Sorry, Nike, We Evolved to Run Barefoot: Author

Christopher McDougall believes that the human body is built to run long distances - and that some shoes may be a hindrance.

Imagine running 100 miles - barefoot. Christopher McDougall believes that's what the human body is built to do.

In his best-selling new book, Born to Run, McDougall argues that the humans evolved for persistence hunting - basically, chasing down game animals for hours until they keel over from overheating or exhaustion.

"We didn't evolve as weight lifters, yoga gurus, or swimmers - we evolved as long-distance runners," he said after an early-morning barefoot jog along paved Kelly Drive.

And some scientists concur, citing adaptations that make humans superior even to primates when it comes to hunting.

The ability to sweat, independent breathing rate, and anatomy of the foot all contribute to the “running man hypothesis.” So too does the fact that at extreme distances, humans of all ages and genders perform remarkably consistently. McDougall says injury-riddled modern runners would benefit particularly by ditching shoes. “You can’t over-pronate, overtrain, or overstride,” he says. “The bare foot is the best coach of all.”

http://www.philly.com/philly/health_and_science/20090720_Baring_his_sole.html

Sorry, Nike, We Evolved to Run Barefoot: Author

Sorry, Nike, We Evolved to Run Barefoot: Author

Anarcho-Capitalist Non-Miscellaneous

AnCaps With FreeStyle Miscellaneous