A couple weeks ago I wrote a column discussing the emerging barefoot and minimalist trends in today’s running culture, but was unable to go into depth with details about the technology’s failure. 

Toward the end of my column, I summarized a study from Harvard University. This study revealed that traditional running shoes, which have excessive cushioning and nurture heel strikes, produce impact forces seven times higher than are produced by barefoot running methods. These minimalist methods, which haven’t been encouraged by major shoe manufacturers, involve lightweight and flexible shoes that allow natural forefoot strikes. I then expressed my frustration with the running shoe market and urged others to switch to minimalist running. 

For decades Nike, Adidas, Asics and other shoe manufacturers produced footwear with excessive cushioning and other technologies — air bubbles, shocks and motion control devices. People believed in the research behind each product, because these companies are the mega manufacturers for shoes. Society blindly accepted what was being put on the shelves and hit the pavement heels first. Without another idea or perspective to compete with, traditional clunky running shoes became the norm along with the partnering running style. Decades past now, this style has now embedded itself in our culture. 

You learn things based on what you grow up around. You first learned the ways of the world primarily from a parent or guardian while growing up. And like everything else, you learned how to run from what you grew up around. If you had never been told to run in certain shoes or in a certain way, how might those things be different? We can’t go back in time, but to understand what running might look like without contemporary influences, look to the playground. 

Before placing a child in a traditional pair of shoes, after he has mastered walking, observe his running style. He may look awkward at first, but continue to avoid traditional running shoes. Eventually his body will learn to cope. Technology might make some things easier, but it didn’t give our bodies a chance to learn before shoving shoes down our throats. 

Traditional running doesn’t utilize the Achilles, calf muscles or arch in the foot like barefoot running does. Landing on your heel, the Achilles is already at full extension and cannot absorb the impact. On the contrary, when you land on your forefoot, the Achilles is contracted and as your foot makes impact, it has a chance to stretch to absorb the impact. Your calves are misused in the same manner. They assist the Achilles with deceleration as you land, but cannot absorb the impact if they are already extended. The arch in your foot is a complete column in itself, but along with the Achilles and calves, is also misused. Quickly changing forms will send your lower extremities into shock and will usually be accompanied by injuries. Changing forms has to be done slowly and progressively — just as you initially learned how to run.

There are plenty of products out there nowadays, most of which are put out by gutsy entrepreneurs, while Nike and Asics refuse to produce a minimal shoe. Some fascinating new start-ups include TUNE Footwear and Leming Footwear. TUNE produces a minimal dress shoe while Leming’s shoes are both minimal and eco-friendly. 

Technology successfully put a man on the moon and put supercomputers in our phones. Unfortunately, technology wasn’t reviewed for mistakes after the invention of the traditional running shoe.