become a better, injury-free runner through the power of words
Prior to beginning my barefoot and pose method running journey, I associated a particular kind of language with running - a language that I believe is very common among North American runners.
But my journey has changed how I think about running and, at the heart of this change is language - the words I associate with running.
I want to share some lovely words penned by Ken Bob Saxton - the guru of barefoot running in North America. These words eloquently illustrate the message I’d like to pass on to you. What you are about to read can be found in its original state right here.
As long as we accept the terms “strike” and “impact” to describe the way we run, it will be nearly impossible to find a gentle landing approach.
The key is not to strike, not to “absorb” impact, but to decelerate the foot, as it approaches the ground, by lifting the foot, before the foot “TOUCHES” the ground…
…Impact, and it’s absorbtion becomes almost meaningless, as one gets close to perfecting (no one is ever perfect) this technique.
How often do we hear people say they can’t run because the “pounding” is too hard on their bodies?
What do you think about when you see or hear about barefoot runners, or people running in shoes like these?
Or these?
For many people, I am guessing the reaction would be along the lines of, “ouch” and “the impact must be damaging”.
And yet, people are running in shoes offering no more protection than they’d get from slippers. People are running in their bare feet. And they are doing it without injuring themselves. How is this possible? Is it, perhaps, because they approach running differently?
Do the words we associate with running dictate how we run, how we interact with the ground, and in the kind of footwear we can run in?
Is it possible to exchange words like “impact”, “strike” and “pound” for others like “touch”, “lightly contact” and “tap” and, if we change those words - that mindset - can we change how we run and leave the language of injury behind?
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Interested in exploring this idea? I recommend visiting posetech and barefootrunning.org.
Comment by Chris Brogan...
Friday June 09, 2006 @
In my heyday, I used barefoot running on the beach as a training tool. It strengthened my ankles a great deal for trail running, where ankle turns are built into the sport. I like these new lines of products, and I think there are values to them that make them useful to my street brethren.
Very good article, and I like the useful nature of it.