The painful truth about trainers: Are running shoes a waste of money?

The Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 4/19/2009 | CHRISTOPHER McDOUGALL

[Liberty1970]

At Stanford University, California, two sales representatives from Nike were watching the athletics team practise. Part of their job was to gather feedback from the company's sponsored runners about which shoes they preferred.

Unfortunately, it was proving difficult that day as the runners all seemed to prefer... nothing.

'Didn't we send you enough shoes?' they asked head coach Vin Lananna. They had, he was just refusing to use them. 'I can't prove this,' the well-respected coach told them.

'But I believe that when my runners train barefoot they run faster and suffer fewer injuries.'

Nike sponsored the Stanford team as they were the best of the very best. Needless to say, the reps were a little disturbed to hear that Lananna felt the best shoes they had to offer them were not as good as no shoes at all.

When I was told this anecdote it came as no surprise. I'd spent years struggling with a variety of running-related injuries, each time trading up to more expensive shoes, which seemed to make no difference. I'd lost count of the amount of money I'd handed over at shops and sports-injury clinics - eventually ending with advice from my doctor to give it up and 'buy a bike'. And I wasn't on my own. Every year, anywhere from 65 to 80 per cent of all runners suffer an injury. No matter who you are, no matter how much you run, your odds of getting hurt are the same. It doesn't matter if you're male or female, fast or slow, pudgy or taut as a racehorse, your feet are still in the danger zone.

But why? How come Roger Bannister could charge out of his Oxford lab every day, pound around a hard

[Jubal Madison]

“MBTs”

dawn53 - What are MBTs? I had a bad accident 2 years ago and have pins and skin grafts(on the bottom of foot) in my foot. Shoes have been a problem, I have tried the “name brands” and to be honest, I don’t see any difference from the cheapos from Wallyworld. I do have a problem with my gait - if you think they might help (I think that might be why my lower back gets sore) I’d like to try them. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks—JM

[fr_freak]

When it comes to preparation, the Tarahumara prefer more of a Mardi Gras approach. In terms of diet, lifestyle and training technique, they're a track coach's nightmare. They drink like New Year's Eve is a weekly event, tossing back enough corn-based beer and homemade tequila brewed from rattlesnake corpses to floor an army.

Unlike their Western counterparts, the Tarahumara don't replenish their bodies with electrolyte-rich sports drinks. They don't rebuild between workouts with protein bars; in fact, they barely eat any protein at all, living on little more than ground corn spiced up by their favourite delicacy, barbecued mouse.

This article is very interesting and everything, and there might even be some real truth to this, but when I read the above portion, I got the impression that the author was one of these "noble savages are better than Western civilization"-type people. After all, what in the world does drinking and not eating protein have to do with their not wearing shoes? Is the author suggesting that their shoeless superiority is so great that they can get drunk the night before and still win? Whether one wears a shoe or not, it isn't going to help a hangover, so this has to be a complete non sequitur. If the author will embellish this part, than how can I trust anything he writes?

[Larry Lucido]

Yeah, right. Put ME on that jury. I’d vote to charge the dumbass plaintiffs and their attorneys all the litigation costs. While I have no use for companies that overcharge for crap, I have even less use for people who buy that crap and then whine they were “deceived” (sniff!). Fool and his money, and all that.

[kickonly88]

AS Rush is fond of saying; follow the money. During my days at Lackland AFB we had a TI who could out run any of our sorry asses, backwards while wearing combat boots. And he ‘smoked like a diesel locomotive on bad fuel!’
It’s like wearing a lifting belt in the gym, it just takes the stress of the essential back muscles never allowing them to get as strong as they would without it.

[fr_freak]

Running shoes may have been "hyped" by marketing over the years, but they really are a necessity.

What about thin-soled vs. thick-soled shoes? Have you experimented with that? If so, what is your opinion on that?

[Desdemona]

I'm not a runner, but a walker. We have the same issues, but at different rates. I've traded "up" out of cross-trainers twice, spent money on the latest technology and ended up with plantar facilities in one foot. And it always seemed to be only when I wore those shoes. Hmmm. Because my ankles tend to turn over (but never in bare feet, imagine that), I did the rollbar thing for one pair and they turned more than normal. Went back to cross-trainers this last time and it's all diminished.

After reading this article, my Spanish relatives are really rather vindicated as we walk in the door and kick our shoes off. We used to catch all sorts of crap for that. "Put your shoes on!" was a regular mantra from my sainted grandmother. Well, Grandma, see, it's like this....

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

The guy who was sporting them was a serious trainer (looked like he did some weight training, too). He had some of the most beautiful legs I’ve ever seen.....and they were SHAVED. LOL! *shhhhh....don’t tell my husband* :-)

[jimtorr]

The Mail was pretty slow to publish this article. Vin Lanana has been the head track coach at U of Oregon since July 2005.

[Turbo Pig]

Regarding the Vibram five fingers....

Those have to be the coolest shoes EVER!

I’m 42, 40 pounds over weight, and can’t believe I just said that, and am going to get a pair!

[AFreeBird]

MBT Shoes. Requires javascript

[ottbmare]

This is fascinating. I’d love to run barefoot because I hate the big clunky thick training shoes that seem to add so much weight to the end of each leg. Yet the Fivefingers are very expensive (local shops quoted me $90 for what is essentially an experiment with a product that doesn’t promise to last very long). I wonder if it would work to just find a soft pair of moccassins or Keds to protect my feet as I run through the woods. Tree roots are painful!

[Jubal Madison]

Bless You - They have several places that sell them in Tulsa, which is really convenient,as both of my grown daughters live in Tulsa metro. I am going to give them a try. Thanks AFB—JM

[Alice in Wonderland]

Which is ... where?

[Tax-chick]

Ah, in travel magazine ads! If only we could all live there ;-).

The beaches I’m familiar with are notable for shells and other Bad Stuff for the hypothetical barefoot runner.

[Nuhna di Abuv]

Maybe so, but there’s no difference between the original Nikes and the Walmart knockoffs.

[dawn53]

Best way to try an MBT is to find a dealer in your area, and go try one on. That way you can get a feel for if they will help or not, and the right size too (because the sizes aren’t consistent with normal shoes...at least that’s been our experience.)

Here’s a link to their website and a dealer locator. If you don’t have a dealer in your area, then buy them on zappos.com...that way you get free to and from shipping.

They’re expensive (around $250, but worth it, at least for me.) I have a brace for foot drop that I have to wear with other shoes, but when I wear MBTs I can go without the brace and still walk fairly normal. I just found out our dentist was wearing them too. He’s had foot trouble for years and he says they help.

http://www.swissmasaius.com/

[antiRepublicrat]

One would naturally expect a foot design from evolutionary processes to be poorly designed, full of dead-end evolutionary pathways that lead to sub-optimal performance characteristics.

That's pretty much the idea. Those with poor foot design couldn't outrun the carnivores, didn't survive, didn't pass on their genes. Only those with the best foot design survived and passed on their genes, resulting in our current design after millions of years. The current design could use some improvement though. The ankle is too fragile and the soles are too susceptible to punctures and cuts.

[Alice in Wonderland]

I quess I'm luckier than most. My first 50 years were spent on a beach . . . one that was cleaned routinely by parks department . . . usually at 5am.

[Mr Rogers]

I started running before running shoes were common. I started with street shoes. Hurt like all get out after a while.

[Sherman Logan]

Far down the article they mention the excellent design of the human foot.

Make that the "normal human foot."

Those of us born without arches need supportive shoes or we get crippled up pretty fast.