As I wake Monday morning still irritated (mentally and physically) with my injured foot (more on that to come this week), I’m nonetheless thrilled to see Christopher McDougall, author of Born To Run, featured in a New York Times video segment.
Christopher McDougall runs with The New York Times in Central Park
The NY Times “Roving Runner” Brian Fidelman met up with McDougall for a six mile barefoot run through Central Park.
McDougall opens the segment with what has to be my favorite statement: “It’s not about what you wear on your feet, it’s about what you’re doing with your feet.”
You see, it’s not about being barefoot for the sake of being barefoot. It’s about going barefoot to improve and support the natural function of the foot. To utilize and perfect the natural biomechanical action of the foot, which is only inhibited by modern running shoes.
There are many barefoot purists out there who insist that all footwear is downright bad. They are correct and justified insofar as nothing can possibly simulate going barefoot better than actually going barefoot. But I believe that there can be a compromise. A compromise to allow normal functioning in society. A compromise to assist in the navigation of a thoroughly modern world.
While I suspect that minimalist footwear will continue to evolve, and while I do concede that there are drawbacks to utilizing such footwear, I think that the important point to consider is that we should aim to encourage proper use of the foot, be it through going barefoot or through properly (not overly!) designed footwear.
In any event… great video segment! Though Fidelman’s warning at the end about easing into it should be taken seriously. I now know the dangers of too much too soon first hand – or foot.
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