Barefoot Running

[OakLeaf]

Unpaved roads are actually worse. I run on a lot of them. They're noticeably harder than asphalt (on a par with concrete), AND they're covered with 1-2" diameter crushed stone with sharp edges that I wouldn't dare ANYONE to run barefoot on.

I blame roads. Which were originally created for wheeled vehicles. It's the wheel's fault.

[Jolt]

Another thing to consider re: the overuse injuries: weight. I remember from reading McDougall's book that he's a fairly big guy; don't know about Lieberman. I would guess that heavier (and I don't just mean obese--I'm talking about the very solid, muscular builds as well) people are more likely to get the stress fractures and other issues from running barefoot on asphalt and concrete just because there's more force being exerted on their foot structures with each step, no matter how good their form is, than for a lighter person.

[KnottedYet]

Another thing to consider re: the overuse injuries: weight. I remember from reading McDougall's book that he's a fairly big guy; don't know about Lieberman. I would guess that heavier (and I don't just mean obese--I'm talking about the very solid, muscular builds as well) people are more likely to get the stress fractures and other issues from running barefoot on asphalt and concrete just because there's more force being exerted on their foot structures with each step, no matter how good their form is, than for a lighter person.

They'll have the appropriate robustness in the bones for their build, regardless if they are built to be large or small. Stress fractures are just RSI's, which anyone can get if they are doing the same motion too many times. I've got tiny skinny women with stress fractures, even multiple fractures over a history of many years of running; and I've got big burly guys who run and have never had a single one.

The difference I see when I do their gait analyses is that the people with the RSI history (mostly tibial stress fractures, secondarily metatarsal fractures) are over-striders. An occaisional over-stride is not a problem, it's a valid strategy in some situations. Just like running barefoot on asphalt occaisionally is not a problem, it's a valid encounter with a surface. The problem is when people overstride CONSTANTLY, and to extend my analogy, when they run barefoot on asphalt CONSTANTLY.

Repeat the same stress over and over again, and the tissues never get a chance to do their normal recovery, regardless of how strong or weak or big or little a person is.

[OakLeaf]

Knott, I just caught your new sig line.

But now you've given me scary visions of deep well sockets and pneumatic impact tools.

[KnottedYet]

Knott, I just caught your new sig line.

But now you've given me scary visions of deep well sockets and pneumatic impact tools.

I'll probably have to change it soon.... but it's true!
Buy your own tools, and know how to use them!