New Study shows Shod running more efficient??

#21
they're comparing runners who are already highly efficient and looking for miniscule differences in some abstract parameter they call "efficiency" (on treadmills, for crying out loud - how many ppl run BF on treadmills?) and this is supposed to mean something? To whom? Most people running BF are doing it because they gave up trying to fix numerous problems with ever-beefier, more expensive shoes (the industrial answer to running issues). They're not super-light, elite front of the packers transitioning from their Mayflies to BF.

So, basically, this study, like pretty much every study on the subject, is a study in wasting other people's time (meaning, the people who read and discuss the useless findings).
 
#22
Whether or not this study is valid, who runs barefoot because of efficiency considerations? But the validity is pretty doubtful. How many people run barefoot on treadmills habitually? And how many 'experienced' barefoot runners are there really? Of the BF runners with public profiles, I'm aware of two: Jason and Ken Bob. Study those guys, not someone who's been running barefoot since 2010.

Nonetheless, we already know that pretty much everyone who wants to win a race uses shoes of some sort. Prosthetic devices tend to improve performance. When pro runners start winning races barefoot, on a consistent basis, I think we’ll have convincing evidence that barefoot is best for performance.These studies done in unnatural contexts, or using amateurs with varying levels of skill or experience, prove little. Same with the whole functional fitness debate. If you want to know what works, ask the pros. There's millions of dollars at stake, not $20,000 in grant money.
 
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#23
What I take from this article is that I don't have to apologise for running in my VFFs ever again! So there!

I still prefer BF for regular running, at least until my form is perfect.
 
#26
I have to disagree, running on a treadmill really isn't that different for most people. I get that it feels different and basically sucks, but when you look at your mechanics they are almost exactly the same.

Maybe I'm missing something here?
 
#27
Dunno know. I've only ran on a treadmill once (an electric one that moved on its own), and it seemed different, very different. And they're talking about a 3-4 percent difference, so I would imagine the difference in mechanics could be quite subtle. Still, I don't have trouble believing that running shod could be more efficient. 3-4 percent is also the margin or less within which races are won or lost, so if barefoot running were more efficient, barefoot runners should be winning more races.
 
#28
Auntie Anne, are you impressed by my verbal raspberries?

There are plenty of technically and competitively motivated folks hereabouts, some of whom are extremely competent both as runners and as brilliant people. We let them contribute regularly.
 
#29
@JosephTree: I wasn't exactly replying to your ehm... frambozen...
It was kind of a reaction to the 'overall' color of the discussion.

I'm absolutely convinced that there are many very competitive runners here... but on this forum I have the impression that it's 'allowed' to run, just for the pleasure of running.
Of course, that's not forbidden on other forum, but for some reason there seems to be more of a boundary between the competitors and the back of the packers....

(By the way: I've always forbidden my nieces and nephews to call me auntie....)
 
#30
I have to agree with you AnnT. I am happy here because there's some sort of background humm of excitement and happiness with this whole BFR adventure. It's like we're a bunch of very high functioning loonies, you know the kind - wouldn't hurt a fly- and we secretly wilt just a little bit every time Dr. Lieberman or some other scientific wizard publishes something that makes us feel like we're not quite as loonie as we would like to think.

Of course, part of our affliction is the vigorous denial of any sort of craziness. I'll leave that to TJ and others.
 
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#31
I went ahead and read the abstract from the author.
He states that there is no statistical difference between barefoot and shod. The only difference noted was when weight was added. That means that, despite the very small difference noted, that the two are equal.

That said, I am new here, having started running barefoot in late January. It's all indoors, as I won't be seeing any grass around here for quite a while (Anchorage). I quit running about 30 years ago, due to knee, and later, lower back pain. Barefoot, I'm back to finding the fun in running, and with no knee or lower back pain. 6 weeks and I'm doing 0.8 mi in 10 minutes.
 
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#34
This is study was definitely not designed for optimal environment. A good explanation for the better performance in shoes could easily be the fact that how did they attach the lead weight to the bare foot? Medical tape? Superglue? Etc... I'm sorry you put anything on my foot and subconsciously I'm going to try my hardest to keep it there, thus the increase in metabolic energy usage, in addition to the "cost of cushioning" and slight overstride as they present in the article.

The other issue I have with this article is it's overall goal. Since when am I going to put lead weights on my feet and go run? Seriously, you've proved exactly the same thing as a person trying to run a straight line versus a person running the same line but with an apple on their head... Pretty dumb...
 
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#38
Agnesd said:
I second this. I haven't been running for long, and I'm not running barefoot much (yet), mostly in mini shoes, but the fact that I can run without pain or injury is all that matters to me. What's the point of being more efficient if I end up getting hurt?
Click to expand...

I've been running a lot on my huaraches but I'm thinking of moving to road gloves or minimus zeros. My feet are taking a beating and I want to continue running without pain or injury as well. "What's the point of being more efficient if I end up getting hurt?" Agreed!
 
#39
Blind Boy said:
I've always believed shod running to be more efficient, especially over longer distances, when you take the weight difference into account. Why? I think the cushioning does help some in reducing the amount of work the legs have to do. I still prefer barefoot though but if I was an elite runner I'd probably consider wearing shoes for racing.
Click to expand...

Shoes do help a lot with reducing foot fatigue.
 
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