The following is written to the author of The Barefoot Running Book, a practical guide to the art & science of barefoot & minimalist shoe runningBy Jason Robillard. He did a great job writing about his passion. The following is from the back of his book, "Jason Robillard is a barefoot ultra-marathon runner from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has been running barefoot since 1992 and racing barefoot since 2005. He has participated in races ranging from 5k road races to 100 mile trail races. Jason is also the owner and director of Barefoot Running University and The Ultramarathon Store." (http://jasonrobillard.com)
I highly recommend Jason's book if you are interested in barefoot running. My review of his book (written to him)is below:
In true barefoot-running-disciple fashion, you have proclaimed the gospel of barefoot running from the mountaintop in a fairly convincing manner. Furthermore, your approach to introducing the concept is neither aggressive, nor pushy. Starting out by providing the rationale for barefoot running is wise because I’m sure that is the most frequently asked question. Why in heck would you want to do that? After addressing this issue, your sequence is logical, informative, and entertaining. However, I’m not sold that barefoot running is for everyone.
The outline of how to get started is well done, but I felt like it left me hanging. It would have been helpful to explain or provide examples for how to handle it when it isn’t going well. Arguably you noted stopping and waiting for pain and/or discomfort to subside before starting up again and to continue to move forward in the gradual manner in which you have provided. The reason this is concerning for somebody like me is that if I were to experience pain or discomfort that I didn’t previously have I would likely attribute it to barefoot running (the new variable). I would need a safety net or a support group almost to proceed without serious reservation or giving it up altogether.
It would also have been interesting to have had “testimonials” from some who tried barefoot running, but found it wasn’t for them and to explain why it didn’t. This might illustrate that it just might not be for everyone. There are certainly exceptions to every rule. Of course you would need to subscribe to the exception principle.
Another aspect of barefoot converts that has me skeptical is the revelations that seem all too simple. For example, when I hear an example like from the Runner’s World article, Barefoot Running (February 2010 issue): Ken Bob Saxton noted, “When I ran my first marathon, I wore shoes, and I got such bad blisters that I had to walk the last six or seven miles. My toenails all turned black and fell off.”
Well, is it possible that this could be a case of poor footwear choice? Could this have happened because the shoes were ill-fitting? Could it be that your socks were in a bunch? My point is that it just seems too simple to point at the shoes as being the cause of the problem when there are other variables to consider. If this led to a life of blissful barefoot running, that’s wonderful, but please acknowledge that the problems may not have been exclusively attributed to wearing shoes.
In the same article noted above, the following was posed, “In Born to Run, Chris McDougall argues that modern-day running shoes have done nothing to prevent injuries and that barefoot running might be the answer.” Dr. Kevin Kirby, D.P.M., responded as follows, “I’ve been running for 40 years, and I lecture on biomechanics internationally, and I just don’t think we have any studies to support that.”
With regard to injury, I don’t believe barefoot running makes one immune to running injuries, as some advocates for barefoot running will have you believe. Running barefoot simply makes you susceptible to different types of injuries. Whether you run shod or barefoot, the simple act of running provides the potential for becoming injured.
I believe that bodies are adaptable and most people have adapted to footwear from a very early age. Therefore, wearing shoes for most, is more “natural” (and I use that word loosely understanding that we are not born with shoes on our feet) than not wearing shoes. Therefore, wearing running shoes is not an Unnatural thing for most of us to do regardless of our activity.
Although you have presented a wonderfully written, user-friendly guide to getting started with barefoot running, I don’t believe it is the end-all, be-all for everyone. Having said that, I do believe barefoot running is exactly what some people need. I simply think there are too many different body types and needs to say shod running or barefoot running is superior to the other. I think they both have their merits and shortcomings. However, I think if more people attempted barefoot running and genuinely gave barefoot running its proper due, we would discover that it is for more of us than previously suspected, or at least a palatable alternative to shod running.
So, barefoot running certainly has its place, as does shod running. Neither in my mind is a better alternative. However, I don’t think it’s a matter of “choosing your poison” as much as being smart in your approach to running…in whatever modality you happen to choose.
Thank you for writing a well written book Jason. You have got my attention and I feel as though I have been given an opportunity to look through your window, which already has opened my door…a little…to barefoot running.
Sam Wilkinson, shod triathlete
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