Iowa PBS segment on Barefoot Running

Well said Steve. I'm also one of those runners who was told to stop due to knees that were destroyed due to degenerative wear and life. So I can totally relate to your point of view.

After shattering my 5th metatarsal in a training accident while on active duty in the military and spending 19 months in casts and braces, I was told I'd never run normal or frequently again. I was given a permanent medical profile authorizing me to run at my own pace and distance (in military speak, they couldn't make me run if I didn't want to). Today, I run 1/2 marathons and I'm on a Ragnar team to run Miami to Key West. I run pain free thanks to minimal and now barefoot running. The only way I can be completely pain free is barefoot. Thanks for sharing this piece...more people should listen to their bodies more than their doctors.

Thanks for sharing, Steve. I can't believe I missed this post. I wanted to see the footage. Anywho, Iowa PBS contacted us, and I put the word out to the Iowa Chapter that they were looking for someone. Someone else came forward, so I put them in contact with him. I have no idea how they found you.

The so-called expert at the beginning of the piece, is no expert on barefoot running at all. He talks about the impact the human body takes while running, and that shoes are good for absorbing that impact, when he should know that when running barefoot, the "forces" are very limited, especially for an experienced barefoot runner, which have been proven by Dr. Daniel Lieberman, PhD, Harvard. I'll wager that if he has done any actual testing of runners, he has only tested those wearing shoes. Of course the impact will be greater in shoes. Studies have been done (Lieberman) to prove this. I'm sure he has never studied barefoot runners and the "forces" of barefoot running. He states that barefoot running is a self-limiting activity, and says that humans shouldn't run long distances and shouldn't do it everyday. Tell that to the indigenous peoples around the world who do it everyday and some up to 100 miles and more like the Tarahumara. Some expert! WTF?!

I love that you went against the so-called "shoe experts" opinion at the shoe store and didn't step down to barefoot running gradually through de-elevated footwear. That's my advice. Always do the opposite of what the shoe guy tells you. Ha!

You represented "us" very well, Steve. Thank you!