Have you ever purchased a new pair of shoes, thinking, “God, these are going to turn some heads”? Whether they be a new pair of in-season boots, stilettos, runners or simple dress shoes, have you ever thought about what your shoes are doing to your body? How did shoes evolve from the basic straw moccasin into the essential fashion accessories that damage our feet and bodies nowadays?

The majority of people I see, as a fitness professional, experience foot problems and injuries regularly, whether it’s flat feet, regular rolling of the ankles, tight ligaments, tight dorsi-flexors etc. The cause of such pain, contrary to common knowledge, derives from the cow skin on your feet. However often when visiting a doctor, physiotherapist or even podiatrists, patients often find themselves being told to buy orthotics, or various other forms of insoles, which raise and elevate the feet in “therapeutic” ways. Don’t get me wrong for the right reasons orthotics can be a major help. For example, increasing stability in an unstable joint, preventing a deformed foot from developing additional problems and alleviating chronic pain. However, simply by changing your shoe may prevent most common problems we see orthotics used for nowadays.

Shoes make it near impossible for anyone to have a natural gait pattern (the way in which your foot moves), and yes, runners also. The biomechanics of the human foot are designed so that pressure is absorbed first through the heel, the outer foot then inner finally finishing with the toes, curling to grip the earth we walk on. Our feet are designed with over 200,000 nerve endings, one of the most concentrated areas in the body. Which means your feet are losing a war between shoe and foot, which has been rampant for a thousand years.

In 2007 the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, released research findings in the podiatry journal “The Foot”. Conducted amongst 180 modern humans from three different population groups (Sotho, Zulu, and European), comparing their feet to one another’s, as well as to the feet of 2,000-year-old skeletons. What they found was that prior to the invention of shoes our feet were biologically healthier than they are now. In fact one of the lead researches was quoted saying that, “commercially available footwear is not good for the feet,” after the study had concluded.

Pronation of the foot, or what is commonly known as flat feet is when the muscles, which keep your arch elevated, become weak which results in a flat arch, which then can lead to referred pain in the body i.e. lower back pain or knee pain. Why does this happen? SHOES! In a pair of well padded, gel filled, cushioned, extra support runners, your feet don’t have need for proprioception (nerve endings which sense the bodies position through external stimuli), leading to a lazy and inactive foot. The good news is that the problem can be fixed through prescribed exercises and stretches to help correct the damage already done. This, accompanied with a pair of the shoes listed below will help your on your way to not only healthier feet but an easier pain free life.

to be continued.....

live long, happy and energized,
Andray Voronov

references:
www.nymag.com
www.wikipedia.com
pictures provided by clipart.com

Kika Brandão

The highlight: Sunday night's Nike Human Race.

6:30pm, a million people across the world will be running a 10K. In Austin, our course is a tough one--lots of hills--but pretty, through downtown, campus, the capitol area. And the last mile or so is downhill! Hooray! Afterwards, Ben Harper plays. They're still looking for volunteers, so head to the website if you're interested in being part of a huge global event!

Also on Sunday: The most ridiculous country music lineup to hit Austin in years plays in Waterloo Park, yes, super-close to the Ben Harper show at the Capitol. Party in the Park is an absolutely jam-packed $32.50 ticket: Pat Green headlines, with Cory Morrow, Jack Ingram, Ryan James, Brandon Rhyder, and Rich O'Toole. The least famous of the six is a major up-and-comer in the Texas country scene. I'm telling you, it's worth sitting outside the gates in your sweaty Nike gear to hear these guys!

There's also Bat Fest on South First, and south of the river they’ll be staging for the Austin Tri Monday morning ... Austin is so busy!

On Saturday, UT obviously has its home opener. Everyone I know will be tailgating, making it into the game is secondary. For non-fans, Bicycle Sport Shop hosts a Margarita Ride:

Meet at the Pfluger Bridge at 6:15pm and ride with us to Happy Hour at the Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant.

Happy Hour: 6:45 til 8pm

Free appetizers

$2 Drafts - $5 Margaritas

First 50 riders at the bridge get a free drink ticket.

GO BY BIKE!

And then there's Monday. Free Day of Yoga. You'll probably need it if your weekend shapes up to be anything like mine ... party Friday, volleyball and tailgating Saturday, volleyball and running Sunday ... stretch me out! I haven't heard of a yoga studio in Austin that ISN'T doing it, but there's a schedule on the website if you want to make sure you can find your fave. I recommend checking out Bikram at Davenport or YogaGroove!

Todavía no seré parte. Mi entrenamiento ha sido muy irregular. Pero estaré en la carrera del domingo como un blogger que admira el esfuerzo humano. Como un enamorado que admira a su mujer que corre como nadie, que usará el music player que le regalé y ahí llevará mucha música que hemos compartido. Sudaré con ella y mi corazón levantará a todo junto con ella. Como siempre ocurre cuando me da un besito.

Te amo, preciosa.

These dropped the other week and no surprise they sold out with the quickness.  Insiders tell me that they should be relaunching next week, so mark your calendars.  Get yours at Nike6.com/NIKEID

My train was running late, and I got home at 4:13. I rushed to gear up, and get Ginger. I set my Nike+ to 4 miles, but knew at a 10 min mile pace, that would be pushing my time limits. I can shower fast, but not that fast!

Ginger usually only runs 1 with me. Today, I brought her inside after 1, and she followed me back down the street for mile 2. Unfortunately, woods weren't available and she pooped on my friend's driveway! I finished the mile, ran in and grabbed the bag to pick it up on my way back by. ICK. (on a side note - she's really really good at only going in the woods, but I guess I didn't see the signs that she needed to go!)

I cut it short at 3.5 because I was running out of time. My few breaks added up.

While I was in Boston, I was able to see my husband's friend Tim. He just completed the Cranberry Country Triathlon after a whole summer of training. He has also run the Boston Marathon in the past. He gave me a bit of wonderful insight. He told me that in training you have good days and bad days. There are days when all cards seem stacked against you. When you train through those times - the exhaustion, the inclement weather, when you seemed most crunched for time - you have a great sense of accomplishment at the end of that workout, because you overcame adversity.

I took that bit of advice home with me after working in 2 different sites in Boston. Its what pushed me to gear up and go. So, thanks Tim! I needed that encouragement!

And Ethan and I made it to the party before they boarded the Pirate Boat!

3.5 miles in 36 minutes (that's with my breaks).

Happy Training!

Coming soon @ UNKNOWN Alkmaar !!

On August 31st, Nike is hosting the Nike+ Human Race, the world’s largest one-day running event, to celebrate the power of sport and music and to give back to society. The race is being held in 25 cities around the world starting in Taipei and ending in Los Angeles. For all the lucky participants in L.A., Kanye West is set to perform in the post race concert as part of the grand finale performance.

“I’m hitting the stage in Los Angeles for the Nike+ Human Race, Nike’s dopest 10k run ever. This race is bringing together hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world to run and listen to some great music while serving a higher cause, and I’m excited to perform in L.A. as part of the grand finale,” said West.

Other great artists and musicians are also joining the cause in other cities such as Moby in London, All-American Rejects in New York, Fall Out Boy in Chicago, Kelly Rowland in Paris, The Pinker Tones in Madrid, Turkish pop sensation Kenan Dogulu in Istanbul, the Fantastic Four in Munich, Beijing-based singing duo Yu Quan in Shanghai, and American rock band Boys Like Girls in Singapore.

All the people will be running for a worthy cause and support Nike+ Human Race’s charitable partners including the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the WWF, and the UN Refugee agency’s ninemillion.org campaign. Together, Nike and the runners will raise at least $3 million USD for its charities, including $1 million from Nike itself. For more information, visit nikeplus.com.

could you imagine how much this sneaker slide brightens a kids day... i mean imagine how much it brightens there future too.. The innovations Nike comes up with.. One day, ill be a part of that team=] hahahah.. riight!

But forreal, the sneaker slide, with the bright ass coloring.. i mean check out that kids face.. (s)he looks so happy to be going down this thing..

anyways.. enough about how great the slide is.. So im sitting in bed, tired as hell, about to crash. today i was feeling a little bit better, sickness may be going away!! Tomorrow is homecoming court nominations.. hmm, who shall i nominate? I mean- i wont be getting on that bitch, so whoooo shall be it? Guess we'll see when i get that longass list right in front of me to choose. Probably megooo! just cuz shes one of my bffs, and probably the nicest person known to earth. Gustav is coming our way! HURRICANE PARTY!! oh, and three years anniversary coming up for Katrina too.. 

i got a text today, it said, "Pack yo shit up!! Katrina cheated on her ol man with Rita, and now Gustav is coming for that hoe, so you better run" AHAHAHHAHAHAHA.. it made me lol so much

NIGHT.