Compare And Contrast Running Barefoot And Running With The Aid Of Shoes
To bare your feet? Or not to bear your feet? There are many advantages and disadvantages to both running barefoot, and running with the aid of shoes. Readers of this paper will be informed on this newfangled way of running, with this insightful comparative essay. Runners need to be knowledgeable about their bodies in order to be the best they can be, and push themselves to their limits. Without sufficient education on how the simple yet complex biological mechanics of their body works, runners would be forever in the dark when it comes to the prevention, and treatment of running injuries. Running injuries are the common fear most all runners have, it is a pit fall that once having had is very difficult to get back out of in relatively good shape still.
Injuries in running can easily ruin an athletes, performance, season or even career. When being forced to take time off of exercise in order to treat injuries related to running, the runner will most likely lose much of the conditioning, and muscle tone that he or she has worked very hard to get which is, as one could imagine, extremely undesirable to the athlete who has been training for months to get to the physical …show more content…
performance they are functioning at the time they acquired their injury. If you have ever been to a race, you have most likely seen runners with taped up legs indicating an injury or injuries. These racers when asked if they would ever stop to rest, would say they will “run on bloody stubs” in order to keep running and not lose their condition they have worked so hard for. Barefoot running is a way to prevent many of these running injuries that runners suffer from, so that is why there is so much research over it done by professionals and amateurs like myself.
Barefoot running was made popular by Olympic record setters like Ethiopia's Abebe Bikila, the greatest Olympic marathoner of all time, won the first of his consecutive gold medals without shoes on in a world record time 2:15:17. England's Bruce Tulloh was running European record times from 1955 to 1967, almost always in bare feet. He ran 13:12 for three miles on grass, and 27:23 for six miles on cinders. G. Charlie Robbins, winner of two USA National Marathon Championships in the late 1940s, completed and won two of 50 straight Thanksgiving Day Road Races in Manchester, Connecticut, all barefoot. These shoeless runners opened up the flood gates for a barefoot running movement that is still in effect today, and for some very good reasons.
Minimal running, or barefoot running, is better for the feet in the way that it strengthens them and reduces chronic injuries. Some of these chronic injuries can include IT Band Syndrome, Runner’s Knee, shin splints and other common running injuries. Barefoot running teaches correct running form by force. Running barefoot makes the runner run on the forefront of their foot instead of on their heels and calves because sue to the lack of fat in your heels it would be very painful to run otherwise. Using your claves and heels as your primary running appendages causes injuries because it is not a natural way to run, hence the absence of fat pads on your heel, and the abundance found in the forefront area of your foot.
The human foot is an amazing body part, there are so many tiny ligaments, and weight distributing bones in them in order to carry your entire weight all day every day. Running barefoot strengthens the many intricate connective tissues in the foot, creating an overall more healthy foot. Running without shoes makes, ankles, knees, hip swing, core, and posture much more free and unstabilized. This forces your body to become stronger in order to stabilize yourself, and do the job your braces, inserts, and running shoes were doing before. This creates an overall healthier, stronger, faster, sounder, dependable, body. The cherry on top of this barefoot sundae is that running without shoes is much cheaper than running with shoes, because you no longer have to purchase new shoes every 200 miles, new socks, or inserts.
There are many good things that stem from running barefoot which may be the reason for its growing popularity today, but there are also strong negatives to it that scares many people away from ever considering it.
Barefoot running is something that everyone must build up to very slowly otherwise you will fall victim to a great number of ailments such as blisters, skin rashes, toenail loss, and fractures. Running without the protection of shoes does not give the feet any shield from the elements and rough terrain. There is no single answer or prescription that's right for every runner when it comes to footwear and running form. Barefoot running is not for everyone. Some people lack the discipline, and physical abilities to run barefoot. Some people just need the extra help shoes give
runners. Running with shoes can provide needed support, stability, protection from the elements, and comfort to your daily run. The vast majority of the medical field advocates runners to run with a pair of quality running shoes, instead of running barefoot. Wearing shoes is more socially acceptable in today’s society. Shopping for shoes can be fun, and it’s another way to express your personality through your sweet new kicks. There are much more medical studies, and research done on running with shoes, and shoes are approved by medical experts like doctors. Running with shoes on can give you more room for error, because it is harder to injure your foot while performing with the aid of running shoes. Wearing shoes gives you the freedom to run more recklessly, and to run more carelessly.
Despite the benefits there are some annoying negatives to running with shoes on. Shoes are ridiculously expensive. The majority of shoes are recommended to be replaced every 100 to 200 miles, these regular replacements can add up and become very costly. Some shoes restrict the range of motion naturally found in the foot, causing stress related injuries. Shoes forces you to run in a different position that what is considered natural, and can become a cause of pain when running.
In conclusion, there are many advantages and disadvantages both running with the aid of shoes, and running without. From the information gathered in this paper, there is no clear right or wrong decision between the two running styles. The final decision, and opinion on how to run is simply up to the preference of the runner themselves. One thing is for certain, whether you run with shoes on or not, the roads are always open. Do not let the health experts shun your favorite way to run. Lace them up tight, or don’t, and race for your dreams my runner friend.
Injuries in running can easily ruin an athletes, performance, season or even career. When being forced to take time off of exercise in order to treat injuries related to running, the runner will most likely lose much of the conditioning, and muscle tone that he or she has worked very hard to get which is, as one could imagine, extremely undesirable to the athlete who has been training for months to get to the physical …show more content…
performance they are functioning at the time they acquired their injury. If you have ever been to a race, you have most likely seen runners with taped up legs indicating an injury or injuries. These racers when asked if they would ever stop to rest, would say they will “run on bloody stubs” in order to keep running and not lose their condition they have worked so hard for. Barefoot running is a way to prevent many of these running injuries that runners suffer from, so that is why there is so much research over it done by professionals and amateurs like myself.
Barefoot running was made popular by Olympic record setters like Ethiopia's Abebe Bikila, the greatest Olympic marathoner of all time, won the first of his consecutive gold medals without shoes on in a world record time 2:15:17. England's Bruce Tulloh was running European record times from 1955 to 1967, almost always in bare feet. He ran 13:12 for three miles on grass, and 27:23 for six miles on cinders. G. Charlie Robbins, winner of two USA National Marathon Championships in the late 1940s, completed and won two of 50 straight Thanksgiving Day Road Races in Manchester, Connecticut, all barefoot. These shoeless runners opened up the flood gates for a barefoot running movement that is still in effect today, and for some very good reasons.
Minimal running, or barefoot running, is better for the feet in the way that it strengthens them and reduces chronic injuries. Some of these chronic injuries can include IT Band Syndrome, Runner’s Knee, shin splints and other common running injuries. Barefoot running teaches correct running form by force. Running barefoot makes the runner run on the forefront of their foot instead of on their heels and calves because sue to the lack of fat in your heels it would be very painful to run otherwise. Using your claves and heels as your primary running appendages causes injuries because it is not a natural way to run, hence the absence of fat pads on your heel, and the abundance found in the forefront area of your foot.
The human foot is an amazing body part, there are so many tiny ligaments, and weight distributing bones in them in order to carry your entire weight all day every day. Running barefoot strengthens the many intricate connective tissues in the foot, creating an overall more healthy foot. Running without shoes makes, ankles, knees, hip swing, core, and posture much more free and unstabilized. This forces your body to become stronger in order to stabilize yourself, and do the job your braces, inserts, and running shoes were doing before. This creates an overall healthier, stronger, faster, sounder, dependable, body. The cherry on top of this barefoot sundae is that running without shoes is much cheaper than running with shoes, because you no longer have to purchase new shoes every 200 miles, new socks, or inserts.
There are many good things that stem from running barefoot which may be the reason for its growing popularity today, but there are also strong negatives to it that scares many people away from ever considering it.
Barefoot running is something that everyone must build up to very slowly otherwise you will fall victim to a great number of ailments such as blisters, skin rashes, toenail loss, and fractures. Running without the protection of shoes does not give the feet any shield from the elements and rough terrain. There is no single answer or prescription that's right for every runner when it comes to footwear and running form. Barefoot running is not for everyone. Some people lack the discipline, and physical abilities to run barefoot. Some people just need the extra help shoes give
runners. Running with shoes can provide needed support, stability, protection from the elements, and comfort to your daily run. The vast majority of the medical field advocates runners to run with a pair of quality running shoes, instead of running barefoot. Wearing shoes is more socially acceptable in today’s society. Shopping for shoes can be fun, and it’s another way to express your personality through your sweet new kicks. There are much more medical studies, and research done on running with shoes, and shoes are approved by medical experts like doctors. Running with shoes on can give you more room for error, because it is harder to injure your foot while performing with the aid of running shoes. Wearing shoes gives you the freedom to run more recklessly, and to run more carelessly.
Despite the benefits there are some annoying negatives to running with shoes on. Shoes are ridiculously expensive. The majority of shoes are recommended to be replaced every 100 to 200 miles, these regular replacements can add up and become very costly. Some shoes restrict the range of motion naturally found in the foot, causing stress related injuries. Shoes forces you to run in a different position that what is considered natural, and can become a cause of pain when running.
In conclusion, there are many advantages and disadvantages both running with the aid of shoes, and running without. From the information gathered in this paper, there is no clear right or wrong decision between the two running styles. The final decision, and opinion on how to run is simply up to the preference of the runner themselves. One thing is for certain, whether you run with shoes on or not, the roads are always open. Do not let the health experts shun your favorite way to run. Lace them up tight, or don’t, and race for your dreams my runner friend.