My new Massai Barefoot Technology Shoes!

Lucy Danziger, True to my SELF, SELF Magazine
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I have on these cute little weird little MBT shoes that I got shortly before my latest race. They are called MBT as in Massai Barefoot Technology, and they are designed to mimic the way the foot works when it has no shoe on. It literally rolls you forward as you walk, since the heel is basically missing, and instead the arch is the lowest point on the bottom of the sole, almost like walking on a rounded cheese cutter. Mine are cute because the uppers are a blue-gray suede mary jane, and the shoe overall is weird because it has a larger sole than top, at the thickest middle point.

In any case they are getting me stopped on the street, or in Central Park as I walk my dog. An athlete asked if they really work, and by this I think he meant to ask if you really get a workout while wearing them, as the company touts. Now I have no idea if they lift or work my butt, but I do think they stretch out my hamstrings as I walk, and that's a good thing since I have fairly tight and tweaked hams, especially on my right side.

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Here is what I know about heel striking and my own walking or running. I always believed that with my bad left knee (I had surgery on it some 20 years ago and lack the usual amount of cartilage and strength on that side), I have always chosen the most cushiony heeled running shoe I could find. Then I would land on the heel and role forward. To the point where I actually made fun of people who were toe runners. (One roommate in particular comes to mind.) Well now my coaches (I've gone to more than one for running advice) have all advised me to switch to a midstrike on the foot and roll forward. I almost try not to touch down with my heel at all. The midstrike way of running is all the rage and every coach worth their salt is talking about it. That and quick pace turnover. Pump your arms forward and back, kick up your heel to your butt at the end of the stride, and you basically have the newest technique for running faster.

How does this pertain to the MBT? Because for the longest time people thought more shoe meant more protection, more padding and better body mechanics, so you'd run longer and faster and not wear out. Not anymore. So MBT may be on to something here. Now I won't be caught running in them (I'd definitely not advise wearing them for more than to and from the gym, walking the dog or a stroll around the neighborhood), but they teach me to roll forward and not rely on my heel strike. They also seem to stretch out my hamstrings in a nicely soothing way. Do they work me out as I walk? I have no clue, but I do get a bit tired after wearing them, so I would always advise switching on and off with other shoes. Still, after my recent race I saw their booth at the finish line and thought: I wish I had my MBTs right now. I'd put them on ... my legs seem to crave them after being tight and worked. I love the way they make me feel when I'm wearing them. And of course they are a conversation starter!



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