*** The balance beam is one of women’s gymnastics toughest and most difficult events. There is almost zero margin for error. As we have seen in the London Olympics, even the most talented gymnasts often slip, stumble, or fall off the narrow wooden beam. But the balance beam is more than just about maintaining one’s…
Category: Blog
What American Runners Wore at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics
You Don’t Have to Run in Pain: Second Installment of “Voice from the Running Shoe Store Floor”
An early adopter of minimalism, Jim Hixson was the former general manager of an independent running retail store in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to currently being a running retail store consultant, Jim now writes a regular column for the Natural Running Center called “Voice From the Running Shoe Store Floor.” — NRC ***…
M-Factor: Trends and News in Minimalist Running (Second Edition)
Welcome to the second edition of the M-Factor, a regular feature of the Natural Running Center that provides readers with the latest trends and news in the minimalist running world. – Nick Pang and Bill Katovsky *** In our first M-Factor column, we asked, “where is minimalism headed?” The answer is a steady increase of…
Revisiting Triathlon After 17 Years: Triathletes are Still Overtraining!
It’s a pleasure to share this thought-provoking essay by Dr. Phil Maffetone with Natural Running Center readers. Phil’s reach into the world of triathlon began when the sport was still in its infancy; and thankfully, his influence continues to this day. There’s a reason why his teachings and writings on training, racing, and nutrition will…
“On the Run” –Amazing Short Film from New Zealand
Every now and then, you come across an old movie or documentary that stops you right in your tracks. “On the Run,” a 1979 documentary about New Zealand’s legendary running coach Arthur Lydiard and his training methods is one such treat. In this 19-minute short film, you are witness to some amazing footage as Lydiard’s…
For Those Who Love to Run While on the Road….
Print out these (larger size), get them laminated, and you can have your very own personalized hotel-room doorknob cards. Source: www.facebook.com/runningquotes
“Voice From the Running Shoe Store Floor”: Why Minimalism Matters with Runners
An early adopter of minimalism, Jim Hixson was the former general manager of an independent running retail store in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to currently being a running retail store consultant, Jim will be writing a regular column for the Natural Running Center called “Voice From the Running Shoe Store Floor.” Here’s the opening…
Cleveland Running Company’s Jeff Fisher Discusses Vibram FiveFingers with Sports Talk Show Host Tony Rizzo
“The Really Big Show” is a top-rated sports talk radio show that’s broadcast every morning from 9-12 on WKNR-AM in Cleveland, Ohio, and is a primary affiliate of ESPN Radio. So when Jeff Fisher, the owner of Cleveland Running Company (the Natural Running Center store affiliate is actually based in nearby Shaker Heights), found out…
Keeping Children Fit…It’s Not Staying Indoors!
It’s been a super busy past few weeks, so I got a little behind with Dr. Mark’s Desk. I’ve had a hectic travel schedule that first took me to New York City where I gave a talk on healthy running and diet to over a hundred health professionals at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital. While in…
Tarahumara are Latest Victims of Mexico’s Drug War
It’s the kind of news story that leaves one feeling terribly sad and depressed. In this week’s issue of Newsweek, though you can read the article here on Daily Beast, reporter Aram Roston sheds disturbing light on a most unfortunate casualty of Mexico’s intractable drug war: the Tarahumara. Their remarkable ability to run far and…
Naked Foot 5K Attracts 450 Runners in D.C. (Okay, Not All Were Barefoot)
As the third stop on its 10-city tour, the Naked Foot 5K had its largest turnout so far last weekend in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Chevy Chase, Maryland. Presented by Altra Running, which has helped make “zero drop” the go-to term for those interested in minimalist footwear (as well as the name of a…
Walking vs. Running: Why These Gaits Are Not the Same
by Dr. Phil Maffetone. Walking is associated with first striking the heel, whereas a running gait involves landing farther forward on the foot—a midfoot strike in most cases with more forefoot landing as running speed increases. Making contact with the ground imparts impact forces—the foot literally collides with the earth on each step. While impact…
Stop the Lawsuits Against “Toe Shoes” and Instead Learn About Proper Running Form!
by Dr. Nick Campitelli. For those unaware, adidas has now been named in a lawsuit regarding its version of the “toe shoes” called the adiPure Trainer shoes. Joseph Rocco claimed in a class-action lawsuit filed last week in New York federal court that the $90 pair of adiPure shoes that he purchased did not deliver…
Video: Science Behind Nik Wallenda’s High-Wire Walk Across Niagara Falls Can Help Runners!
The key to walking on a high-wire is the heel! So says this ESPN video by John Brenkus and the Sport Science team that analyzes the biomechanics and physics behind Nik Wallenda’s successful high-wire walk across Niagara Falls Typically, the foot is supported by three main balance points. But on a narrow surface…
Nik Wallenda Crossed Niagara Falls in Handmade Elkskin Footwear
by Bill Katovsky. I keep a close watch on this heart of mine I keep my eyes wide open all the time I keep the ends out for the tie that binds Because you’re mine, I walk the line — Johnny Cash, “I Walk The Line” On Friday night before a crowd of a 100,000…
Scientists Discover that “Exercise in Moderation is Beneficial!” Really?
by Dr. Phil Maffetone. I don’t keep track of which “health” lifestyle craze we’re in the midst of right now, but the odds are there’s at least one that’s grabbing a lot of current headlines. I don’t read newspapers or magazines, watch TV or listen to the radio. That includes almost all the same junk…
Barefoot Run Through History
*** One of my favorite places to run is Antietam National Battlefield Park, which is the site of the bloodiest one-day battle in American history. Over 20,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of fierce combat on September 17, 1862. The Battle of Antietam ended the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia’s first…
Meet Your New Training Companion: The Flying Robot Jogger
Technology and natural running might seem mutually exclusive, though any number of minimal and barefoot purists regularly log their GPS-tracked workouts on mobile devices and social networking sites. The newest entry to Future Jock is the Joggobot, an airborne robot running companion.The robot is actually a quadrotor, or helicopter with four rotors. It carries…
Video: Men’s Mile at the 2012 Nike Prefontaine Classic
At last week’s prestigious Prefontaine Classic track and field meet, James Kiplagat Magut of Kenya, leads the pack in the mile race, and eventually wins in 3:54.16; former Stanford star Russell Brown (on the outside) finished second in 3:54.48. Brown’s PR for the mile is 3:51.45 , and he now competes for the Oregon Track Club. Photo…
Excerpt from New Book of Running Quotes: “1,001 Pearls of Runners’ Wisdom: Advice and Inspiration for the Open Road”
I admit that the past few months have been busy. In addition to co-authoring “Tread Lightly: Form, Footwear, and the Quest for Injury-Free Running” with Pete Larson, I also edited and assembled a new collection of running quotes. And so I am pleased to announce that “1,001 Pearls of Runners’ Wisdom: Advice and Inspiration for…
Got Stress? Then, Running More = Running Better?
Got Stress? We all have it enter our lives, some experiencing stress more frequently than others. How we deal with it has been the subject of countless books, magazine articles, and talk shows. Too many people, unfortunately, attempt to self-medicate their way past stress, ranging from the daily jolts of caffeine to doctor-prescribed pills. But…
Endurance Sport Conference
I have been invited to speak at a sports injury conference this August in Florida, and I hope that many who regularly come to this site can attend. The First New Paradigms in Endurance Sport Conference will be held at the Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze, Florida, from August 3-5. Over 60% of runners are…
“Summits of My Life” – Ultrarunner Kílian Jornet Burgada’s Four-Year Project
Kílian Jornet Burgada is a Spanish ski mountaineer, ultrarunner, mountain biker and duathlete. With that said, the 2011 Western State 100 winner is considered the world’s fastest billy goat, possessed of an uncanny ability to fly over steep, treacherous, foot-slipping terrain. Only 23 years old, his natural running talent is totally off the charts, and…
Caballo’s Last Race…Copper Canyon Ultramarathon
Hey Everyone, Dr. Mark is relaxing at the beach with his family during this holiday weekend, so I am filling in for him this time around.– Bill Katovsky. Last week, the New York Times ran a marvelous, heart-stirring, and emotional wallop of a feature story about an individual whose life, directly and indirectly, touched us…