KIDS VS. ADULTS RUNNING STYLE

     I had the opportunity to go to observe a "Jog-a-Thon" fundraiser at my son's elementary school the other day.  The kids run laps around a track for 1/2 hour to earn donations from parents/friends/family who donate "per lap".  There were, probably 50 kids, 5th grade and under, and a few parents and teachers who joined in.
      The difference was truly astounding to a barefooter/minimalist!  Nearly every one of the kids, who were running in everything from street shoes to sneakers, was hitting with a mid-foot or forefoot strike.  They were having FUN running.  The parents and teachers, most of whom were wearing "running shoes", were doing the heel stomp.   I watched with fascination as the kids ran so lightly, like so many deer, just having fun and running with their friends.

     This heel stomping style of running, with "running shoes" is TRULY learned behavior, and benefits only the shoe companies (and orthopedists)!

Some Barefoot Runners Tip Orthodoxy Back on Heels | Observations, Scientific American Blog Network

This is an interesting study.  Not quite sure of its significance, but thought I'd share it.

Some Barefoot Runners Tip Orthodoxy Back on Heels | Observations, Scientific American Blog Network:

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Paleo Runners: How to Breathe

Really good, simple advice:
Paleo Runners: How to Breathe:

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LITTLE BOYS AND STICKS

     I like to observe behavior, particularly when it is indicative of our basic nature.  We were at some friends' house yesterday, and each of the three couples there has a boy in the age range from 6 to 7.  As boys will do, the three immediately began to play.  In a very few minutes, each of he three boys had picked up a stick.  They weren't being aggressive with each other or anything, just playing with the sticks.  One of the boys' dads commented, "Did you notice how all boys like to play with sticks?"  He's right.  Not that some little girls might not like to play with sticks, but with boys, it seems almost universal.  As with everything in these posts, this is my own opinion.  I'm not offering any statistical evidence for this, but I wonder if boys are, deep in their 2 million years old psyches, programmed to use sticks.  If you think about it, sticks were likely the original equalizers for our ancestors.  How many times did our relatives lost in the mists of antiquity pick up a stick or a branch to fend off a predator or to defend himself or his family from others.   Most of the early weapons that were made consisted of some combination of sticks and/or rocks.  Makes you think that we're not really that far removed from our roots.

Joseph Sorbara Explains the Secrets behind Paleo Diet and Fast Weight Loss - seattlepi.com

Joseph Sorbara Explains the Secrets behind Paleo Diet and Fast Weight Loss - seattlepi.com:

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