Hater website, seen it?

Joshh

Barefooters
Aug 28, 2010
477
5
18
www.runningbarefootisbad.com

I saw this in the mediocre article about BF'ing in our local paper today. At first I was outraged then after a little while I couldn't help but think that it might even be a good thing ultimately. A little along the lines of needing two political parties. What do y'all think?
 
Some nameless idiot who uses

Some nameless idiot who uses questionable grammar and the word "that" way too much (perhaps a sign of running with shoes?)

It's not lost on me that his site is advertising VFF's, which he likely makes money on with every visit and click.

I will happily stay in the nutter camp.
 
Vibrams show up twice on his

Vibrams show up twice on his Running Shop link to Ebay. Sucker.

Every party needs a pooper, its not a shock that there are websites like this. Let 'em complain. "How dare these other people do this thing that they aren't forcing me to do bu they like but I think is wrong!"
 
"Interestingly, one website's sole purpose

"Interestingly, one website's sole purpose is to advocate that barefoot running is bad for you. Officially, the owner of the site prefers to remain anonymous, and I have no intention of pulling him out of the closet, but unofficially I can tell you that the site is run by a podiatrist with an interest in promoting running shoes (and who even has a running shoe website). This podiatrist also makes money teaching podiatrists the biomechanics necessary to make patients orthotics. "
 
That is awesome. Thanks

That is awesome. Thanks Pbarker. I thought something smelled fishy in Denmark.
 
I got some heavy criticism

I got some heavy criticism when someone i know (whos been running for a great deal of his life) found out i was running barefoot and planned on doing an upcoming race that way. Basically was telling me im stupid and will get injured, maybe not soon, but def when im older. Saying hes had MANY injuries, and knows a lot about running. Also told me hes paid a HUGE deal on special orthodics and inserts, and our feet NEED to be in shoes, or great damage WILL occur. I was thinking, well apparently all that money hasnt really been making an improvement in your life. A lot of diehard people out there who, it almost seems, resent this way of running, when it has no impact on what theyre doing (other than making them look bad when theyre passed)./sites/all/modules/smileys/packs/Roving/bigsmile.png
 
Yea, I saw this site a year

Yea, I saw this site a year ago. Freakin cowardly moron can't even man up and debate in a conversation intelligently. Notice you can't even post there! Totally bogus!
 
Now now Nature Runner, let's

Now now Nature Runner, let's not be a hater like him. :wink: He's digging his own grave.
 
"Every party needs a

"Every party needs a pooper."

Ha!

"How dare these other people do this thing that they aren't forcing me to do bu they like but I think is wrong!"

Huh?
 
I am just going to play

I am just going to play devil's advocate for a minute here and say that some of the specific points from this website are accurate and deserve attention. In general I think both sides of the shod/unshod debate tend to extrapolate heavily from very limited studies (limited both in the scope of their findings and in the implications those findings might have for running practitioners). Biomechanics and medical physics are incredibly complex fields where even simple assumptions about the forces interacting within our bodies drive academic debates for years. There simply isn't enough data to say that this is bad/that is good. People can't even agree on whether POSE running uses more or less energy than something called "regular" running.

Because we are human we want to be right. And in the absence of information we will adopt a position that may not hold up to intense inquiry, but we would be better served if we acknowledged the issues brought up rather than polarizing the debate.

Items that I think warrant attention include his objection to the whole "run pain free" rhetoric when our forums are full of people who are in pain because of running barefoot. Now I believe that a lot of this pain is the result of my body getting stronger as I build up unused ligaments and fascia and become a better runner. But strawmanning this author or calling him a hypocrite does not really change anything.

The fact is that partisans who are unwilling to engage in dialogue are lamesauce and the fact that he has no reply section makes it difficult to establish a conversation. But maybe he didn't put up a reply section because he is tired of hearing from barefoot proselytizer, in the same way that I am tired of people telling me how to run when I am outside. Ultimately we do ourselves a disservice when we approach the issue with this level of fervor because it makes us seem irrational. We should acknowledge the arguments and, failing all attempts at discourse, just say, "this works for me, you go do what works for you."

On a more light-hearted note, our website is much prettier (thanks to the efforts of those die-hard proselytizers I just mentioned) and I don't think anyone is going to pay that much attention to this guy or the website he clearly designed on his iMac G3.
 
That is the message we convey

That is the message we convey here. If you are running uninjured and happy in running shoes, then fine. We don't want to change that. But if you are running injured, know that there is an alternative, viable way to run that may allow you to run healthy and happy again.

It's wrong to say barefoot runners don't experiences injuries. We do, just not from running in shoes. And, typically, those injuries that we do experience are our own fault, for not listening to the signals our feet are providing us.
 
How do you guys remember all

How do you guys remember all those minute details from that book? Hysterical!
 
Youve got to

“You’ve got to make the oath right here, before we cross over to the other side,” Caballo insisted. “Back there is the way out. This is the way in. If you’re in, you’ve got to swear it.” We shrugged, dropped our packs, and lifted our hands. “If I get hurt, lost, or die,” Caballo began. “If I get hurt, lost, or die,” we chanted. “It’s my own damn fault.” “It’s my own Damn fault... Uh. Amen. AMEN


Cut and past off web:)
 
Hi there,Unfortunately I

Hi there,

Unfortunately I believe the website is the work of an Australian podiatrist from Melbourne.

Australia is a great country for throwing up negativity into an argument. Our politicians are some of the worst in the world. That is one reason why I have tuned out from 'experts' and people in power, they offer no solutions to problems.

The website is probably a good sign as it means the guy has obviously has had to spend time and money developing it in response to a perceived threat. I'm certain he is not doing out of sheer goodwill and humanity.

Well, it's pouring down outside now and it is forecast to be doing the same tomorrow. The barefoot run might be brief before heading to the local cafe.

Neil
 
I'm not sure if it's

I'm not sure if it's intentional or not, but I think the site is really funny. If anything, by being so over the top, he kind of gives barefoot running a good name.