The barefoot running debate: Born to run, shoes & injury: the latest thinking

ne of the more interesting, and certainly topical presentations at the recent meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in Denver was a symposium on barefoot running. It was led by Irene Davis and Daniel Lieberman, both advocates for barefoot running and top scientists in this field. Lieberman in particular is something of a 'legend' in the field, and two years ago, he gave the prestigious keynote address at the ACSM meeting.

Since then, the area has moved on, thankfully. Most recently, Lieberman's group did some fascinating work on the barefoot running concept in runners accustomed to shoes or running barefoot, and that's the focus of this post, along with some thoughts on the concepts underlying barefoot running. A lot of the time, I'll play devil's advocate, because I believe in Lieberman's findings, and the theory behind barefoot running is sound. But there are some "loopholes", and I'll end with those.

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Hometown Hero Keflezighi Rocks The Field In San Diego

The look on Meb Keflezighi’s face in the first mile of this morning’s Dodge Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Half Marathon said it all: this was his race, in his hometown, and it was going to be run on his terms.

Tearing through the first mile in 4:47, only three-time New York City Marathon champion and two-time London Marathon winner Martin Lel of Kenya went with Keflezighi, who was running his first half marathon in the city where he grew up.

Lel sat contently on Keflezighi’s shoulder through the 5-mile mark (23:27) before the Olympic silver medalist decided enough was enough. After Lel refused Keflezighi’s invitation to take over the lead 5-1/2 miles into the race, the 2009 New York City Marathon champion broke free and opened up a large lead he held all the way to the finish line. Keflezighi, who went through 10K in 29:03 and 15K in 43:45, broke the tape at Sea World in 1 hour, 2 minutes and 40 seconds–1:58 up on second-place finisher Drew Polley, who represents the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Lel, who finished second at the London Marathon just 7 weeks ago, dropped out of the race just after the 10K mark.

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Philemon cruises to World 10K win

A 24-year-old policeman, who started his running career just two years ago, won the TCS World 10K on Sunday, declaring later that his belated start had indeed motivated him to work harder to catch up with more experienced rivals. Philemon Limo of Kenya had the race stitched up just after the halfway stage, but the women’s event was much tighter, with Ethiopian Dire Tune nosing ahead of compatriot Merima Mohammed at the tape.

India’s best runners were left trailing in the wake of the Kenyans and Ethiopians. Asian Games and CWG medallist Kavita Raut finished 16th, over a minute behind the winner, while Sudha Singh was 20th. National Games gold medalist Suresh Kumar was the best Indian in the elite field, finishing 20th, ahead of armymen VL Dangi and Kheta Ram.

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Drama at Wanjiru burial preparations

Kemboi, Keitany win in Orego

World steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi and former Africa 1,500 metres holder Haron Keitany were among Kenya’s winners at Saturday’s Prefontaine Diamond League athletics meeting in Eugene, Oregon, USA.

Kemboi won the 3,000m steeplechase in eight minutes, 8.34 seconds to finish ahead of compatriot Paul Kipsiele Koech (8:10.13) and Ethiopia’s Gary Roba (8:11.34).

Keitany (3:49.09) defeated Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop to third place in the 1,500m, with Silas Kiplagat (3:49.39) second. Kiprop clocked 3:49.55.

Caster Semenya, whose 800m triumph at the 2009 World Championships was followed by a gender controversy, finished second in the women’s 800m, but said she wasn’t disappointed.

She closed from eighth to second on the final lap, but left herself too much to do and couldn’t threaten race winner Kenia Sinclaire of Jamaica, who won in a world-leading time of 1:58.29.

“The time is good. Under two minutes, 1:58,” said Semenya, who was runner-up in 1:58.88. “Now I can train harder so I can run a fast time. It was good to be back — fans — I miss that a lot.”

Kenya’s Olympic silver medallist Janeth Jepkosgei was second in 1:59.15.

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Negari and Deba win Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon titles in their debuts in San Diego

Terfa Negari of Kenya won the men’s Rock ‘n Roll Marathon on Sunday and Buzunesh Deba of Ethiopia took the women’s event.

Negari pulled away at mile 19 to breeze to victory in 2 hours, 11 minutes, 18 seconds, kissing the ground after winning his first title at 26.2 miles in his San Diego debut. Tesfaye Sendeku of Ethiopia was second in 2:12:23. Gilbert Chepkwony of Kenya was third in 2:12:50.

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Bernard Lagat discusses Kenyan training and racing and how his style has resulted in a long career

Watch more video of Prefontaine Pre Classic 2011 on flotrack.org