougall or Barefoot ted not running "True" barefoot, that is true, just like the Tarahumara in the book. But they wear VERY minimalist footwear. No cushion, no motion control, not toe curl or contraint of the foot in any way. Basically a thin strip of ruber to protect the skin from glass and sharp stones etc. It can not, in ANY way, be used to question their beleifs in the benefit of barefoot foot strike. That tiny strip of ruber does nothing to dimish their beleif in the benefit of allowing the foot to flex and spread and stretch naturally.

Re: Reactions to the book: Born to Run

guest — Tue, 25 May 2010 00:44:22 GMT

Thanks for that article. There was so much great information in Born to Run and it wasn't all about barefoot running, though that seems to be a big takeaway. I liked the "science" chapters the delved into problems with shoes and chasing down wild animals. I have tried barefoot running, but only a couple of times a week for very short runs. I don't ever see myself running barefoot exclusively.

My local HS track is fairly new, about one year. It's a little rough, but not as hard to handle as the pebbly walking loop at the park. It's been a month since I started and I just did 4 laps at the track. I live in an "asian" household that takes their shoes off at the door for cleanliness. You can't take your feet off at the door.

Form is essential, and I'm learning and trying to apply the cadence thing from Chi Running and Evolution Running. There is a hill on the park loop that I go to once a week.

I will need to read Born to Run again to get deeper into it, but I agree that there was more to it than just barefoot running. As a newby, it gave me a lot to think about.

Re: Reactions to the book: Born to Run

guest — Mon, 24 May 2010 01:25:05 GMT

THANK you to the last couple of commenters for making those points. The book seems fascinating, sure, but the condemnation of "modern" running is a bit hard to swallow. I'm sure barefoot running can be fantastic, but I don't like the inherent insistance that those who run with shoes are destined for injury. The common sense precautions (and training!) of any exercise activity should not be overlooked. I think many of the points made in the NY Times article linked on this thread make a whole lot of sense. I'm a newbie, but something about the book really rubbed me the wrong way.

Re: Reactions to the book: Born to Run

guest — Sun, 23 May 2010 23:32:46 GMT

A couple of the best comments I've seen. McDougall does not emphasize or spend a lot of time on the work he put into his own transition. And he buries it fairly late in the book. In fact, almost nobody in the book runs barefoot. I think Barefoot Ted is the only character that does much and he arguably doesn't in the race (VFFs). The Tarahumara don't run barefoot. I think the theme should more likely be minimalism and proper training, not barefoot.

And that kind of sums up my problems with the book: hodge-podge, scattershot, lacking coherence. There is a story, but it jumps around so much it's hard to follow. He needed to do a better job of connecting the dots. There is also some useful information about running, but you have to stop and read carefully when you find it. It's almost like he threw it in as an afterthought. A minor annoyance was the hero-worship, larger-than-life portrayal of the major characters in the book.

Still, I read the whole thing. And overall, it was worthwhile. I don't know that I'll read it a second time though.

Len

Re: Reactions to the book: Born to Run

guest — Sun, 23 May 2010 22:57:14 GMT

Thanks Joey, glad you like my thoughts on the book. This thread actually prompted me to write a more in-depth analysis of the book's main concepts: http://bit.ly/aO8SKM. Born to Run is a good example of getting back to basics, something that will help all of our running. Cheers, - Fitz.

Re: Reactions to the book: Born to Run

guest — Sun, 23 May 2010 17:16:45 GMT

Good points, Fitz. Common sense prevails. The big picture has to be considered like you say and all the changes Christopher M. took contributed to a slow transformation. My change has been very slow--after more than a year (or has it been two?) since reading the book, I am still running in shoes, but flater, less supportive and much more comfortable. I haven't run barefoot anywhere, except in my house. However, a major change is how I now view big shoe companies and finding good products for my feet that protect but don't change my natural way of walking/running. My perceptions changed radically and quickly, while my physical changes are slow in coming.

I enjoyed your take on the situation. Thanks, Joey

Re: Reactions to the book: Born to Run

guest — Tue, 04 May 2010 02:01:32 GMT

I bought Born to Run on a whim before having heard anything about it. I've since read it twice and love it. What I find so interesting about discussions regarding the book is that everyone attributes McDougall's transformation from "injured guy" to "ultra runner" to barefooting and this "secret" he learned from a reclusive tribe.

In reality, he just started training like he should: he did strength work before his runs, he ran in neutral trainers (he didn't train barefoot for the 50 mile race), he ran a lot of hills, he worked on his form constantly, and he improved his diet. These are all no-brainer, common ways to avoid injury and become faster and more consistent with your training. One theme from Born to Run is minimalism, but the other aspects of McDougall's training that helped him complete a 50 mile trail run are equally important in his transformation.

Sometimes I cringe when I hear about runners reading the book and then wanting to ditch their shoes, thinking they can avoid injury. It will help if you transition correctly, but there are bigger fish to fry if your diet sucks, you don't do core work or run hills, and your form is terrible. People need to think of the big picture.

Cheers, - Fitz.

Re: Reactions to the book: Born to Run

guest — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:39:53 GMT

I agree with the warning about running on tracks barefoot. The first time I tried on my HS's freshly rebuilt track I did notice a lot more friction on the un calloused parts of my feet. Part of that is because the new track are still very rubbery and bouncy and rubber inherently has lots of friction. Plus what RunWest said, those little bits of rubber are great for kids in track cleats, harder on bare skin. That said I also went back several times and as I really focused on my stride, shortened it way down... made sure I was placing and lifting each foot as directly and with as little braking of pushoff s possible, that also alleviated the problem.

As for grass, just remember with grass that although it will give you a nice cool and natural sensation on your skin, all that soft squishy sod does the same things running shoes do, they lessen the pain of impact on your feet.

As Barefoot Kenbob always preaches, there is no surer, faster way to find the perfect gentle, zero friction, low impact barefoot stride than in actual bare feet on asphalt. You WILL feel your stride change. Imagine thos cartoons with Wile E Coyote and Roadrunner, when their bodies are bolt upright and motionless and there feet are just spinning in a perfect barrel sized circle under them... that is you running barefoot.

Re: Reactions to the book: Born to Run

guest — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:17:47 GMT

Just a suggestion when thinking of running barefoot on a track: if the track is new, wear socks or only do a couple of laps. New tracks are very coarse and have lots of jagged pieces of rubber that will tear the pads of your toes apart. If it is an older well used track it should be better because the surface will be smoother.

Another suggestion is to find a nice football filed and do some laps around that. Grass and dirt really feel good on the skin.