If you are looking for new running shoes, then there are a ton of different shoe aspects to decide on. There are shoes that control the way your foot pronates, or rolls from heel to toe, and shoes designed for maximum cushioning amongst other choices. A new way of thinking is that perhaps people will run more efficiently in minimalist running shoes that allow your foot to roll naturally. The New Balance 101 is a new running shoe designed with these minimalist principles in mind.
The whole movement started with some interest in running barefoot. At first it seems like a painful and stupid idea, but when you really consider it, it makes perfect sense. The early humans didn’t wear shoes, but were able to run around unimpeded. Current apes have similar skin on their feet, but have no serious problems moving around on various terrain.
Today’s shoes are supposed to prevent injuries from running, but it seems like injuries are at an all time high. Running shoes in the 1970’s were much more simple and a lot of running records are still held from this time period. Not that people didn’t get injured back then, but the injuries were a lot fewer and less severe. Perhaps it is possible that the increase in shoe technology is actually hindering our natural ability to run quickly and without injuries. After all, the fast marathoners from Africa generally train barefoot for most of their lives and do just fine.
The New Balance 101 shoe is the newest shoe in a test line of minimalist running shoes. The original shoe in the line was the New Balance 100 which receives solid reviews from both barefoot enthusiasts and regular runners. They are designed to allow the foot to roll naturally and be as light as possible while still protecting the foot from unexpected sharp objects and rough terrain that an unshod foot might not be durable enough to handle.




