About 8 years ago, I took up running as a way to maintain a healthy weight. However, it quickly took a turn from mere exercise to a genuine passion in my life. I love to run; in fact, I signed up for the Winslow Half-Marathon on September 17, and I plan to run a marathon in December.
Since I'm so interested in running and science, I pay attention when I run across an article that blends the two. Claudia Dreifus's article, "Born, and Evolved, to Run" (New York Times, 22 Aug 2011)* particularly caught my eye because she discusses the barefoot running movement, a trend that I am part of.**
Dreifus interviewed Daniel Lieberman, a Harvard researcher who has studied "how the human head and foot have evolved over millenniums". Lieberman is a scientist cited in Christopher McDougall's Born to Run, a book about how and why humans are running animals, which I've read, so I was excited to learn more about the research that McDougall cited. His research has evidence to support a couple of assertions: 1.) human beings are evolved to run because we have a stabilizing structure in our neck that allows us to hold our neck still and 2.) barefoot running may be shown to be better overall for the body and injury prevention because modern shoes alter footstrikes.
Lieberman also discusses applications of his research for people looking to be healthier by returning to a pre-modern way of eating and running to future doctors. I find his research an interesting glimpse into how we evolved and why runners can develop injuries because of the interference of modern technology.
Dreifus' piece is clearly intended for those curious about the barefoot running movement (or runners, more generally); the title will immediately grab the attention of those who are curious about running. Most of her interview questions involved running and barefoot/minimalist running in some way; she knows about the rising tread of minimalist shoes, such as the Vibram FiveFingers and the NB Minimus, so her audience is seeking scientific validation to support the trend. While there are certainly critics of the barefoot running trend, Dreifus is not interested in exploring the controversy at all; her article overwhelmingly offers support for barefoot running style and no attention is paid to some of the drawbacks.***
Overall, I thought the piece was interesting, and I enjoyed learning some more about the research and science behind my preferred running style. Now, off to my 13-mile training run!
*Be sure to cite your articles, even if it is as informal as giving the link, the author's name, and the article title. It's a good habit to be in to always cite!
**I have run in the Vibram FiveFinger shoes and now the New Balance Minimus, and I have to say I really prefer the minimal shoes over clunky heavy shoes. However, this is not a post about my running shoes choices, so if you're interested in my opinions about the shoes, pester me after class or in the comments.
***Some folks have problems due to habit, biomechanics, fitness level, and other factors. No one should jump into a pair of minimalist shoes or start running barefoot without first transitioning slowly and carefully.
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