This is one of the most controversial topics in the running world at this time. The current research indicates two things, one that the over padded, over engineered supposedly corrective running shoes in fact can cause running problems and injury and two that running barefoot promotes the most natural running mechanics. Barefoot running is a current trend and all the major running shoe manufacturers are offering some form of minimalist shoe, a trend started by the Vibram Five Finger line of footwear. The school of running called Chi running seems to favour minimalist shoes.
As an experienced running coach I have found that the majority of foot and leg problems are caused by faulty running mechanics such as landing with a heel strike which is over striding and places the centre of mass behind the foot strike. This over striding means the knee is locked or semi locked send the shock of landing up the leg with no natural body shock absorption. The raised and heavily padded heel on most running shoes leads to heel strike.
If you need corrective shoes to run you should also need and wear corrective shoes to walk and do your daily activities since similar foot and leg mechanics are involved. Checking the sole of your shoes will indicate if you have the problems defined as over pronation, under pronation or any of the other catch phrases used by the employees of running stores. The only accurate means of assessing these problems is a bio mechanical analysis of a video of the action not someone watching you walk or run on a treadmill.
It is called WORK-ing out for a reason.
I said getting fit was simple, I did not say it was easy.
Cardio burns calories, strength work burns fat.
Eat well to lose weight, exercise to get fit
You can not build a six pack using twelve packs
Often when we seek a magic bullet for fitness we end up shooting ourselves in the foot.
"I think calories are little germs in food that all moms are afraid of" Dennis the Menace
FORUM: 
TOPIC: 
