Barefoot Runners Shake up the Running Shoe Industry
There are trends in everything: from jeans to movies to hairstyles. That includes running shoes. For years, running shoes have been built to correct overpronation, supination, aching heels and unstable ankles. There are running shoes made for just about any kind of foot. The new trend these days is to run barefoot, after won the New York marathon running without shoes. Orthopedists think running for long distances is a very bad idea, especially considering how much force every stride puts on the bones, ligaments and muscles of the feet. Barefoot running enthusiasts (a very small minority) say running without shoes allows you to feel the terrain and is more natural.
Into this debate steps shoe company Vibram. Vibram invested the five finger shoe: they're like gloves for feet. The shoes weren't invented for running; they were originally intended for kayakers, hikers and yoga enthusiasts. But some people like them for running. they mold to the foot and provide no support. You can't wear orthotics of any kind with them. They look kind of weird at first. But they are catching on, and the major shoe companies are all looking at what they call minimalist shoes.
Recent research suggests that for all their high-tech features, modern running shoes may not actually do much to improve a runner's performance or prevent injuries. Some runners are convinced that they are better off with shoes that are little more than thin gloves for the feet — or with no shoes at all.
Plenty of medical experts disagree with this notion. The result has been a raging debate in running circles, pitting a quirky band of barefoot runners and researchers against the running-shoe and sports-medicine establishments.
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"In 95 percent of the population or higher, running barefoot will land you in my office," said Dr. Lewis G. Maharam, medical director for the New York Road Runners, the group that organizes the New York City Marathon. "A very small number of people are biomechanically perfect," he said, so most need some sort of supportive or corrective footwear.
Nevertheless, a growing number of people now believe in running as nature intended — and if not barefoot, then as close to it as possible. They remain a tiny segment of the population — some would say fringe. But popular training methods like ChiRunning and the Pose Method that promote a more “natural” gait, as well as “Born to Run,” a best-selling new book about long-distance running by Christopher McDougall, have helped spur interest.
We've run in minimalist shoes and the kind of running shoes that have padding, arch support and ankle support and for us, there's no question: more is better. Perhaps you have to have feet that are biomechanically perfect, as Dr. Maharam says.
But we think the violet Vibram Classics ($75), pictured above, would be great for hiking, river rafting, traveling and yoga. We're quite eager to try a pair on, in fact. One thing's for sure. If you wear a pair of lilac Vibrams, you can't be shy. Because people are definitely going to stop you and ask you about your shoes.
