{"id":362,"date":"2010-06-18T00:19:18","date_gmt":"2010-06-18T00:19:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/runningbarefootisbad.com\/?p=362"},"modified":"2015-09-22T06:36:06","modified_gmt":"2015-09-22T06:36:06","slug":"some-questions-for-the-barefoot-running-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/runningbarefootisbad.com\/some-questions-for-the-barefoot-running-community\/362\/","title":{"rendered":"Some questions for the barefoot running community"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Here are some rhetorical questions for the barefoot running community in general to consider:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Why do you try to dismiss what I write about because there are advertisements on this site for running shoes<\/a>? Are you also dismissing what is written on barefoot running websites because they have advertisements for barefoot running shoes, barefoot running books and barefoot running workshops? You can\u2019t have it both ways.<\/p>\n

Why do you dismiss what podiatrists<\/a> say about barefoot running as they have a vested interest in treating injuries? Are you also going to dismiss the research by Liebermann et al in Nature<\/a> because he has a vested interest\u00a0considering he is a barefoot runner and a barefoot running shoe product sponsored his research? Are you going to dismiss everything Chris McDougal says as he has a vested interest in selling a book and getting speaking fees? You can\u2019t have it both ways.<\/p>\n

Why do you try and dismiss the apparent epidemic of stress fractures in those using the Vibram Five Fingers<\/a> as being due to training errors? Why can\u2019t the injuries that runners get in running shoes be due to training errors as well? You can\u2019t have it both ways.<\/p>\n

Why are you critical of me for not having comments turned on<\/a> at this site, when my comments never get approved for publication when I attempt to comment on barefoot running sites? You can\u2019t have it both ways.<\/p>\n

Why did you claim that running shoes cause osteoarthritis<\/a> based on a study<\/a> that was not even about osteoarthritis? Why did these two barefoot running sites lie<\/a> about the Kerrigan et al\u00a0research?<\/p>\n

Can you tell me which injuries are actually caused by the high impacts<\/a> that you claim running shoes are responsible for? Which injury actually has high impact as a risk factor?<\/p>\n

Can you show me the research that shows there is an increased epidemic of injuries<\/a> in runners as you keep claiming there is?<\/p>\n

Do you really believe that driving a car barefoot<\/a> can save gas?<\/p>\n

Where is the evidence that running shoes cause any injuries<\/a>? Why do you ignore the evidence that they might be helpful<\/a>? You can\u2019t have it both ways. There is less research for the benefits of barefoot running than there are for the benefits of running shoes!<\/p>\n

Where is the evidence that running shoes weaken muscles<\/a>? Foot orthotics have been shown to strengthen muscles, not weaken them, so why would running shoes weaken muscles? You can\u2019t have that one both ways either.<\/p>\n

Why do you claim the lack of evidence for the benefits of running shoes as proof that running barefoot is better<\/a>? It is an illogical 2+2=5 type<\/a>\u00a0conclusion.<\/p>\n

Why do no elite runners run barefoot<\/a>? (Try and answer this one without insulting their intelligence)<\/p>\n

Why do you claim the achievements of Abebe Bikala<\/a> in winning an Olympic marathon running barefoot, but not mention that he could run faster and break a world record wearing running shoes?<\/p>\n

Why do you claim the achievements of Zola Budd<\/a> for competing in the Olympic 1500m barefoot, but not mention that she had to resort to wearing running shoes to prevent the injuries that she was getting?<\/p>\n

How about explaining why I can\u2019t make up headlines like Barefoot Runners Get More Stress Fractures<\/a>?<\/p>\n

Why did you claim that the Liebermann et al study in Nature<\/a> supported barefoot running and showed barefoot running was better and showed there are less injuries in barefoot runners? The study showed none of that. Liebermann himself had to publish a disclaimer<\/a> on his website to distance himself from what was being claimed from the research. You can\u2019t have it both ways.<\/p>\n

These are the issues. Why do you always attack the messenger and not the message? Why do you always take pot shots at those critiquing barefoot running and never address the actual issues that they raise? Why are you so irrational? Is it because you can not actually address the issues being raised, so have to resort to these attacks? Stick to the issues.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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