To Run Barefoot, That is the Question.

I realize this is the second day in a row of writing about an NPR story, but this is far too interesting to pass up, and I have a feeling it may really interest some of our Kinesiology people.

Biologist Dan Lieberman discusses his theory that the human body evolved to become a long-distance running machines, motivation fueled by the fleet-footed food on four legs, like antelope, that our ancestors had to chase down.

"Most animals are designed for speed, for power, not for endurance," Lieberman tells NPR. "And we are a special species in having been selected for endurance, not speed." You can read the entire article here.

It's true that animals moving on four legs cover ground faster than animals with two, but human biomechanics allowed for humans to maximize their capability for speed, Lieberman argues. Our ancestors landed on the balls of their feet, he says, avoiding the inefficient shockwave that shoots up the leg when landing heel to toe. The natural way to run is no longer by landing on the ball of our foot; Lieberman says our running form has evolved because of the shoes we wear.

I've witnessed a handful of people running barefoot in my lifetime. I have to assume they choose to run this way to maximize efficiency. As a runner myself, the idea makes me quite nervous. I'd be concerned about stepping on glass and hot pavement...though I guess back in the day, the concern was stepping on wild animal teeth and bones.

I also witnessed one person wearing these on a run around the Washington, D.C. mall. They are rubber shoes that fit around each toe like a glove. They act as a second skin, and supposedly mimic running barefoot. According to Vibram, which makes the footwear, the purpose is to stimulate the little muscles. "Stimulating the muscles in your feet and lower legs will not only make you stronger and healthier," reads the website, "it improves your balance, agility and proprioception."

It's not uncommon for runners to wear lightweight shoes for races, but most reserve these types of shoes for races only, because shoes with support are injury preventers.

This has always been the logic I've adhered to. As a pronator - meaning my feet roll inward and create extra pressure on the inside metatarsals (bones) - I will always be wearing during my training runs shoes that correct this motion. The idea of running barefoot, or wearing these silly looking rubber glove-shoes is to me - just that - silly, and asking for an overuse injury.

But I know we have students and faculty here who have studied running, and some are runners themselves. It's not Friday, but I'm throwing a Tuesday Forum question on the table anyway. Do you run barefoot? Have you tried these five-finger rubber shoes? What has your experience been? For those of us with poor biomechanics (like pronation), do you believe it's better to train in shoes that correct the efficiency flaw, or to become a footwear minimalist?