Welcome to the inaugural edition of the M-Factor, a regular feature of the Natural Running Center that will provide readers with the latest trends and news in the minimalist running world. – Nick Pang and Bill Katovsky *** So where is minimalism headed? Are we still in the early adopters’ phase? Will we see many…
Category: Blog
How to Run the Boston Marathon: Race Day Strategies
In just over a week, I will be running in the 2012 Boston Marathon. This will be my nineteenth time there, with a current string of 10 consecutive races. My only misses were for military and work duties, and a foot surgery. I had five races under 2:30, six between 2:30 and 2:35; three between…
Does the Class-Action Lawsuit Against Vibram/FiveFingers Have Any Merit?
Last week, Berman DeValerio, one of the country’s premier class action law firms focused on business litigation, has filed a class-action lawsuit against Vibram and Vibram FiveFingers in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts. The complaint seeks a jury trial on the grounds that Vibram is making “false” health claims about its product. These “deceptive” claims…
Micah True, aka Caballo Blanco…Gone, but Fondly Remembered
It wasn’t supposed to end this way for ultrarunning legend Micah True. Certainly not during a routine 12-mile trail run in the Gila Wilderness of New Mexico. But when he didn’t return from his morning run, and then when search and rescue teams, including a plane, helicopter, and dogs later got involved in the operation…
The Great Running Shoe Debate/Agreement
I have had the pleasure of several recent across-the-world exchanges with Brian Martin of Australia, whose website, Running Technique Tips should be bookmarked by runners interested in improving their form. Brian is a fitness coach who has been extensively home-schooled by the experts and his own body, and in the end has come out with…
Debunking the University of Colorado Barefoot Running Study: “UnMaking” the Case for Running Shoes
Thank you, Steven Sashen, founder of Invisible Shoes, for providing much-needed clarity on a topic that is as polarizing as health care legislation, or whether Mad Men is a better television show than Breaking Bad. Last week, New York Times health and fitness reporter Gretchen Reynolds wrote about a new barefoot vs. shod running study…
Nature, Play, Running, and the Rebirth of Fartlek
*** Last week, I had the privilege of addressing an audience of local youth in a TEDx event that was hosted by National Conservation and Training Center in Shepherdstown , West Virginia. The topic was “Connection to Nature.” For those who have never heard of TED, it stands for “Technology, Entertainment, and Design”, and the…
Shin Splints Explained for All Runners and Good News for Sufferers
This is Camille Herron’s second post for the Natural Running Center. Her first on how she became a world-class marathoner by adopting minimalism was exceptionally well-received by readers. Ms. Herron, who has a Masters Degree in Exercise Science, is the newest member of NRC’s advisory board. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention that…
Building Speed Through Downhill Workouts
by Dr. Phil Maffetone. When all the training ingredients are in place, and your diet and stress are under control,your aerobic base. And as your workout pace increases, you develop more aerobic speed. This means you’ll be able to run at a faster pace with the same effort or heart rate. And, you’re successfully developing…
The Sprinter
The following quotes about sprinting come from the soon-to-be published book, “1,001 Pearls of Runners’ Wisdom: Advice and Inspiration for the Open Road,” and edited by Bill Katovsky. The quotes themselves come from the fertile brain of Steven Sashen, 50, an All-American masters sprinter and founder of Invisible Shoes.— NRC Sprinters are born, not made….
What Can We Learn from Watching Children Run?
The Natural Running Center is privileged to republish this article, “What Can We Learn from Watching Children Run?”, by Dr. Irene Davis, which originally appeared in the Fall 2011 Journal of the American Medical Athletic Association. Dr. Davis is one of the world’s leading experts on running mechanics, running injury, and research. Dr. Davis and…
Learning Good Barefoot Running Style
Mark Cucuzzella, MD, and director of the Natural Running Center regularly runs unshod as a way to strengthen his feet and legs, as well as improve form, cadence, and posture. This short training segment was filmed on location at the Antietam National Park.
Enhancing Natural Pronation Control: Your Feet Were Designed to Do Just That!
When customers enter Two Rivers Treads, questions always arise about pronation. Many of them in the past have been labeled pronators by well-meaning employees at other running stores. Some claim that they have classified as supinators. They want shoes that fit. They want to run injury-free. Yet it’s not something as simple as asking them…
Sh*t Runners Say to Barefoot Runners
Comic mastermind Steven Sashen has hit LOL-paydirt again with his follow-up video to “Sh*t Barefoot Runners Say.” In this sequel, the founder of Invisible Shoes examines “Sh*t Runners Say to Barefoot Runners.” The NRC gives this really, really funny video Two Big Toes Up!
Natural Running Fun Run & Clinic Central Park NYC
Come join me for a Natural Running Fun Run and Form Clinic sponsored by Newton Running in New York City’s Central Park. For the clinic in NYC this is what we will cover Understand the principles of walking and running movement and how running form, proper strength and mobility, and footwear can contribute to injuries…
Ask the Experts: What Are the Pros and Cons of Trigger-Point Therapy?
Patrick writes: After looking at some of the Sock-Doc’s videos on the Natural Running Center site and trying to find out how to deal with some pains on both the inside and the outside of my right knee, it appears to me that there is similarity between Dr Gangemi’s methods and Trigger-Point Therapy. Is this accurate?…
New Study Examined Forefoot Striking vs. Heel Striking (Guess Which Runners Get Injured More Often?)
On a regular basis, health and fitness journalist Gretchen Reynolds, who contributes to the Well Blog of the New York Times, has done a stellar job writing about the information, studies, and reports emerging rom the frontlines of exercise research. The topics are timely, and she is able to expertly highlight the salient facts. Best…
Podiatrist Addresses the 10 Myths of Barefoot Running
In the following essay, which appears in the current issue of Podiatry Today, Dr. Nick Campitelli, a health and medical advisor to the Natural Running Center, who is board-certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery, addresses a hotly debated topic in professional foot-treatment circles. Tackling The 10 Myths Of Barefoot Running by Nicholas A….
Dr. Mark Hits One Outta the Park in Trail Runner Nation Podcast
Trail Runner Nation is a community-centric website that’s supported by aficionados of the off-road. Their motto is “Run Strong and Run Long. They recently invited Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, our fearless leader of the Natural Running Center, to share his views in a podcast. It’s a fun, informative and doozy of an interview. Listen here if…
How I Became a Minimalist and Went from Average Runner to Elite Marathoner (2:37)
Camille Herron, who placed 26th at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials with a PR of 2:37, has an interesting personal story. Years ago, she was a self-described “hobby jogger” with a top time of 19 minutes for the 5K. Then she got serious, really serious about running. She went minimalist. Camille writes on her…
Sh*t Barefoot Runners Say
Stability and Mobility Video for Healthier Natural Running
I’ve often heard it said that you can’t fire a cannon from a canoe. The phrase seemingly dates to naval warfare from the 1800s, but the expression has been popular with fitness instructors and personal trainers who maintain that to “fire a cannon” (build strong arms and legs) you can’t do it from “a canoe…
Say “Yech” to PECH (Pronation Elevated Cushioned Heel) Shoes
Blaise Dubois, the great running maestro from the Great North and founder of The Running Clinic, is never shy when it comes to expressing his well-researched, expert opinions about form, footwear, and function. The following essay by Blaise, “10 Good Reasons to Run in PECH shoes (Pronation control and/or Elevated Cushioned Heel)”, recently appeared on…
Confessions of a Barefoot Runner: These Are the Times That Try Men’s Soles
A regular reader of Natural Running Center’s website, Patrick sent us the following essay– which in the interest of runners everywhere, we’d like to share. To misquote Thomas Paine, “these are the times that tries men’s soles.”– NRC I am a barefoot runner from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. As I get better at running barefoot, I…