Is Running In Minimalist Shoes A Good Idea?

                                                               



When you read books on running the subject of minimalist shoes often comes up.As the term implies this means running either barefoot or with the minimum foot protection possible. Is it a good idea? Well obviously there is the possibility of injury when your feet which have been supported and protected by full running shoes are suddenly without any support or protection. Here is a quote from  Runners World  and written by  Jenny Hadfield on the subject:


Shoes are like cars. They are a convenience and provide comfort, style (in most cases), and efficient travel from point A to B without having to think about every single step or worry about the elements along the way.
And like cars, there are a variety of shoes that run along a continuum from the least amount of protection (shoes that look like gloves for your feet) to the most protection (heavy stability shoe).
The more minimal the shoe, the more the foot, ankle, and lower leg actively supports and stabilizes your body in motion. The bulkier the shoe, the more the shoe does the work for us. It's very much like driving a stick shift car versus an automatic. Neither are bad, both are driving, and both have unique benefits.
Newsflash: We are born into the world barefoot. From there we learn to crawl, then walk barefoot, and then we go through the awkward transition to walking in shoes. Eventually that leads to running in shoes and wearing high heels and other fun foot accessories.
If you start with the premise that we were all made to move from one place to the next shoe-free, you'll begin to see how shoes come into our lives for the benefits mentioned above. Although it may look and feel weird to run in less underfoot, it is a very natural skill.
But, does that mean every runner should switch to minimalist shoes? It depends.
It depends what type of shoes your body is used to running in now—the more support, typically the longer the transition time to running with less. Be cautious. If you switch from a supportive shoe to a minimalist shoe and keep running like nothing has changed, you're likely to get hurt. Taking it slowly in the minimalist world means starting with just seconds of running at a time, and spending months, if not years, transitioning. The benefits are incredible, but it isn't a free ride—you have to earn the strength to support your body to run in less.
The above material was published in Runners World
Running without shoes or with minimal shoes is a very interesting possibility for many runners. Always consider however the type of surface you are running on and what dangers there may be to bare feet. Anywhere that broken glass or sharp rocks may be encountered is not the place for this type of running. A sandy beach or a running track would be the best place to try it out.You can find out more about running and jogging in our ebook:  http://www.amazon.com/Running-Jogging-Health-Fitness-ebook/dp/B007MFTLS8/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1333752729&sr=1-2
You can also view an interesting video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMlsZyAh2LY

Running And Jogging In Springtime

                                                                     

The coming of Spring and the warmer weather is a time when many of us want to get out in the open and run or jog our way to fitness. A good running or jogging program can do wonders for our general health. Here is an interesting article which was published in About.com: http://running.about.com/od/injuryprevention/tp/springrunning.htm and authored by Christine Luff http://running.about.com/bio/Christine-Luff-35471.htm

Spring into Running
If you took a bit of a running break during the winter, don't expect to be running at the same level as you did in the fall. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you head outside to take advantage of the nicer weather and ease back into running.
Now that the weather is starting to get warmer and there's more hours of daylight in the evening, you may be itching to get outside and run. But if you took a bit of a running break during the winter, don't expect to be running at the same level as you did in the fall.
Here are some tips to keep in mind as you head outside to take advantage of the nicer weather and ease back into running:
Make slow increases.
If you haven't run consistently all winter, start your spring training with short, easy runs -- no more than 3 or 4 miles at a time. Don't run two days in a row. One of the easiest ways to get injured is to increase your mileage too soon, before you've established a good running base. Don't bump up your mileage by more than 10 percent per week.
Watch your intensity.
Be patient with your running -- it could take as long as 4-6 weeks to re-build your running base. Don't introduce hill running or speed training until you have a solid base. And make sure you give yourself enough recovery time in between hard workouts.
Pick a race.
A great way to stay motivated through your spring training is to pick a race that's a few months away. It will give you a goal to work toward. Just be realistic and allow yourself the proper time to get ready.
More: How to Find Local Road Races
Follow a training schedule.
If you decide to train for a late spring or summer race, find a training schedule that works for your race distance and running level. Following a training schedule will help keep you on track and prevent you from doing too much too soon.
Track your progress.
As you're building (or re-building) up your fitness, it's helpful to keep a training log. You'll be able to see your progress at a glance, which will help boost your motivation.
Get used to running outside again.
If you didn't run or trained on the treadmill during the winter, you may have forgotten some important safety precautions for running outdoors.
Be prepared for rain.
You should expect to deal with some wet weather during spring training. Follow these tips for running in the rain to stay more comfortable on rainy runs.
Look ahead, don't look back.
If you took some time off from running, you may be frustrated thinking about your previous fitness level. Don’t beat yourself up and put pressure on yourself to get back into shape quickly. You'll have plenty of time to train and improve your fitness before the summer and fall racing season. Just enjoy running as you work on building up your fitness level gradually and safely.

The above article is quoted from About.com:  http://running.about.com/od/injuryprevention/tp/springrunning.htm
Spring is the time to get out there and get back into your running and jogging form. We all need to regain the level of fitness we had before our running ceased for the Winter months. Do it gradually and carefully however. Don't expect to get out there and take up where you left off last fall. For more in formation about running and jogging see this video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMlsZyAh2LY and check out this ebook which has all the information you have been looking for: http://www.amazon.com/Running-Jogging-Health-Fitness-ebook/dp/B007MFTLS8/ref=sr_1_103?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1332521480&sr=1-103