ZERO DROP "All the Shoes That Fit"

11May/120

Barefoot Running in the Early ’60s — Excerpt from New Book “Tread Lightly”

In our new book. Tread Lightly: Form, Footwear, and the Quest for Injury-Free Running, by Dr. Peter Larson (Runblogger) and myself, we explore the reasons why pain is so frequently a part of the life of the modern runner, and search for potential solutions to the ongoing injury epidemic. Could it be the shoes? Running form? Even diet? Tread Lightly arrives at a pivotal time as the running world is in the midst of a revolution. Runners everywhere have begun to move away from the big, bulky, and extra-cushiony shoes that have filled store shelves for decades. Many runners have even gone so far as to experiment with barely-there minimalist footwear or barefoot running in an attempt to overhaul their running form in an effort to escape injury. In the process, some have seen chronic injuries disappear, while others have developed new problems in their attempt to run in a barefoot-like style. Tread Lightly addresses these and other topics, including human evolution, how footwear developed, foot strike, and common running flaws. The book can be purchased on Amazon. Go here. The following excerpt is from the chapter “The Recreational Runner.”

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The sixties began, curiously enough, with an anti-shoe bias among a distinguished roster of champion runners. We all know about the unshod Abebe Bikila whose bare feet flew over the cobblestones en route to winning the marathon at the 1960 Rome Olympics. (The Ethiopian runner wasn’t the first marathoner to go barefoot in the Olympics; that honor belongs to South African Tswana runner Len Taunyane, who finished ninth at the St. Louis Games in 1904.) Fewer of us are probably familiar with the serial accomplishments of Herb Elliott, a talented Australian middle-distance runner who appeared twice on the cover of Sports Illustrated, in 1958 and 1960, each time running barefoot! Elliott held the world record in the mile (3:54); and at the Rome Olympic Games, he won the gold medal in the 1,500 meters and bettered his own world record with a time of 3:35.6. He trained under the tutelage of his iconoclastic coach, Percy Cerutty, who embraced a mind-body, holistic approach to training that was centered around barefoot runs on the beach and sand dunes, discussing poetry and philosophy for mental stimulation,avoidance of wheat flour, and no water or liquids during meals.It also helped that Elliott possessed a graceful, natural running stride. From 1957 to 1961, Elliott was the preeminent middle-distance runner in the world. During this four-year stretch, he never lost a 1,500-meter or mile race.

Known as “Europe’s Barefoot Champion,” England’s Bruce Tulloh won the European 5,000 meters championship in 1962 by racing unshod on the cinder track. Tulloh had started running barefoot three years earlier because he was convinced that shoes were slowing him down. In short order and without shoes cramping his style, Tulloh won his first British amateur title barefoot and continued racing and setting U.K. records, including the two miles in 8:34, until he retired from competition in 1967.Two years later, he ran across the U.S. in sixty-four days—but he wore shoes due to his uncertainty about road conditions. Tulloh, seventy-six, who lives in Marlborough, England, went on to coach many top British middle-distance runners, authored several books on running, including a popular one called Running is Easy. He even spent a short spell in the early 1970s in Mexico’s Copper Canyon with the Tarahumara Indians and, like others who have had that opportunity, was amazed by how far and effortlessly they ran in their huaraches.

During a four-year stretch, Herb Elliott never lost a 1,500-meter or mile race.

In 1961, Tulloh, who later became a biology instructor at a small British college for twenty years, was briefly placed under the microscope by a famous medical researcher interested in barefoot running. Dr. Griffith Pugh, who achieved fame as medical leader of the 1953 Everest climbing team, tested Tulloh on the track. In a 2011 interview with Running Times, Tulloh described the process: “Dr. Pugh had me run repetition miles, to compare the effect of bare feet, shoes, and shoes with added weight. He collected breath samples. It showed a straight-line relationship between weight of shoes and oxygen cost. At sub-5:00 mile pace, the gain in efficiency with bare feet is 1 percent, which means a 100 meter advantage in 10,000 meters. In actual racing, I found another advantage is that you can accelerate more quickly.”

Barefoot racing was also popular among other elite British runners, such as Ron Hill, who ran barefoot when he took second in the International Cross-Country Championship in 1964. The following year,the shoeless endurance athlete won the Beverley (England) Marathon, in 2:26:33. At the Mexico Olympics, he placed seventh in the 10,000 meters—again without shoes. Hill also told Running Times, “I was going to run the marathon at the 1972 Munich Olympics barefoot, but the Germans laid new stone chippings on parts of the course.”

In the United States, Dale Story, a junior at Oregon State, won the 1961 NCAA cross-country championship by running barefoot. In a recent interview with an Oregonian newspaper, he reminisced, “People laughed at me. There were acorns on the course. Those guys thought I was absolutely crazy. They said, ‘Man, you’re going to hurt your feet.’ Didn’t bother me at all.”

Given the fact that these highly accomplished runners—Bikila, Elliot, Tulloh, Hill, Story—had achieved success without shoes, then why didn’t more of their contemporaries take up barefoot running? One likely reason might have had to do with perception and habit. Perhaps there was something retrograde, an anti-modern reversal of the natural order of things, about barefoot running that made it seem far too primitive to have any real appeal for almost all westernized runners at the time. Or maybe it was due to practical concerns like having one’s unprotected feet encounter broken glass, sharp objects, or unwanted debris. These are all legitimate considerations that continue to resonate today among runners.

But in the early 1960s, there was something else standing directly in the path of barefoot is best. Quality running shoes designed specifically for road racing and training had finally begun to appear—not in mass quantities by any means, but in limited numbers. Runners looking for that competitive edge were drawn to Tiger Cubs that were manufactured by Japanese-based Onitsuka. The lightweight Tigers had flat-bottom rubber soles, were easy on the feet, and held up pretty well. They could be purchased via mail order for the discerning few. Demand was still quite small because running was very much a fringe sport attracting only the diehards.

“The 1960s,” says runner Hal Higdon, who went onto become a well-known author and contributing editor for Runner’s World, “was a decade both dark with despair and bright with hope, an era when the Boston Marathon attracted only a few hundred starters, most of them capable of breaking three hours. Nineteen fifty-nine was the year I ran my first Boston. We were a scurvy lot, the 150 of us who showed up in Hopkinton, our deeds largely unheralded.” At least, this small, nearly invisible group of malnourished American and British long-distance runners now had the option of running in decent shoes.

***
Buy Tread Lightly. Go here.

11May/120

Racing the Moon

A trail runner in Phoenix's Papago Park had the "super-moon" guiding his way last weekend. Photo by Darryl Webb, Reuters.

Filed under: Photos No Comments
10May/121

Facebook Founder and Billionaire Mark Zuckerburg Still Loves Wearing His $30 Adidas Sandals

The Zuckster's been getting some heat by tech pundits for maintaining his dorm-room slacker-fashion sense while Facebook is in the process of having its company stock going public. When it does, this will make Mark Zuckerburg an insanely wealthy individual. Forbes magazine estimates that with an IPO target price between $28 and $35 a share, the black-hoodie-and-Adidas sandal-wearing Facebook founder's net worth will be around $15 billion. So why does he dress like a window-smashing Seattle anarchist intent on overthrowing the capitalist system instead of obediently playing the part as a member of the 1% of the 1%? His anti-fashion statement doesn't seem to matter all that much to the several hundred million daily FB users or the daytraders and hedge fund managers who are lining up at the IPO trough. The late Steve Jobs made the black-mock turtleneck, blue jeans and New Balance running shoes his undeniable fashion signature. Well, Zuck has managed to take Silicon Valley casual-wear down a notch. So if you want to know what's it's like to walk in the shoes of one of the richest persons on the planet, be prepared to shell out $30 for these open-toed Adidas sandals. You can buy them here on Amazon!

Filed under: Shoe Fashion 1 Comment
3May/121

The Minimalist Running Shoe Trend…

source :http://www.rhymeswithorange.com/category/comic/

28Apr/121

Best Demonstration of FiveFingers Running…Ever!

After his legs cramped up, Remus Medley walked on his hands across the finish line of the 2012 Boston Marathon. Photo by Jessica Rinaldi, Reuters.

 

 

26Apr/120

Fake Barefoot Running Shoes…Make Your Own!

Go totally zero drop with "fake overshoes."

We all know that the term "barefoot shoe" is a tiresome self-contradiction, just like other popular expressions such as "non-alcoholic beer," "near miss," and "deafening silence." And so when footwear companies jumped on the barefoot bandwagon, purists rightly objected to the oxymoronic/marketing hype. "You can't wear shoes and say you're barefoot!" Well, with barefoot and minimalist running these days, nothing is what it seems. Now you can create Fake Overshoes that allow you to wear shoes and still remain barefoot. Better yet, you can proudly walk right past those red-and-white store signs by the front door that says, "No shoes, no service."  The shod set won't pay you a moment's notice! To make your own pair of treadless trump de 'loeil footwear, Instructables.com provides detailed instructions and a helpful PDF. You will need, however, to have some tools such as a hacksaw and Dremel device. Then like Bob Dylan sings in I'll Be Your Baby Tonight,  "Just get your shoes on, do not fear."

17Apr/120

Heat Turned Boston Marathon 2012 into Bataan Death March

Temperatures in the 80s put a distinctive stamp on the 2012 Boston Marathon, with the heat taking its toll on the field of 22,000 finishers. According to numbers compiled by race officials, nearly 2,100 cramping and weary runners were treated in the three air-conditioned medical tents stationed along the course and at the finish line. Over 150 runners were rushed to hospitals, though none fortunately were in life-threatening conditions. Even many of the elite frontrunners DNF’d. Last year’s record-breaking winner Geoffrey Mutai dropped out after 18 miles with stomach cramps. The video here shows back-of-the-packers bravely soldiering onward in the heat. Forget PRs! This was all about survival! (For the best ways to stay properly hydrated (and avoid water intoxication) during a marathon, go here to this excellent article by Dr. Phil Maffetone on the Natural Running Center website.)

10Apr/120

Non-Running Related: Seeing Double, Seeing Double

The prankish creative masterminds at ImprovEverywhere, whose YouTube videos include "No Pants Subway Ride" and "Slo-mo Home Depot," have struck again. Their latest imaginative foray into f--king with strangers' minds was stocking a New York City park with eight sets of identical quadruplets, creating a quasi-hallucinatory experience for anyone who happened to be walking through the park.

5Apr/123

Meet “The Skipper”: Will Skipping Replace Running?

A recent viral-y video wants you to believe that skipping is destined to be the next great American health craze. Well, actually, the video is dated, harking back to the late 1980s and featuring a Village People-looking Bill Martinelli, aka "The Skipper," who merrily skipped up and down the East Coast, making  motorists' heads swivel, capturing news headlines, and even appearing on The Today Show. Martinelli, who honed his craft in North Carolina, maintained that skipping is a much better workout than running. Here's an excerpt from a 1988 profile of The Skipper in the Miami Herald: “I think by perfecting skipping I have discovered a better way to move across the Earth,” he says,  comparing his breakthrough to “the discovery of walking by Homo erectus.” (He also compares his skipping to the footwork of his idol, Muhammad Ali.) Before perfecting his method, he tried to set a distance record by skipping a marathon, but “his socks were filled with blood from the abrasions caused by the friction of skipping.” He began to refer to non-skippers as “the humans.”

As for the right way to skip, Martinelli says in the video that you don't want to slide along the belly of the foot like the way you were taught to do as a kid. Instead, you want to land lightly on your midfoot and push off. Hey, that sounds a lot like natural running! Go to 1:25 in the video for a demo. And check out the old Nikes and ASICS.

Filed under: Odds & Ends, Videos 3 Comments
2Apr/121

Born to Live On: Micah True aka “Caballo Blanco”

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 to find the missing True who was the centerpiece of Christopher McDougall's Born to Run, the news spread quickly around the world, and not just among runners. On Friday, The New York Times reported his disappearance, less than a month after the Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon, of which True was the race director. His body was finally located over the weekend. According to the Associated Press, "he was found near a cold stream, his legs still in the water and his water bottle next to him, about a mile southeast of the Gila Cliff Dwellings. Crews recovered his body Sunday and turned it over to the Office of the Medical Investigator, State Police Lt. Robert McDonald said. The cause of death was not yet known. There were no obvious signs of trauma, and McDonald said it could take a couple of days before authorities know what happened."

His death comes as a shock, really, to all us, many of whom only know him from Born to Run. Read more about Micah True on the Natural Running Center.

29Mar/125

Class-Action Lawsuit Filed Against Vibram FiveFingers for Misleading Consumers That Its Shoes Provide “Health Benefits of Barefoot Running”

Berman DeValerio, one of the country's premier class action law firms focused on business litigation, has recently 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 include the following: "that the barefoot  footwear concept  improves posture and foot health, reduces injury risk, strengthens muscles in feet and lower legs, and promotes spine alignment." The entire legal document is reproduced below.

But first a few things.  Vibram isn't the first shoe company to be in the legal hot seat. Earlier this month, a Baltimore product liability lawyer filed a  Skechers ‘Shape-Ups’ Class-Action Lawsuit that "seeks money damages for consumers who paid a “premium price” for Skechers “Shape-Ups” based on TV, print and Internet ads that touted the toning shoes’ health benefits." The complaint  further states that "Skechers is currently being investigated for its toning shoes marketing claims" -- it would provide health benefits 'without setting foot in a gym'--by the Federal Trade Commission. In September, the FTC reached a $25 million settlement with Reebok for making similar fitness claims about its own brand of toning shoes." CONTINUE READING THE FULL LEGAL COMPLAINT AGAINST VIBRAM/VIBRAM FIVEFINGERS

17Mar/124

Guess Who’s Legs Appear on Running Times’ April Cover?

Spoiler alert (sorta): the answer is found on the contributors' section in the front of the magazine, so Zero Drop recommends you buy a copy of the April issue of Running Times, or if you are a subscriber, check the page again. Another alternative is to go here: those deeply-muscled 45-year-old legs belong to the co-founder and executive director of the Natural Running Center. Last fall, he won the Air Force marathon outright in 2:38.  The secret to his age-defying success: mastering the art of natural running, doing most of his training barefoot, and practicing good running form and drills. Nor is it the first time that his legs have been used as a "model".  The logo for the Natural Running Center was based on a photo of him while he was posed in the same iconic Jim Fixx stance that appeared on the cover of his best-selling book in the late 70s.  Running Times went with the same retro idea-- an homage to a time when running shoes were a lot like today's minimal shoes: flat-soled, non-bulky, less heel-to-toe drop, more flexible.

To Running Times' credit, they have been instrumental in getting the word out about minimalism and minimalist running shoes.  Nor is the April cover story its first that's focused on minimalism. Editor-in-chief Jonathon Beverly cogently explains the magazine's ongoing interest in the topic:

This year marks the third time we’ve dedicated a cover to the concept of minimal shoes. On the past two April issues we showed a barefoot runner (2010) and a runner in a pair of the second generation, more mainstream minimal shoes (2011)...Why another issue on minimalism? Haven’t we heard enough? Frankly, yes, we’ve heard enough of unsubstantiated claims, personal testimonials and gurus calling us to give all our shoes to the poor, be born again as minimal runners and come and follow them. We’ve also heard enough reactionary responses from old-guard podiatrists, coaches and athletes.Over the past five years, minimal shoes have gone from an option to a fad to a religion, polarizing the discussion. As often happens in religion, adopting minimalism has become about adherence to the sacred tenets of the cult (different for every guru, of course), which has obscured the end goal: to run faster, farther and longer without injury

Stepping away from the “ism,” what appears clear from research is that the best runners run with a light, efficient stride similar to how barefoot kids the world over run naturally. Also increasingly borne out with research is that wearing less structured shoes (lower heel-to-toe drop, more flexible, less material between the foot and the ground) can encourage this type of stride, if you’re able to handle such shoes.What’s been lacking from this discussion is much meaningful guidance on that last “if” — short of trying new shoes and getting injured, how do you know if you’re ready to go minimal? And, if you want to get more ready, what can you do to improve? Furthermore, what injuries are common to those who are transitioning to minimal, and how can you avoid them? This is what we’re hoping to contribute to the topic this issue, in a series of reasoned articles that avoid the religious rhetoric and the debate and guide you to better running.

7Mar/120

Run, Robot, Run! — “Cheetah” Can Sprint as Fast as 18 MPH

One day in the not so distance future, it will be man-made animals chasing down humans for dinner or sport, thus reversing the natural order of things, when Early Man developed into a running species through persistence hunting.The robot Cheetah in this video demo was developed by Boston Dynamics of Waltham, Mass and with funding by DARPA, the semi-mysterious R&D arm of the U.S. government.   According to the lab's website, "Cheetah's movements are patterned after those of fast-running animals in nature. The robot increases its stride and running speed by flexing and un-flexing its back on each step, much as an actual cheetah does." While cheetahs in the wild can reach a land-speed of 60 mph, the mechanical one can only go 18 mph, but that was nearly 5 mph faster than the former record for robots that was set in 1989.

27Feb/121

ASICs Running Shoes Really Put to the Crash Test

Don't scoff all you barefooters, FiveFingerlings,and minimalist lovers. When you need a shoe with a thick, durable, nearly indestructible tread, you can do a lot worse than go with ASICs. Like this unidentified, largish San Francisco woman is doing in the photo here. (It appeared over the weekend on SFist.com). Zero Drop has no idea why she is foot-stomping mad or why she's not wearing any clothes (and Bay to Breakers is almost three months away). It's common knowledge that parking is a real problem in San Francisco, especially in Noe Valley where this incident took place.  Perhaps she wanted the space. That's why she blew her cool and decided to play Bigfoot on the car windshield (see second photo), with the shocked driver still behind the wheel. This zoftig woman's acrobatic antics is also interesting in matters of footwear science, vertical loading rates, and the like. She's definitely a hell-bent heel striker.

23Feb/120

‪K-Swiss Blades by Kenny Powers‬: “Fastest Shoe You’ve Ever Seen”

Part raunch, part satire, this parody video of a running shoe launch called "Blades" is over-the-top and a gentle ribbing of the late Steve Jobs, whose cinematic presentation of an Apple product unveiling was legendary. In this video, we see a foul-mouthed, dirty-minded Kenny Powers, the MoFo CEO of K-Swiss, introduce K-Swiss Blades, the "fastest shoe you've ever seen." The Eastbound & Down star explains that lots of "R & DD" went into development of these shoes —including cheetahs, NFL all-pro linebacker Patrick Willis, ballistic missiles, Bruce Lee, and hot-tubbing moon maidens. Watch for Willis chasing down a wildebeest on the African plains beginning around 2:07.

21Feb/120

‪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.”  Zero Drop gives this really, really funny video Two Big Toes Up!

12Feb/128

Are Orthotics a Runner’s Worst Nightmare?

Just Say "NO" to Orthotics!

A simple answer to this question is: "yes." Orthotics are an all-too easy crutch for runners. And Zero Drop uses the C word in more ways than one. In most cases, orthotics don't strengthen  or protect the foot. They make it atrophy. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments get weaker. So why is the Big O such an obsession for countless injury-prone runners? The slightest plantar fascia twinge, and Mr. Fretful Runner has his podiatrist on speed dial, demanding an appointment that same day so a customized orthotic can be made. The foot never gets to properly heal. Yet making orthotics the default for runners is not all their fault. Shoe and insert companies have a huge financial stake here, as do a majority of podiatrists. They have a big barking dog in this fight. HMO's cover the cost of most orthotics. Yet nature, if given a chance, is a much more effective healer. With that said, Zero Drop and Sock Doc have put together a top ten list of why you should avoid orthotics if you really care about your feet. Caveat: some extreme foot deformities or injuries do require the assistance of orthotics. But c'mon, for millions of runners and walkers? There's nothing natural about these artificial accoutrements. For more on the subject, go to this post on Sock Doc's website. You will be surprised by what you will read.

Your HMO covers the cost of orthotics despite their inability to ever allow you to run pain-free. How can you pass up these savings?

Along with stretching, you have read that the best way to stay injury-free is to have a running shoe with additional internal support so that your feet are well-protected.

You stand on a concrete or wood floor all day long and some unenlightened foot doctor or television infomercial convinced you that hard flat surfaces will wreck your feet and lead to leg and back pain.

You're interested in dampening or desensitizing your nervous system and if the orthotics prove so successful, you hope to speed this non-kinesthetic progress by wearing oven mitts when you are at the computer.

If you are on the short side, your vanity won't allow you to wear elevator lifts, so you settle for the several millimeters advantage from orthotics.

You read online somewhere that the new carbon graphite orthotics are lighter and more aerodynamic than those "old wooden models."

You're almost sure you saw a cheetah wearing a set of tree-bark orthotics on some Animal Planet show and since they're the fastest animal in the world...

Orthotics were found in the fossil record 5,000,000 years ago.

(For triathletes) Would you show up for a bike ride with kiddie training wheels?

Your back aches so you spend all day in a back brace; so why not wear a foot brace when you have foot pain?

9Feb/120

The “Vertical Assault Weapon” Shoe


It's the first time Zero Drop has ever heard of a shoe being described by its manufacturer as a "vertical assault weapon."  Made by Danner, the DFA shoe is SWAT-friendly, which means it's what you want to be wearing when kicking down a drug-dealer's barricaded front door, or rappeling down from a helicopter.  With its formidable hexagonal low lug outsole, propioception is greatly diminished though with crashing to the ground from a roped-in descent, a gentle and natural footstrike is always an iffy proposition. As for being a vertical assault weapon, the shoe is ideal if you run out of ammo; just remove the shoe, take aim, and throw the sucker at your assailant  Watch one of the most bizarre footwear videos...

7Feb/120

New Nike “Foamposite” Sneakers Cause Store Riot

It's gotten to be old news. Nike introduces or re-introduces a much-in-demand high-top sneaker. Word gets out. Footwear fans flock to the Foot Locker at the local mall. Demand exceeds supply. Fights break out. Cops are called in. Story makes the evening news. Well, it happened again at a Baltimore area mall last weekend when Nike’s new Foam tennis shoe caused a near-riot inside the mall. In the past, it's been the Air Jordans that caused fights to occur. But now it's a tennis shoe made with a substance called "foamposite" and that goes for $200 (but online, at least double that amount). The Footlocker at the Valley Mall in Hagerstown, Maryland, only had 90 pairs in stock; they were snapped up in minutes. Some of the empty-handed, unhappy customers yanked out their knives. About a dozen cops were required to keep the peace. Just Do It almost became Just Loot It.

30Jan/124

‪Sh*t Barefoot Runners Say‬

Filed under: Videos 4 Comments
27Jan/120

The World’s Most Expensive Sneakers…Christian Louboutin

Christian Louboutin Louis Python Crystal Sneakers cost $1,495.

Ready to shell out $1,495 for a pair of zero-drop sneakers? Known for its signature red-lacquered soles and stilettos, French footwear icon Christian Loubertain is a favorite among Hollywood actresses. Loubertain-mania is now being experienced by men. Their obscenely overpriced sneakers are always selling out at places like Barneys and Nordstroms. There's even a wait list for these sneakers for suckers. Some of these men-only Loubertrains go for $2,500.  Do you wear them only indoors, at fashion events, or the local triathlon to totally psyche out our age-group foes? "Hey, dude, my running shoes cost more than your carbon-fiber bike!" This spring, Loubertain plans to open its first men's store in New York City.  What recession?

Filed under: Shoe Fashion No Comments
25Jan/1213

“Hey Runners, Don’t Stretch!: Sock Doc Gives 10 Reasons Why

 

Join The Sock Doc Campaign Against Stretching! This handsome T-shirt costs only $20 and is available on Sock Doc's website. Be the first at your gym to wear it!

Sock Doc is anti-stretching. In the following list, he gives his reasons why. Zero Drop tends to agree with him. A number of recent sports medicine studies have called into question the efficacy of stretching for runners, especially before going for a run; in fact, it can lead to injuries since the body's muscles and tissues aren't sufficiently warmed up. A runner would much better benefit from a 10-15 minute pre-workout walk. Dr. Phil Maffetone has an excellent essay here on why runners shouldn't stretch. Nonetheless, old habits die hard; runners love to stretch because it's what their junior high gym teacher had them do at the beginning of each class.--ZD

10 Reasons Why Runners Should Not Stretch

* Stretching is exercise for the muscles like sea water is hydration for the body. When you're desperate for relief, it feels so right but only makes things worse.

* All athletes, especially runners, are so passionate about stretching. They defend it like their political association, religion, or family. I think many of them may have pictures of their kids in their wallets doing all types of cool stretches that they show their coworkers every day at the water cooler.

*Runners will follow any trend they think will make them run faster. Whether it's a new supplement, pair of socks, pair or shoes, custom orthotics, or stretching. They're the first in line for the Kool-Aid.

*Stretching is a conditioned behavior, not one we are innately born with. I see my kids run, jump, climb, throw things, and carry objects of all sizes. They move well, and efficiently. I've never seen them stretch. Their developing nervous systems know better.

*The day I see my dog holding a stretch is the day I'll start stretching too.

*Flexibility is a reflection of overall health and fitness. Stretching does absolutely nothing for health or fitness. It's not exercise. It's not a warm-up or a cool-down. And it definitely doesn't substitute for restful sleep or a wholesome diet.

*Yoga is not stretching. Stretching is not yoga. Enough of that claim.

*Make sure you stretch if you want to weaken muscles, promote injuries, decrease performance, delay tissue healing, and have absolutely way too much free time.

*Stretching reduces injuries and improves endurance performance just like certain shoes will make you run or jump faster. Neither claim is true.

*I enjoy watching runners stretch. They must stretch because they think they will run faster. I bet they believe in Sasquatch too.

6Jan/121

Non-Running Related: Mitt Romney’s Dog Seamus

Illustration by Colleen Clapp for the "Chris Matthews Show"

During the former Massachusetts governor’s first presidential primary bid in 2007, the Boston Globe reported that on "a 12-hour family road trip to Canada, Mitt Romney strapped the family Irish setter Seamus’s crate to the roof, inducing doggie diarrhea that soiled the back windshield and sent the Romney boys into hysterics. Compromising his anal-retentive itinerary, Mr. Romney 'coolly pulled off the highway and into a service station,' the Globe wrote. 'There, he borrowed a hose, washed down Seamus and the car, then hopped back onto the highway.'"

The true story obviously has legs, because it's still going strong in the press and blogosphere some five years later. For up-to-date news, check out this new website: Seamus2012.com

There are two main reasons for the continued interest in Mitt and his mutt: 1.)  Romney is a frontrunner in the 2012 GOP presidential primary; 2.)  New York Times columnist Gail Collins' sheer doggedness. In nearly two-dozen columns, she has mentioned the Romney family road trip with Seamus strapped to roof of their station wagon.

And since we are on the topic of Mitt, here's a 30-second campaign ad from 2008 showing him running!

31Dec/110

Drunk Walking is Much Riskier than Drunk Driving

We all know that driving drunk or text-messaging behind the wheel is a very bad idea, leading to an increase in traffic accidents and fatalities. But did you know that walking drunk is even more dangerous than driving drunk? In a recent Freakonomics radio podcast, Steve Levitt disclosed that "for every mile walked drunk, turns out to be eight times more dangerous than the mile driven drunk. To put it simply, if you need to walk a mile from a party to your home, you’re eight times more likely to die doing that than if you jump behind the wheel and drive your car that same mile."

This doesn't mean you should tool around town in your car if you feel like W.C. Fields. Levitt looked at data from 2009. He found that "about 34,000 people died in traffic accidents. Roughly half of them were drivers — 41 percent of whom were drunk. There were more than 4,000 pedestrians killed — and 35 percent of them were drunk. Of course, a drunk walker can’t hurt or kill someone else the way a drunk driver can, and people drive drunk much farther distances than they’d walk drunk."

And no surprise here with a new report by the journal Injury Prevention that found that January 1 is the deadliest day for pedestrians.

Filed under: Odds & Ends No Comments
23Dec/111

Running and Hollywood: Favorite Movie and TV Scenes

A six-minute compilation of clips of running scenes from some of your favorite movies and television shows. Produced by Zero-Drop.com

Filed under: Odds & Ends, Videos 1 Comment
19Dec/110

New Shoeseum Wants Your Old Shoes

The Nike waffle trainer first came of age nearly 40 years ago. To put this in perspective, the average age of a marathoner is also 40. Shoe in photo is the waffle racer that debuted in 1976.

Dr. Mark Cucuzzella and Two Rivers Treads want your old, and they mean really old, running shoes for their new "Shoeseum" that will originally be housed in the Shepherdstown, West Virginia store.  Vintage sneakers from the 60s and 70s are especially wanted (flat-sole, thin treads, lightweight, little cushioning). This makes one think how running has come full-circle, at least for the minimalist and barefoot-lifestyle set.  Look through your closets, attics, basements. Perhaps you have old running shoes lurking there, forgotten and unused all this time. The Shoeseum is also interested in getting their hands on running footwear from the 80s and 90s, when shoe design evolved into an annual contest of "bigger is better" and the birth of new space-age materials, monster heel crash pads, rigid footbeds, and gargantuan cushiony treads.

Here's where to send your shoes-- and where they will be happy in their new home: Two Rivers Treads   PO Box 1661     107 W. German St.     Shepherdstown WV 25443       phone: 304-876-1100

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18Dec/110

Holiday Classic — “Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe”

In 1979, Berkeley filmmaker Les Blank took on a new project: making a documentary of acclaimed German filmmaker Werner Herzog eating his shoe. The film came about because of a bet Herzog had once made to Errol Morris that he (Herzog) would eat his shoe if Morris ever actually made his own film. Provoked into action, Morris soon directed "Gates of Heaven," (the first of many of his visually arresting movies), and Herzog, who kept his word, returned to Berkeley to consume one of his desert boots at the U.C. Theater. Here's a short clip. Bon appetit.

15Dec/113

‪From “The Dictator” –100 Meter Race Scene‬

Move over Borat. Sacha Baron Cohen's new Summer 2012 movie, "The Dictator," is based on a ruthless, hedonistic tyrant from a fictional Middle Eastern country (Republic of Wadiya) who visits America. An avid sportsman, the Dictator enters a track meet. Of course, he wins the 100-meter dash! Watch the short video clip from the trailer.

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12Dec/110

Non-Running Related: Best of the Web 2011

Imagine a single YouTube video that pulls together some of the best footage from 2011. That was the aim of one French film editor who crammed scenes from 200 videos to create this high-energy homage to the world we live in today, one populated by Red Bull adrenaline sports junkies, AK-47 toting chimps, aerial artistes, dancers, lovers, and the thrill-seeking like. Watch. Be amazed. Zero Drop was. Killer soundtrack, by the way.

10Dec/111

“Running Scared,” by Roy Orbison


An amazing song that was recorded live in 1987.

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9Dec/110

Two Rivers Treads Launches New Online Store for Minimalist Runners

Things are happening at a furious and exciting pace in the small town of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and more specifically the nation's first minimalist shoe store, Two Rivers Treads, which got a huge shout-out this week in the New York Times: "Two River Treads {is} a 'natural' shoe store sandwiched between Maria’s Taqueria and German Street Coffee & Candlery in Shepherdstown, W.Va., which, against all odds, {owner} Cucuzzella has turned into possibly the country’s top learning center for the reinvention of running." The article was written by Chris McDougall.

The Trail Glove is one of several Merrell barefoot-style shoes sold at Two Rivers Treads.

Two Rivers Treads now has a brand new online store that launched on Wednesday. Many of the top minimalist brands are carried here: Merrell, Newton, Inov-8, Altra, New Balance (Minimus), VivoBarefoot, Stem, and Vibram.  And what's also great about the online store is the emphasis placed on footwear education, running form, and helpful videos. Three of the many favorable testimonials on the store site said it best:

My husband and I drove 650 miles this summer to see this minimalist store. I bought a pair of Terra Planas {Vivo Barefoot) which I love.  I hope when people think about buying a running shoes they visit a store that hears their needs and one that gives back to the community such as Two Rivers Treads. The store has become the epicenter of healthy running. Healthy running begins with your feet and Two River Treads only carries healthy shoes.

I came into the store after just reading "Born to Run". The staff spent tons of time discussing the ins and outs of barefoot shoes and what my expectations should be. I left with New Balance Minimus Trail and I wish I never had to put another kind of shoe on my foot again. It has taken some time to get my feet/legs ready for the running, but the change is amazing. I have a faster turnover, less fatigue due to the more efficient gait and no more pain in my knee. I hope that every runner has an equally positive experience. I'm a believer. 

The super-wide, zero-drop Altra Instinct is also available at Two Rivers Treads.

I'm a 45-year old runner serving in the US Armed Forces. After running a few marathons last year as I have in years past, I was ready to end my running career because I couldn't withstand the chronic knee pain any longer. I had tried every shoe, custom orthotic, every brace, every treatment short of surgery. I had just figured with age that all good things must come to an end. I was fortunate to cross paths with Two Rivers Treads and Dr. Mark Cucuzzella. Their expert staff took the time to explain body mechanics, skeletal disposition of the foot, and traditional shoe and treatment plans along with a gait analysis (all free). They introduced me to natural style running techniques and after a short transition period of re-learning to run, I have been able to run pain free while throwing away all my previous shoes, braces, etc.
I'm scheduled to run a few more marathons in the coming months and for the first time in many years, I'm excited to go to the starting line injury free! Thanks Two Rivers Treads and Dr. Mark! 

Zero Drop says, "Check out the store or give them a call 1-855-878-7323 (toll-free). They even offer free shipping and have a generous 30-day return policy.

7Dec/110

A Sea of Santas….

Christmas comes early for runners in Liverpool, England who came out for the annual 5K Santa Dash. Photo: Paul Ellis, AFP

7Dec/111

Sneak(er) Attack Over a Pair of Nikes

A one-sided fight over a pair of Nikes similar to the one pictured here.

A recent beat-down over a pair of high-priced Nikes was captured on video. The incident took place at Dean College,  a small school just outside Boston. The school expelled the attacker, along with eight others who witnessed the daylight assault. According to Boston.com, "The fight began when a group of male students confronted another male student over a pair of sneakers, said Franklin Deputy Police Chief Stephen Semerjian. 'It began with a sucker punch so the victim really had no idea,' Semerjian said." Adding insult to injury, the assailant also hit the victim with his own Nikes, then walked off with them.

 

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28Nov/111

“Look Ma, No Hands, No Feet!”

So often in life we see something over and over again, and not even realize what it is we are really taking in. Recently Zero Drop came across a traffic sign informing motorists to slow down because of the likelihood of children playing. All good. Then upon looking at the sign more carefully, Zero Drop wondered why doesn't this genderless child have any hands or feet? How can he or she play catch, jump rope, or even go for a short run? These are puzzling questions that highway sign makers in the future should strongly consider. Until then, drive safely and slowly whenever you see these oddly truncated signs.

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27Nov/111

On Your Mark, Get Set, Shop!

Black Friday is thankfully past. At this Sears store in Mentor, Ohio (just northeast of Cleveland), bargain-hunting shoppers make a crazy-mad dash inside. This explains their choice of footwear...running shoes!

26Nov/112

Gaits of Hell

Zero Drop came across this parody video of common awkward running styles two months ago, and was almost tempted to repost it; but for whatever reason, it got backburnered. Upon a recent second viewing, however, it made the grade. It musta been the Journey soundtrack.

24Nov/110

Just View It!


This Nike commercial came out last winter, but if you are in need of any "holidaze" motivation to go out and run, then you must watch. And then watch again. It's that good and goes by all too quickly.

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22Nov/111

“Just Making Sure Runners Don’t Block the Street and Keep Moving”

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22Nov/110

Pepper Spraying and Human Evolution

22Nov/110

Non-Running Related Post: “New York, New York”

New York City filmmaker Casey Neistat filmed the November 15th police raid on Occupy Wall Street in Zuccotti Park. It's the soundtrack that makes this video an instant YouTube classic: Frank Sinatra's “New York, New York”. Near the end of the video, one protester discovers that planting an American flag in the park is not quite the same as what happened om Iwo Jima.