You can’t open a running magazine these days without something about form, technique, minimalism, or barefoot running being discussed. Every month Runner’s World, Running Times, Trail Runner, Triathlete Magazine, and other noted publications are publishing something about the topic.
NOW is the “Perfect Storm” for Zero Drop™ to be rising to the market. As we look at the events over the past few years we see every leading issue coming to this. Between shoe companies and traditionalists fighting for us to keep cushion and the barefootests fighting for us to ditch the traditional shoe and even ditch shoes altogether. Until now there has not been a solution to fit the need of both barefoot and cushion support. Now with Altra™ releasing the first ever fully cushioned Zero Drop™ running shoe we have been able to marry those two camps in an effective way that allows for you to Run Natural™ as well as to cushion your foot as you have been used to these many years.
In the 80s and 90s Thomas Miller was educated and coaching throughout the west on proper running form. He published the book Programmed to Run in 2002 and has continued to be an influential part of this running technique movement.
In 1999 Danny Dreyer of Chi Running started teaching on running form and lately has been able to pick up steam. His course has educated many individuals in proper running form and he has sold over 300,000 copies of his book on Running Technique titled ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-Free Running.
In 2008 Craig Richards, a noted Australian doctor, wrote a number of articles on his blog that went straight to calling out the major shoe companies, as well as personally petitioning them and reaching out through other means of publication.
His key objective was “To determine whether the current practice of prescribing distance running shoes featuring elevated cushioned heels and pronation control systems tailored to the individual’s foot type is evidence based.”
Between 2008 and 2010 at Runner’s Corner in Utah over 2000 individuals purchased traditional shoes at their regular price then took them down to the local shoe cobbler to have the alterations made on them to become Zero Drop™ shoes. Running Times explained a little of how this was done in their April issue. The response was phenomenal in reducing and preventing injuries, improving efficiency, and enhancing proper running technique.
In 2009 Christopher McDougall released his NY Times Bestseller “Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen“. The release of this book has brought about a whirlwind of individuals questioning the need for the traditional running shoe and then how they can appropriately run with better technique and find the right thing for their feet, whether barefoot, minimalist shoes (ie FiveFingers or the like) modified traditional shoes, or figure some way they could use their current traditional support shoes to get the same benefits.
In 2010 Harvard Professor, Daniel Lieberman published his research study on the benefits of barefoot and natural running. He displayed to the world the difference in impact between barefoot and shod runners. His current barefoot running Harvard website is a wealth of knowledge on the benefits of barefoot running.
Today many continue to work as a great influence for the movement of Run Natural™ including, but not limited to, Patton Gleason (founder and owner of NaturalRunningStore.com), Dr Mark Cucuzzella (of Two River Treads and a proponent of this natural running movement), Ray McLannahan (renowned podiatrist who created a foot shaping device called correct toes), Curt Munson (founder and owner of Playmakers-a top 5 running specialty shop in the country and founder of Good Form Running), Peter Larsen (Professor and author of Runblogger.com), those touched on above, as well as many others who could easily be mentioned here.
Along with these and many other individuals and companies Altra Footwear has worked diligently to bring the benefits of running natural to the mainstream runner through the first fully cushioned Zero Drop™ running shoe. This movement to proper running technique and Run Natural will continue to move forward as runners seek to go farther and go longer while reducing injuries and having a more enjoyable time. We are excited to be a major key to this movement as we bring it mainstream. Let us get back to our roots of running and Run Natual!
