I have always been a keen runner and believe running to be the best form of exercise for all round fitness and de-stressing. However, two years ago I had to stop running due to a recurring knee injury that developed over a period through wear and tear. My standard choice of footwear was always highly cushioned running shoes, operating on the assumption that the more cushioning the better. Even though I loved to run, after trying numerous pairs of trainers I had resigned myself to the fact that it wasn’t for me anymore and replaced running with cycling. Then a year and a half ago my brother introduced me to a book called ‘Born to Run‘.

Apart from being an enjoyable and inspiring read, the main idea I took from the book is that less maybe more when it comes to footwear. Barefoot running is a growing trend that has helped me enormously and I can now run freely without any knee pain. Running barefoot or in shoes that have been developed with minimal cushioning such as Five Fingers, has completely changed the way I run. This new style with very little heel pressure on the ground may not be scientifically backed, but it just feels right and after all that’s how it was done before the invention of cushioned trainers. Here’s a picture of my new rather strange looking running shoes: