I recently read the new book, Tread Lightly: Form, Footwear, and the Quest for Injury-Free Running, by Pete Larson and Bill Katovsky.
Dr. Pete Larson is a biology professor and a Boston-qualifying marathon runner with a 3:15 PR. His popular blog, Runblogger, documents his ongoing search for better running shoes and his investigations into the science of running. Bill Katovsky is the founder of Tri-Athlete Magazine and a two-time Ironman Hawaii competitor.
The first six chapters of Tread Lightly cover the evolution of human running, running injuries and their causes, barefoot running, and the history of running shoe design and whether they actually help prevent running injuries or not. Dr. Larson and Bill Katovsky describe everything from the performance characteristics of the 5,000 year old bearskin shoes of Otzi the Iceman to the latest in minimalist and barefoot running shoe designs.
In the last three chapters, Larson and Katovsky share the latest research on running mechanics and the footstrike. stride rate, and stride length. They also describe how you can reduce your risk of running injury and improve your running performance by improving your diet and losing weight.
Tread Lightly is well-written and very thoroughly researched. It will appeal to runners who are looking for an in-depth look at the history of running and running shoes, as well as a glimpse into its future.
To enter the contest to win a copy of Tread Lightly, you can do any of the following:
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Update: Congrats to David Neal (davidsgoals) of Mundelein, IL, on winning the copy of Tread Lightly.
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Disclosure: I received a copy of Tread Lightly from the publisher for review.
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Book Review - Going Long: The Best Stories from Runner’s World
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Book Review: Advanced Sports Nutrition, 2nd Edition
I’m scheduled to interview 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist and 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials winner Shalane Flanagan on Monday, May 28. Shalane is a top competitor at distances from 3000 meters to the marathon.
