Subscribe to
Posts
Comments
NSLog(); Header Image

Finished Born to Run

Born to RunFirst, I'd like to thank Tim for mentioning "Born to Run" in the comments of my first "Couch to 5K" post. I read the book and found it interesting.

I powered through the book in about four different sessions ((Reading for pleasure is a privilege I don't get as often as I'd like.)). Though reviews on Amazon and elsewhere mention the "dreadful" chapter 28, I found it one of the most interesting. Science has always been a love of mine and that chapter dealt with a lot of the science behind how we evolved the way we did, how our feet are incredible structures, etc.

I think the characterizations were probably well over the top. I guess I've heard that some of the people in the book said as much - their personalities and traits were blown out of proportion. That's fine. It hurt the book, frankly, but you almost started to expect it shortly into the first few chapters.

I'm amazed - flat out stunned - that people can run 100 miles. And they run them too - at 8:00 paces or faster!!! Incredible. The human body is an amazing, amazing machine.

I've been running in my Asics Gel Kayan-17s. Again perhaps it's the fact that I'm a golf instructor, but I'm really, really interested in the form. I plan to record myself - and others - running in high speed video to see if my form is as good as I think it is and how it can be improved. I've stopped landing on my heel at all and now, even in the Asics with lots of structure, land on the mid-foot. It's helped.

Did the book turn me into a hippie runner that wants to wear sandals everywhere? Not on your life. I think running barefoot is fine if you have some soft soil or grass to run on 100% of the time. I don't think the human foot evolved to run on pavement and concrete. I'm going to look to score a deal or trade or something for some minimalist style shoes that really encourage a mid-foot strike. The Brooks Pure Project PureConnect looks like a nice compromise. And I love the color. We'll see…