Heel or toe? Running science backs off minimalist shoe

...(I)t sounds like we are demonizing minimalist shoes as an anathema, whereas I believe we should praise those who embrace minimalism —and specially those who do it as a transitioning stage into barefoot running.

I may be guilty of this in my Blog. I now have to ask if I was trying to make point that or not. I wanted to assert that shoes, even minimalist shoes are not the answer, at least not the only answer. You are right, of course. Even if you don't think minimalist shoes are the right path, encouragement should always be our first order.
 
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As @Sid says:
...(I)t sounds like we are demonizing minimalist shoes as an anathema, whereas I believe we should praise those who embrace minimalism —and specially those who do it as a transitioning stage into barefoot running.
Looks like a bit of a misattribution due to the quote function. Just to clarify, KTR said this. Thanks!
 
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Looks like a bit of a misattribution due to the quote function. Just to clarify, KTR said this. Thanks!
Thanks Sid. Totally my error.

Update: I fixed the post.
 
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Minimalist shoes are just tools that serve a purpose in the right situations, just like running watches or water bottles, they are advertised here and given away as prizes so can’t be all that bad. Some folk don't see it because they don't put themselves in the situations where they need them.

The danger in making distinctions between barefoot and minimalism is that you create a two tier system in a movement when everyone’s efforts should be celebrated equally.

Ken and many others have good advice for beginners, taking things slowly and building a strong base over time, starting barefoot to get sensory feedback and good form. But it doesn't end there, from a certain point we all branch off and find our own paths, some will need shoes to achieve their goals and stay safe whilst others won't. The barefoot movement has a big umbrella of many colours that should shade us all, at least that's how i've always seen it.

Nobody knows the personal challenges folk face to get off their butts and do something positive instead of sedentary, we should be celebrating that, barefoot or not. We are individuals, with individual needs and aspirations, not robots off a production line all beating the same drum.

Not directed at anyone, I happily run barefoot and shod, it makes no difference to me because i’m awesome, just like you all are.
 
I'm not convinced that positive:sedentary is a true dichotomy. Plenty of sedentary activities are positive, and plenty of non-sedentary activities are not positive, or can be perceived as negative by someone. A group of soldiers trudging through a forest and coming upon a poor defenseless village that they then proceed to slaughter probably isn't seen in a very positive light by the sedentary villagers just trying to prepare food for their families and fellow villagers. While conversely those villagers' sedentary activity will likely be greatly appreciated by the villagers who receive that food, but not so much by the animals or even plants that became the food.

In the end this is a really nitpicky point about something that was probably just you trying to get your thoughts out in a timely fashion, but something doesn't sit quite right with me about the sentence. XD So sorry if I'm reading way too deep into this.
 
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I'm not convinced that positive:sedentary is a true dichotomy. Plenty of sedentary activities are positive, and plenty of non-sedentary activities are not positive, or can be perceived as negative by someone. A group of soldiers trudging through a forest and coming upon a poor defenseless village that they then proceed to slaughter probably isn't seen in a very positive light by the sedentary villagers just trying to prepare food for their families and fellow villagers. While conversely those villagers' sedentary activity will likely be greatly appreciated by the villagers who receive that food, but not so much by the animals or even plants that became the food.

In the end this is a really nitpicky point about something that was probably just you trying to get your thoughts out in a timely fashion, but something doesn't sit quite right with me about the sentence. XD So sorry if I'm reading way too deep into this.

I'm talking in a running context. I think it's a reasonable argument for many folk here who see running as something positive, else we wouldn't be here.
It's easy to blog about running and put the world to rights, much harder to run and make things right with the world.