by Jim Everhart. Can we make pain our friend? The so-called King of One-Liners, Henny Youngman, had a famous riff on the medical profession that included my all-time favorite line on pain management: “I went to the doctor myself and I said, ‘Doc, it hurts when I do that.’” Youngman raised an arm. “The Doc …
Blog
Winning the Air Force Marathon: Natural Running Center’s Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, 44, Placed First in 2:38
When I got the email late Saturday morning from Mark with just two words in the subject line, “I won!”, my digital jaw dropped in astonishment. Just a few weeks shy of his 45th birthday, Mark topped a field of 2,500 runners at the 2011 Air Force Marathon, which started and finished at the Wright-Patterson…
First Lydiard Coaching Seminar Attracted Running Legends
by Dr. Mark Cucuzzella. I had the privilege of attending and speaking at the first Lydiard Invitational Coaching Seminar in Boulder, Colorado this past weekend. It was humbling to be in the room with running legends of the past and present, hear their stories, and listen as they shared lessons learned and “secrets” they figured…
Beware the Perils of Midstance (Not Initial Impact), Where Body Stresses Are Greatest
by Dr. Casey Kerrigan. While in Daegu, South Korea last week where I delivered a lecture on biomechanics, barefoot locomotion and minimalist shoes at the International Sports Science Congress that was held in conjunction with the 2011 IAAF World Championships, I caught this photo during the preliminary heat of the 3,000 meter steeplechase where the…
VivoBarefoot Aquas — Ideal for Everyday Use and Comfort
By Pete Larson. I’ve gotten a number of emails recently from readers asking about what type of shoe I wear to work. Given that I’ve spent most of the past 4 months either in sandals, barefoot, or in running shoes (i.e., summer attire for a college prof), none of those are likely the answer that…
VivoBarefoot Kids Shoe Giveaway
On Sunday, less than 24 hours after Hurricane Irene roared through the region, the day was calm, the sky blue, and the sidewalk outside Two Rivers Treads in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, was filled with excited kids and their parents. They were there for the VivoBarefoot Kids Shoe Giveaway. Earlier in the week, I had sent…
Maximalist Running Shoes…Big, Bad, and Scary?
What is so frightening about these running shoes? A short video explores their terror-producing hold on the imagination.
Going 1:59: What It Takes to Become Marathon’s Roger Bannister — New Series by Dr. Philip Maffetone
Over the next several weeks on the Natural Running Center website, Dr. Phil Maffetone will thoroughly examine all facets — physical as well as mental –of what it will take to go 1:59 in the 26.2-mile marathon. He believes it’s “no longer a question of if, who, or when, but how.” Part One questions the…
Minimalist Running Shoes Are Popular at Outdoor Retailer Show
The just-held summer Outdoor Retailer (OR) Show, which takes place each year in Salt Lake City, can easily overwhelm the senses and send a gear nerd or wilderness aficionado into paroxysms of utter bliss. All the established companies like North Face, Salomon, Mountain Hardwear, and Columbia have huge booths, whereas newcomers in small stalls are…
The 200-Yard Rule: The Only Way To Start Barefoot Running
by Steven Sashen. I was recently on a panel discussion about barefoot running. At one point, someone in the audience asked “So how do I transition to barefoot running?” Before I could respond, a well-respected physical therapist suggested the following: “First, switch to a slightly lower heeled shoe than what you have. Run in that…
Merrell’s Spring 2012 Barefoot Collection
The Natural Running Center’s shoe review editor is Nicholas Pang, who is also the founder and editorial mastermind of Minimalist Running Shoes, a popular blog where many runners and walkers first become aware of new models, brands, and footwear availability. Nick has both his ears and feet to the ground when it comes to minimalism…
Before Apolo Ohno Ran in the New York City Marathon, the Gait Guys Checked Out His Form
Eight-time Winter Olympic speed-skating medalist Apolo Ohno has shown his athletic mastery on ice, then on the wooden dance floor when he won the 2007 “Dancing with the Stars” competition with Julianne Hough. In just a few months, it will once again be showtime for Apolo at the 2011 New York City Marathon. For months,…
Barefoot Running with the Kids
Two Rivers Treads and Dr. Mark Cucuzzella present a short, high-energy video of barefoot running in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
Ask the Experts: Should I Be Concerned That I Pronate When I Run?
I have been to three different shoe stores here in the Bay Area, and each store person took a look at my current running shoes (I wear them during the day) and said that “I pronate.” One youngish guy (he had the look of an emaciated, long-distance college runner) wanted to sell me some “anti-pronation”,…
Running Uphill: Quick Video Tutorial
Here’s a short video on uphill running that Pete Larson, who is also Runblogger (a must-read blog for anyone interested in any and all aspects of footwear science, gait, and shoes), filmed of Mark Cucuzzella, M.D. and Two Rivers Treads employee Brad Dodson going up the rocky trail on Flagstaff Mountain in Boulder, Colorado. Brad…
Small Town with a Large Foot Print: Natural Running Video Filmed in Shepherdstown, WV
A short music video created by Two Rivers Treads kicked off Newton Running’s Special Event on Monday August 8 at the historic Boulder Theater in Boulder, Colorado. Before an invited crowd of 300 runners, company executives, specialty running retailers, and past running greats such as Olympic Gold Medalist Frank Shorter and World Champion Zola Budd, …
Toe Spring in Minimalist Shoes — Good or Bad?
by Jason Robillard. Earlier today, I had a lengthy conversation with Jesse Scott as we climbed up to Devil’s Thumb outside Nederland, CO. We had three pairs of minimalist shoes we were testing out, so one of the topics centered around shoes.Specifically, we were discussing the various characteristics that make a great minimalist shoe. Jesse…
Barefoot Angie Bee and Her Four Boys
A short, sweet video with Barefoot Angie Bee and her four boys. Her oldest son Samson taught himself how to play the ukulele and created the soundtrack. Angie Bee, who is a VIVOBAREFOOT certified barefoot running coach, is also a new contributor and member of the Natural Running Center advisory board.
Minimalist Shoes, Barefoot Running, and Metatarsal Stress Fractures
by Danny Dreyer. Running barefoot will strengthen the intrinsic muscles of your feet, making them more stable. And, it may give you a feeling of running differently. But, it won’t somehow automatically undo all your worst movement habits or change them for the better. Pete Larson, the Runblogger, has recently posted a comment on the…
Nike Free Music Shoe
From Japan, comes this ingenious and creative video that marries the super-flexible Nike Free with electronic music. Bending and twisting the shoe produces varying musical sounds. The bass is reserved for foot-striking.
The Science of Barefoot Running
The following report by Steve Nearman appeared in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Athletic Association, and is reproduced here with the AMAA‘s permission. Daniel Lieberman, PhD, known in the running community as the “Barefoot Running Professor” has his favorite motto when ad- dressing his favorite topic. “If you think barefoot…
Sock Doc Attends Week-long MovNat Course and Discovers His Inner Natural Athlete
by Dr. Steve Gangemi aka Sock Doc. I recently spent a week living beside Erwan Le Corre, Vic Verdier, Clifton Harski and eleven other MovNat attendees, training quite differently than I have for, well, anything. For the past 20 years I’ve been immersed in the triathlon and endurance arena, having competed in 20 Ironman races,…
White-Line Comfort for Barefoot Running When the Asphalt is Pipin’ Hot
What does a runner who likes to occasionally go out in his bare feet dream of on a scorching-hot summer day? Cold beer? Watermelon? A dip in the Shenandoah river? All of these are great but a fresh white line of paint is even better. This is the main road near my home in Shepherdstown…
Trinity Outruns Agent Brown in “The Matrix”: Gait Guys at the Movies
The Gait Guys take a close look at Trinity’s running form with Agent Brown in close pursuit. See how and why she supinates–and what this means in terms of your own footstriking and gait.
ABC’s of Minimalism: Dr. Mark’s Reply to Jeff Galloway’s Views on Running and Injury
With all his books, coaching experience, training methods, racing achievements, and Ironman-like durability with just over a half-century of miles on his legs, Jeff Galloway is a respected fixture in the running community. And along with many other runners, I’m a subscriber to his email newsletter .But his take on minimalist running shoes in his…