The book is an epic adventure where the author, Christopher McDougall, takes us on a journey that begins with the ultimate question, why do my feet hurt. In search for an answer to this question he travels to the Cooper Canyons in Mexico to observe the reclusive Tarahumara Indians. He does a brilliant job of narrating the secrets of this tribe, who's members are among some of the world's greatest log distance runners. However, he not only uncovers the secret of this seclusive tribe, but also unleashes his inner athletes. He sets out to complete a 50 mile ultra marathon through the heart of Tarahumara country.
For centuries the members of the Taharama tribe have been practicing techniques that allow them to run hundreds of miles without rest. They essentially run barefoot or in sandals, with zero cushioning, no motion-control, and no orthotics.To the author's amazement the members of the Tarahumara tribe experience very little in the way of injury during their long runs.
This idea that human beings can run barefoot goes against modern conventional thinking. There is a million dollar industry built on the belief that the human foot is inherently flawed and needs some sort of corrective device in order to function properly. However, Christopher McDougall contests that it is man's running technique that is faulty. He debates that the safest and most time-tested running techniques is preformed in bare feet. It is the "heel-to-toe" transition or rear-foot loading that is the cause of running injuries. We were meant to run with our forefoot hitting first and than rolling back onto our heels One is gentler on their legs and land more softly when we hit with out forefoot as a posed to our rear foot.
So is it true that we have been drinking the Kool-aid, so to speaks, buying into the running shoe industry? Are we causing more harm to ourselves than good?
I will begin to tackle this subject in subsequent post. I will to represent both sides of this debate.
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