Tread Lightly: Form, Footwear, and the Quest for Injury-Free Running

by Bill Katovsky, Peter Larson

Overview

Praise for the work of Peter Larson 

"Larson presents a wealth of balanced info on the raging debate over proper running form and minimalist running shoes." —Erin Beresini, Outside Online 

“Peter Larson is both a scientist and a realist when it comes to running shoes, and that's a good combination.”  —Amby Burfoot, Peak Performance Blog, Runner's World

Humans evolved over the millennia to become one of the most exceptional distance-running species on Earth. So why are injuries so common? Are our shoes to blame, or is it a question of running form, training, or poor diet? In this groundbreaking book, Peter Larson and Bill Katovsky explore the reasons why runners experience injuries and offer potential solutions to the current epidemic of running-related injuries. Their findings, gleaned from research studies and conversations with leading footwear scientists, biomechanical experts, coaches, podiatrists, physical therapists, and competitive runners, are informative and enlightening. Topics include:

• How modern runners differ from their ancestors
• Why repetitive stress causes most injuries, and how runners can safely reduce their occurrence
• The pros and cons of barefoot running
• Why it’s time to move beyond the pronation-control paradigm with running shoes
• How certain running-form flaws might increase injury risk
• How footwear has evolved over the past 10,000 years
• The recreational runner
• Why running shoes are not inherently evil

Tread Lightly is a highly readable, multifaceted investigation of running—past and present, with a hopeful look to the future.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781616083748
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	06/01/2012
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Bill Katovsky, founder of Tri-Athlete Magazine, has completed the Hawaii Ironman twice and is coauthor of Embedded: The Media at War in Iraq, which won Harvard’s Goldsmith Book Prize; and editor of 1,001 Pearls of Runners' Wisdom: Advice and Inspiration for the Open Road, as well as co-founder of the Natural Running Center.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Introduction: Pete's Story and Bill's Story xiii

Chapter 1 The Evolution of Running in Humans 1

Chapter 2 Running Injuries: Why They Happen 23

Chapter 3 Barefoot and Running 51

Chapter 4 The Running Shoe 79

Chapter 5 The Recreational Runner 107

Chapter 6 Pronate Nation 123

Chapter 7 Foot Strike 155

Chapter 8 The Running Stride 185

Chapter 9 Turning the Clock Back on Nutrition 217

Conclusion 235

Sources Cited 243

Acknowledgments 253

Index 255

Editorial Reviews

The must-have desktop book—like Born To Run on steroids—for runners interested in the subject matter. . . .Tread Lightly will definitely go on my most important bookshelf.

Amby Burfoot