Book-Signing with Barefoot Running Authors At In-Step in Boulder

Bear with me briefly on this analogy. In 2004 Prince released his critically acclaimed CD Musicology, which has a song called "Life O' The Party" in which he sings, "...Throw the records out the window... CD's out the door. Might as well give it to the milkman. We don't want 'em no more." So you ask, 'Wait a minute? Why's he throwing CD's out the door? I just bought this very CD...' Oh, ok. He's talking about getting into LIVE MUSIC! The real thing. It's a song that honors what's real. I get it. And I love it!

So, when I heard that In-Step: Active Footwear and Insoles, a footwear store in South Boulder, was sponsoring a book-signing event with Michael Sandler & Jessica Lee, the authors of Barefoot Running: How To Run Light And Free By Getting In Touch With The Earth, I briefly had another "Huh?" moment. Because, well... they sell shoes. Why then would they be selling the concept of NOT wearing shoes? The answer: to keep it real. RL Smith & Tricia Vieth, owners of In-Step, are demonstrating their honest passion for running properly and for better care of your feet (and knees). They get it.

Recently, scientists have discovered what many cultures have known for a very long time - shoes can actually cause problems. That is to say that poorly-crafted shoes, or even great shoes not fitted and individualized to a person's specific needs, can be detrimental. In contrast, however, running barefooted (or in minimal footwear) helps you avoid "heel-striking". Naturally, we're meant to land on the ball of the foot or the middle of the foot, not on the heels. It seems that scientists have the technology to build a perfect shoe and then tell us not to use it. At In-Step, I trust that I'm going to get the best advice from both worlds.

The above-mentioned book will explain more, and fortunately the authors will be at In-step (629 S. Broadway, Boulder, CO - in the Table Mesa Plaza) this Sunday, May 30, 2010 starting at 3:00PM. The store will open at 1:00 that day for last minute shopping before the Bolder Boulder race and remain open through the duration of book signing.