I have to admit, I never tried barefoot running with the minimalist “five-finger” shoes. I don’t like the way they look, I don’t like things separating my toes (too many pinky toe breaks over the years), and just the thought of running with such little cushion makes my once stress-fractured, shin-splint hampered legs ache.
At the same time, I know that there are some great merits to the phenomenon and that bodies can adjust and enjoy the benefits of barefoot running.
Running makes bodies very prone to aches and pains. It seems like runners are injured a lot –– anything that repetitive will have a tendency to do that. The repetition and stress involved in running can be injury-inducing if not done carefully. And the fact is, shoes aren’t perfect. For me, shoes were not the answer to my particular injuries, but for some runners I know shoes can make an enormous difference –– whether they’re minimalist or conventional running shoes.
At RunTheBluegrass half marathon on March 31, many runners could be spotted with flashy neon, funny-looking running shoes that gave them an almost gazelle-like gait. And they did not have five toe spaces. (Again, the method has merits, but I don’t think it’s for me.)
Instead of a traditional thicker-heeled running shoe, the colorful Newton running shoes sport a more plump and springy cushion in the forefront and less thick sole in the heel area to promote “natural form running” –– a method that encourages runners to use a quicker cadence and land on the forefront of their feet rather than heels. The method, developed by Danny Abshire for more than 20 years, is supposed to reduce injury by taking stress off of the ankles, knees, hips and back.
Abshire participated in RunTheBluegrass and was on hand to give demonstrations and tips at the race’s expo. He could be seen bouncing around the Keene Barn at Keeneland followed by a trail of enthusiastic runners anxious to try out the method that is gaining popularity throughout the country.
Sam Dick, co-owner of Swim Bike Run of Kentucky, said he is a proponent of natural form running after seeing his injuries decrease and his speed increase as he trains for races in Newton shoes. He had particular problems with hamstring soreness before switching to Newtons, and now his store sells the line.
He explained that natural form running is a mid-foot strike with more posture awareness, offering a complete use of the hips and chest rather than just the legs. I like the idea that it involves the entire body even more so than conventional shoes, since part of my stress fracture recovery involved getting stronger in other areas (and my speed also increased that way).
And rather than “pushing off” with a heel strike, the method is more of a “lifting off” of the foot, Dick explained. He admits the method takes some patience to adjust to and may require more mental energy at first.
“I am constantly thinking, ‘Where’s my head, what are my arms doing? Am I lifting?’,” he said.
Dick admits that Newton shoes are not for everybody and that he has never tried barefoot running, but appreciates that both methods are looking for new approaches to running and injury prevention.
“So many people young and old have had injuries from running, but we feel like this is a form of running that lessens the chance of injury,” he said.
Makes sense to me –– it is a minimalist, natural approach that engages the whole body and doesn’t sacrifice foot protection. I’ll admit, I have yet to try either method for myself, but in my discussions about the forms, mixed with my running experiences, I am gravitating toward trying natural form running once I venture back into running post-baby. Although I know it is a gradual process, and feet and ankle muscles adapt, I simply can’t bear the thought of barefoot running. I’d rather give the Newton method a try.