Thursday, 28 July 2011: Born to Run

Great read...or listen in my case (gotta love audio books for long drives). Although I don't agree with the nutrition portion of the book--promotes primarily a carbohydrate based diet rather than a balanced carb, protein, and fat diet--it's insights into natural running are great. A lot of the topics I've discussed and promoted about natural running are discussed in this book. Coincidence that CrossFit Endurance is promoting it? I think not.

Most modern day running injuries are caused by the modern day running shoe altering your natural running form. Switching to a minimal shoe allows your body to do exactly what it was designed to do--run. Strapping on a pillowy running shoe forces you to heel strike, which is almost impossible to do when running barefoot or in a minimal shoe.

I've heard all the excuses, "I have flat feet", "I need the arch support", "I have plantar fasciitis", etc. If you're determined/strong/dumb enough to CrossFit regular and put your body through a painful routine everyday, why can't you try running in minimal shoes? Haven you noticed that the more you CrossFitted, the stronger you got? The same thing goes for your feet. If you lock them away in a cushioned prison that doesn't allow them to do the job they were designed to do, they are going to atrophy. Think putting your leg or arm in a cast for a few months; what happens when the cast comes off? Your muscles have atrophied because you haven't used them. The same goes for your feet. Sure it'll hurt the first time you try it, but if it was easy then everyone would do it. Besides CrossFitters aren't into "easy". You'll be surprised how your feet will adapt; your arches will return, your plantar fasciitis will disappear, your stride will quicken, and all the pain you used to associate with running will disappear. Throw out those prisons for your feet and let them do what nature intended them to do...Run.

WOD
12 x 200m w/90s recovery.

RESULTS
37/38/38/37/36/36/35/35/35/35/36/35