[pct-l] "Born to Run", shoes, and feet.

[Tom Holz]

Good advice, Dan.

I completed my thru-hike in lightweight "neutral" running shoes, definitely nowhere near a minimalist shoe, but I still used a barefoot running style gait.  Despite being 6'4", my stride was shorter than maybe half the other thru hikers that year.

Take it slow at first because changing your gait changes how forces stress your body, and while your muscles will adapt very quickly (in a matter of weeks), your connective tissue adapts much slower, and you want to give your tendons, ligaments, and fascia time to adjust to the new stress patterns.

(I personally think we see a fair number of thru-hikers with shin splints a couple weeks north of the border because they have their muscular trail legs, so they push harder and overload their connective tissue support systems.  This is purely a hypothesis.)

Bigfoot


On Mar 13, 2013, at 8:52 PM, Dan Jacobs <youroldpaldan at gmail.com> wrote:

> You should try them, and change the way you walk. This is what I've done,
> and it has worked great for me! My feet and lower legs are like springs! I
> have a smooth, floating gait.
> 
> Dan Jacobs
> Washougal
> On Mar 13, 2013 5:33 PM, "Bow Tyler" <bowtyler at me.com> wrote:
> 
>> I just finished Born to Run as well and found it very interesting. It
>> definitely changed my outlook on running, however, I am even more confused
>> about what shoes to get for my hike. I would like to try the more barefoot
>> minimalist type trail runners instead of rugged thicker ones but don't know
>> if that's a bad idea while carrying the extra pack weight (less than 10lbs
>> base). Any thoughts? Thanks.
>> -Bow
>> 
>> On Mar 13, 2013, at 10:40 AM, Dan Jacobs <youroldpaldan at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> I've been listening to "Born to Run" by Chris McDougal about barefoot
>>> running, shoes , feet, etc. I am through chapter 25. Thank you so much
>>> to those that brought this book to my attention.
>>> 
>>> Oh.
>>> My.
>>> God!
>>> 
>>> I now know why I have always had foot problems. It's the shoes and
>>> efforts to make my feet do things that are unnatural, not my feet. I
>>> will now endeavour to make my feet stronger by using them, and not
>>> supporting them with shoes, padding, arch supports, and all other
>>> expensive manner of "inventions" that may have helped a little, but do
>>> not work as well as wearing the minimal shoes and chagning my gait and
>>> walking style as I have been doing for the last few weeks.
>>> 
>>> Folks that wear sandals on trail are on the right path, too.
>>> 
>>> I am a changed man. I may even get back to jogging and running again
>>> as I enjoyed when I was a kid.
>>> 
>>> This way is not for everyone. If it is, then you *must* try this.
>>> Start by reading "Born to Run".
>>> 
>>> Dan Jacobs
>>> Washougal
>>> --
>>> "Loud motorcycle stereos save lives."
>>> Motorcycle to hike, hike to motorcycle.
>>> Make a friend of pain and you'll never be alone.
>>> 
>> 
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