Classical Argument

Classical Argument

Classical Argument

Not only are we born with the ability to run, we are designed to run exceptionally well. Running is one of the most natural things we can do but because of technological advances most of us don’t do it enough or at all. When most people do want to start running the first thought is typically about getting some new shoes. There are thousands of running shoes out there so how does a person decide what kind of shoe to get? One should really do some research before a new shoe purchase. It could save a lot of unnecessary long term pain.

Barefoot running shoes have taken off in the last decade for good reason. It is a healthier and safer way to run. This concept stems from the fact that humans have evolved since the beginning of time running with little to no shoes on. These barefoot running shoes typically have zero drop from heel to toe and have only millimeters of hard padding between the foot and the ground. It is especially true that traditional running shoes like what most people wear today have not been around very long. According to Elingsen (n.d.), “Running specific shoes did not appear until the 1960’s.” So why all of the sudden do we need these bulky, padded, unnatural running shoes? Simply put, we don’t. It only makes sense that we should run in the most minimal shoe we can. For thousands of years humans had to track, hunt and run down prey in order to eat. They did this all on their bare feet.

Traditional running shoes limit the foot’s ability to do what it is designed to do. Like Mumford (n.d.) said in his article Barefoot Running, “Traditional shoes limit movement of the foot and act as a cast which causes the foot and leg muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones to become lazy.” The human foot is designed so when we run, we strike at the ball of our feet or right behind it. Traditional running shoes force our heel to strike first and basically roll forward towards the toes. This is bad because it causes a high...