06 Jun 2011
By: SHAUN TAN
FOR anyone who wants to take up jogging, the first equipment to get is usually a pair of running shoes.
However, a growing number of runners have chosen to eschew footwear altogether – and run barefoot.
Advertising executive Lawrence Lin is one who has adopted the practice of running barefoot.
The 27-year-old, who is preparing to run the adidas 100km Sundown Ultramarathon on June 25 completely barefoot, took off his running shoes in March 2009.
Mr Lin, who suffers from scoliosis – a curvature of the spine – said that one of the reasons he gave it a try was the stiffness in his back when he ran long distances.
He ignored it until he read the book Born To Run by Christopher McDougall, which asserts that modern cushioned running shoes are a major cause of running injuries, revealing how members of Mexican Indian tribes ran long distances on thin sandals without injury.
“After reading the book, I felt that the idea of running barefoot sounded feasible, so I decided to try it,” he said.
To ensure that he was prepared to make the switch, he researched proper running techniques before hitting the track.
“Running is more about technique than footwear. For example, you should avoid landing on your heels when you run,” he said. “I definitely do run faster and my running style is cleaner, allowing me to clock more distance with less effort.”
One notion that has held many people back from running barefoot is that the feet may get hurt by foreign objects strewn along the running route.
However, Mr Lin, who has participated in adidas Sundown Marathon 2009 and Standard Charted Marathon Singapapore 2010, has not suffered any injury due to running barefoot so far.
He said: “My feet have a layer of toughened skin but I don’t have any calluses.”
Now, runners who are unwilling to run with no feet protection can experience what running barefoot feels like, with minimalist shoes.
Such shoes allow joggers to run as though they are barefoot, while still protecting their feet.
Kris Tan, 30, is one such advocate of minimalist shoes, after he suffered pain in his right knee and plantar fasciitis at the bottom of his right foot when he wore running shoes.
He believes that it takes longer for a runner’s feet to adapt to running barefoot, as the feet need to get accustomed to running on tarmac and cement.
He said: “When I first started out, I threw out my old shoes and started running. After a couple of runs, I didn’t feel the pain any more.
“The rubber sole of the minimalist shoes I wear offers some protection from the ground. Still, if I step on a thumbtack, I’ll definitely bear the full brunt of the pain.”
While running barefoot helps alleviate discomfort in some runners, it is not for everyone, according to Dr Patrick Goh, a specialist sports physician at Sports Medicine International.
He said that most people have been “urbanised”, having worn shoes and walked on hard surfaces since an early age.
“Switching from running with shoes to running barefoot may lead to injuries in the foot, up the Achilles tendon and calf, even in the thigh and back,” he said.
Ms Marabelle Heng, a podiatrist from Singapore General Hospital, said: “How the lower limbs adapt depends on the fitness, balance and coordination of the runner. Outcomes vary from person to person.”
For those who want to run barefoot for a good cause, join Bare Your Sole, a charity event to raise funds for people in developing countries and disaster-stricken places who live in dire conditions.
The barefoot-walking event will be held at Gardens by the Bay East (Rhu Cross) on June 18 at 9am.
Email: shauntan@sph.com.sg
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