BORN TO RUN Debate: Author vs. Podiatrist

A podiatrist, urban caveman, professor of evolutionary biology, world record setting masters runner, and author Chris McDougall weigh in on BORN TO RUN and the barefoot running debate.

BOOKD is a THNKR Channel series that explores game-changing books through the insights and opinions of engaging personalities.

Dr. Daniel Lieberman is a professor of evolutionary biology at Harvard University. Not only is he interviewed in the book, his studies greatly contribute to the idea that humans are born to run.

Kathy Martin is a real estate agent who, in her 40s, discovered a gift for running. She has set nine American and two world records in her age group.


The photos used in this episode were taken by Luis Escobar. To learn more about him and his work, visit either of the two websites:

[homosapien]

Everyone is talking about shoes. But what about pants? Surely running without pants is the next logical and natural step.

[robertleo]

Bro my friend had flat feet all his life, I got him to start walking outside barefoot, and he did that for a while. He also stopped wearing his insoles. Then he started to run with me in minimalist shoes, and now he has an arch. It's not all the way there, but it has drastically improved. He never got an injury, and is completely pain-free. He does boxing, and before he started building his feet, he couldn't box barefoot or without his insoles without a lot of pain. Now he can. He runs in vibram five fingers now all the time.

The flat-footed dude in the video was not wrong when he said he couldn't just go out and run barefoot. But he probably would be able to if he strengthened his feet for a few months.

[zorbathegreek]

Enjoyable video but false advertising: not much of an actual "debate" at all...I was hoping for McDougall to go face to face against some of his critics.

[robmorrill]

Been running since I was 14. Am now 44. Only been injury-free since I gave up shoes 2.5 years ago. Your foot DOES need support, but the best support you can give is muscle strength in your feet. I spent a year wearing Sanuk shoes, which have very little support. I then decided to start running again because we got a young dog who needed it. Because I already had strong feet from wearing minimalist shoes, I was able to transition to barefooting. Bottom line: get your achilles stretched and feet strong, then start running. People get into trouble when they go from 1 cm+ drop work shoes to minimalist shoes for running. The achilles is tight and the many muscles of the foot are weak. Of course you're going to get injured. Prepare by going zero drop for a couple months first. I believe we ARE meant to walk and run in little to no shoes, but years of Nikes have weakened our feet. Get strong, then get going. 

[daivdwoso]

we are born to run, but not on concrete

[cheery-hex]

even the tribe they mention takes old tires and other materials to cover the bottom of their feet when they run (more often than not). I'm not against running without shoes, but I do think minimalist shoes are a good compromise.

[StefanGriffinMusic]

As much as I absolutely agree with Mr. Mcdougall, this video title is misleading; this isn't a debate. This is an obviously biased video; false advertising at its finest.

[bornwithawoodenleg]

"Urban Caveman"... aaand I'm outta here.

[motorbikeray]

(5:16) Translating what the podiatrist said, "If people switched to minimalist shoes and slowly strengthened their feet naturally, then I'd be out of a job".

[kirkey]

Me too. I had shin splints all my life from running.
Been running barefoot for nearly a year - no splints, no knee pain, no complaints. Feels awesome

[johnfrancis]

I've been running barefoot/forefoot since '03. My arches dropped and feet went flat while I was in the Army. Barefoot running saved my knees and ankles.

[jonahsvendsen]

Big difference between grassy plains and paved concrete roads.

[michaelhutchinson]

Its just common sense really. Running on grass or the beach, the ground is the shock-absorber. Running on concrete, the shoes are the shock-absorbers, but make sure you run the same way as barefoot. Trail running, learn the trail conditions and protect yourself accordingly, rocks/sticks/glass/thorns will stab you if not protected, which is not more efficient.

[BraveLoch]

I did not have time to read all of the hundreds of comments here.  I do, however, want to throw in a few facts for the debate.  First fact:  Bones change in every living human from month to year.  Fact 2:  In about seven years nearly every bone in your body will be composed of new material if you are healthy.  Fact 3:  Bones "strengthen" in fascinating ways according to the stresses put upon them and do seem to be designed to be pounded which causes this strengthening.  Fact 4: The less axial stress a bone recieves the less dense (and thus weak) it will be.

Given the above facts, I should have know that when I tried running in Vibrams I should have taken about 5 years to approach the mileage I was doing running in "soft un-natural" shoes.  Instead I failed to apply these facts and stress fractured my foot (a sure sign of not allowing the bone sufficient time to strengthen).  My wife also stress-fracture her distal tibia. I also, however, noted that my usual knee and ankle pain from my previous soft un-natural shoes was gone prior to the time of my stress-fractures.

I did not stop the minimalist shoe running because of the improved gait, and instead rested my stress fractures until they healed and then resumed running very short distances only increasing that distance after several months.  I have no problems running 8 miles now in minimalist shoes.

I also recommend during this "restoration to proper foot condition, " that runners make sure they are keeping the joints of the foot very flexible with manual manipulation if necessary.  Pinching of capsular tissue between the bones/joints of the feet is common and is often mistaken for other foot problems and fixation of the joint (through compression and thus loss of synovial fluid tension between the cartilage surfaces) can be the cause of many foot problems (e.g. metatarsalgia and plantar fascitis).

Update: 09/2018-- I recently completed my first marathon, using the gradual bone-build-up idea described above. I was wearing Xero Prios and hand very little foot pain, and no other joint pain at all. (I did, however, suffer from muscle overload fatigue cramps after mile 21 which stopped me from running, and forced me to walk the last 3 miles).

[jamiequam]

Yes, It does happen that way. Like any muscle, you have to start small and work up. I have feet. My arches were totally broken down. After running barefoot/minimalist, I've built the muscles in my arches up again and increased the strength of my bones and tendons----My flat feet don't bother me when I run anymore and I can run farther and faster than ever before....

My 2¢....

[Latinwolverine]

Did my first barefoot race this year. 10 K (6, 2 miles) in 51 min 31 sec. I love this book. Aiming for marathon next year. I would say that the book is more about forefoot running than barefoot running. You can wear thin shoes or sandals. Or go barefoot if you want to.

[StrongSideGames]

5:00 did he really try compare walking mechanics to running? lol

[onefoot]

We're not Born to Run, we are born to sit on the couch, complain and eat chips!

[colbyjeromemorris]

Half those people are running on their heels. Brah come on now

[Jonwes]

It's funny how the podiatrist completely dismisses barefoot running for himself, even though he never even tried it.