Nike: The Runner's Greatest Enemy

Most people go out of their way to buy expensive running shoes, as Nike and many other footwear superpowers recommend, claiming that they are more comfortable than cheap running shoes and prevent injuries. Christopher McDougal, however, claims that all of this is false information planted in the minds of the consumer by Nike, and good running shoes not only fail to prevent injuries, but also cause the majority of running injuries. Apparently, running shoes prevent the user’s feet from automatically readjusting their stride to prevent injury by providing them with false senses of protection and stability.

Nike: The Cortéz

            Personally, I found this quite sensible and intriguing. I suppose when one is in the act of running barefoot, one must adjust their stride and the method through which one’s feet make contact with the ground because the pain is apparent, whereas running shoes provide a false sense of support and prevent the runner from micro-tuning the method by which their feet make impact with the ground. Nike, of course, knew this, but did nothing to change their actions, which makes sense in respect to their own interests, as increasing awareness would decrease revenue. As the company responsible for inventing the first running shoe, the Cortéz, and introducing it to the public, the fate of the running shoe industry and its effects can be traced back and directly linked to Nike. This, of course, is why Christopher McDougal believes Nike to be at least partially to blame for all modern running injuries.