Why does Chris McDougal, author of Born to Run, want us to "Get Naked?"

Check out 4 quick tips from Chris McDougal, avid barefoot runner.

Here they are oulined:

4. Get Naked

3. Air=good. Earth=Not So Good

2. Learn, Don't Burn

1. To Get Fast, Forget About It

Check out the link from the Outside Blog to learn more!

http://outside-blog.away.com/blog/2010/11/christopher-mcdougalls-top-4-running-tips.html

Why you shouldn't "stride out!"

"Stride out!"

This is one of the most common things yelled at runners by their coaches. Here's why you shouldn't do it!

http://www.runningplanet.com/training/over-striding.html

Running Shoes Changed How Humans Run

http://www.livescience.com/animals/running-shoes-barefoot-running-100127.html

This is a great article talking about how shoes change the way we run. We aren't saying that shoes are bad. An excerpt from this article: "The researchers aren't suggesting runners ditch their shoes. For one, barefoot running can take getting used to, and it takes stronger muscles, so the switch could lead to tendonitis." Shoes are a great way to keep us healthy by offering us the support we need. But sometimes they make us run in a way that's not natural. This is why barefoot is a good tool to use to learn good form. Then you can take Good Form back to your foot wear of choice.

We like to say: learn good form, then pick your weapon! Be it running shoes, or five fingers, or barefoot. Good Form Running = "a barefoot like technique for those who wear shoes."

Another great quote from this article:

When you run, every step you take puts forces on your body, caused by the impact of your foot colliding with the ground.... "It's like someone hitting you on the heel with a hammer two to three times your body weight," said study researcher Daniel E. Lieberman, a professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University.

Read the article here: http://www.livescience.com/animals/running-shoes-barefoot-running-100127.html

"Improve your running economy and go stronger and longer at any pace." - Runner's World

What's the secret to running more efficiently according to Runner's World? Good Form! Check it out:

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267--13188-0,00.html

NPR Special- Running In America, with Diane Rheme

Take a moment to listen to this special on NPR. It talks about the trend of barefoot running and also has a special guest of Christopher McDougal who wrote the book Born to Run. If you have not read this book, it is a must-read! As the following is a must listen :-) :

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-07-12/running-america

Tips for proper running form - about.com

Check out these simple tips for good form from about.com:

http://running.about.com/od/howtorun/tp/runningform.htm

Here is one tip from the article:

"Don't Bounce. Try to keep your stride low to the ground and focus on quick stride turnover. Too much up-and-down movement is wasted energy and can be hard on your lower body. The higher you lift yourself off the ground, the greater the shock you have to absorb when landing and the faster your legs will fatigue."

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FROM GFR:

Landing on your fore foot will take away some of the bounce that you get when running on your heel. As you land on your heel, your body has to travel across your whole foot before toeing off which causes a lot of up and down motion. Landing on your midfoot is a quick easy motion, that when coupled with a quick 180 stride or cadence helps you run smooth! 

A tip on running smooth is to pick a point down the road as you are running and if you notice that point moving around a lot, try to keep it as level as possible as you then alter your form.