Were we really Born to Run?
Many years ago, more than I care to remember, I was running regularly with Thad Kostrubala, author of the Joy of Running. Many who knew him were skeptical of his views. Thad believed that running seemed so natural because it brought us back to our origins – as hunter-gatherers. His theories were mocked. Now fast-forward 30 years, and that same theory is all the rage. Barefoot running is featured almost everywhere. We have all seen that occasional barefoot runner in our last marathon or half. Soon, you will be seeing more. Recent articles in Runner’s World, Parade Magazine, Time Magazine, Nature, The San Diego Union, as well as in the best seller, Born to Run, the DVDs Evolution Running, Pose Method of Running, and others have all featured or discussed barefoot running as a natural way to utilize the body’s natural adaptations which have allowed humans to become the Earth’s greatest endurance runners. The natural elastic recoil of the calf muscles, Achilles tendon, and plantar fascia, in conjunction with gravity enable us to get maximum return for minimum effort. Numerous studies have now documented that there is a direct relationship between the cost of running shoes (and the amount of support/control/special features) and the incidence of running injuries. Unfortunately, the association is DIRECT, not INVERSE as might be expected. It appears that as with many common situations, less is more!
In the initial chapters of The Joy of Running, Kostrubala briefly describes several cultures which relied on endurance running for food, work or relaxation. The Tarahumara Indians of northern Mexico, the Australian Aborigines, the Hopi Indians, and the Kalahari Bushmen, all incorporated endurance running into their day-to-day lives. Interestingly, many of these cultures are also known for their longevity, despite the harsh conditions in which they continue to live. Today, the modern equivalent of these groups is the Marathon Clinic (which Kostrabala established in San Diego), the Marathon training programs of the San Diego Track Club, Leukemia Society, American Diabetes Association, HIV/Aids Society, USA Fit or any of other innumerable groups, or smaller individual groups, such as Pony Espresso Running Club. Most of these organizations combine the elements of running information, training techniques, training runs, and social encounters. For the past several years running marathons has been on the ascendancy. More and more of these organizations have embraced the training principles of Pose, Evolution or Chi running. All share the common elements of rapid leg turnover (180 steps per minute of more), diminished foot strike (by keeping knees “unlocked” and the “stance” phase of the gait cycle with the weight bearing foot under, rather than in front of the body’s center), relaxation of other muscles such as the shoulders, engagement of the core muscles, and a forward lean from the ankles to allow gravity to assist in the forward motion (i.e. a “controlled forward fall”). A recurring element in virtually all these techniques is the proper use of the natural elastic recoil of the muscles and feet, and many suggest some “barefoot running” to assist in normal foot function. Just try it and you’ll find that landing on the uncushioned heel is essentially impossible. It’s just too painful. A soft landing on the ball of the foot is mechanically and physically more natural and efficient.
Last week, more than 40 individuals showed up for a workshop sponsored by the San Diego Marathon Clinic and featuring Barefoot Ken Bob Saxton, and early advocate and practitioner of “barefoot running.” You can go directly to his site by clicking on http://thebarefootrunning.com. It is an excellent, informative web site with information on the mechanics of barefoot running, as well as information about Barefoot Ken Bob’s training sessions.
So, the answer to the question posed at the beginning of this blog: Were we Born to Run? I’m not sure if we were born to run, but we certainly seem to have evolved to run!
Happy trails,
JRB