Barefoot running is the latest trend sweeping through the running world; as crazy as it sounds there is mounting evidence to suggest that running barefoot helps runners “listen” to their feet and run more naturally.
A Harvard study recently showed that when people ran barefoot instead of in conventional running shoes with a cushioned heel, they tended to land more on the front of their foot to avoid the force of the heel thumping.
“It’s pain avoidance and your body naturally just wants to find comfort and ease,” said functional movement specialist Brent Kisilevich, “so some people have started thinking that running barefoot may help you avoid injury because it allows the brain to get the most accurate neuromuscular feedback for balance and control from the feet.”
Shoe companies have responded by creating minimalist footwear like the New Balance “Minimus” to allow runners to safely try the “barefoot movement” without fear of puncturing or scraping their feet on unforgiving running surfaces.
But safe injury-free running isn’t as simple as buying a pair of funky looking shoes.
“If you want to reduce the risk of injury, you need to learn how to focus your attention on what happens within your body,” said Kisilevich.
Sandra Bradshaw and Susinn Shaler, functional movement specialists trained in a method developed by physicist and mechanical engineer Moshe Feldenkrais, offer runners a way to optimize their running style from the inside out.
“We created BarefootBootcamp.ca to help runners more easily discover their natural running form, to improve their ground feel and control, and to reduce the stress on their ankles, knees, and hips no matter what kind of footwear they choose,” said Bradshaw.
Shaler, who took up barefoot running more than 18 months ago and has run two half marathons in her minimalist shoes, adapted her own running style and created optimal biomechanics through an intentional focus on movement lessons derived from the Feldenkrais Method.
“I was able to develop techniques that help me prevent injuries before they occur,” said Shaler, “and techniques that enable me to safely run long distances in my barefoot shoes.”
BarefootBootcamps are being held in Kelowna on Saturday and Vernon on Sunday. There will be plenty of men’s and women’s Minimus trail shoes available, allowing all participants to experience the “barefoot movement.”
You can register at BarefootBootcamp.ca
