Author Chris McDougall is a barefoot advocate, and ex-international runner, Julia, who interviewed him likes to go light. If you’re not quite ready for “no shoes”, but want to try lightweight, then try:
Nike Free Run+
£65 – from www.nikestore.com
Julia's favourite shoe, is the Nike Free (3.0). ‘Frees’ were first introduced in 2005 bringing to life the concept of training barefoot to strengthen legs and feet. If you want to try something with more cushioning than the 3.0s but more flexible than the 5.0s, the Nike Free Run+ might be for you. Nike+ is the wireless system that allows Nike footwear to communicate with an iPod nano or the Nike+ SportBand for the ultimate personal running and workout experience, allowing runners to track their time, distance, pace and calories burnt in real-time.
Eco-Biom
£140, from www.lovethoseshoes.com
Natural Motion is a technology which supports and enables the natural biomechanics of the body. This new range of trainers strip footwear back to basics (no extra cushioning, padding or motion control) and encourage us to use our body as nature intended - helping to put an end to running injuries. Available in different colours for both men and women. We haven’t tried them yet, but love the look of these lightweight shoes and will report back when we’ve tested them.