The Skeptoid blog treats the question of barefoot running. There can be no doubt that I’ve fully embraced this barefoot running practice. I’m obsessive. I sing the virtues that I’ve thus far discovered. Frankly, I’m quite stunned at my continuing success. But I’m also skeptical. Skepticism permeates the very fabric of my being, and though I’m pushing forward full force with my barefoot experiment, it’s precisely that – an experiment. No, it’s not a “well controlled”... (more...)
The sport of running is a dangerous one. An ironic statement coming from the likes of someone like me, I know. But seriously, it’s filled with risk. And I don’t mean the concerns of plantar fasciitis, Iliotibial Band Syndrome, blisters, stress fractures or back problems. Those are minor, treatable, in many cases avoidable and, most importantly, often predictable and understood. What concerns me is this – stupid, lack-of-common-sense-induced injuries. Accidents. And dumb ones at... (more...)
My career brings me to a great many cities and towns. Some of them are big, some of them are small, and some are delightfully obscure (Buckfield, Maine, which with a population of 1,700 boasts an enormously creative community, and Union, Connecticut with a population of 693 has the coolest little bookstore/restaurant you’ll likely ever see.) The one thing that I like least about my travels is the comparatively little time that I get to spend in each location. I swoop in, load into the venue,... (more...)
Anyone that’s interested in barefoot running, and in particular those with a biomechanical interest and not just a “lifestyle” interest, will have undoubtedly run across two of the more popular systems of “proper” running form. These are the Pose method and ChiRunning. During my injury-induced downtime I had plenty of time to read about running, even if I couldn’t actually run. Naturally this is a healthy as well as frustrating situation. The more I read, the more I wanted to go... (more...)
