This question always comes to mind whenever I see people jogging along sidewalks, and wonder. Sidewalks are generally concrete or cement or something, which is definitely harder than dirt, so…
There was a mini scandal at the Atlanta Olympics because they made the track surface very hard, to suit sprinters and long-jumpers (in the hope of new records, in sports where the US is strong) and it meant that some of the runners who usually do the 5k and the 10k (track) struggled to compete in both events. (The sprinters, of course, were not covering enough distance to care.)
I managed to track down a decent reference for it, which also addresses your question in some detail: The Hard and Soft of It
The Atlanta Olympic Track was built as hard and fast as rules would allow. I know because I circled the thing 49 times in the 1996 Trials before I dropped out of the 10,000-meter finals with one lap to go. Those Games weren’t for me, and the concrete-hard track aggravated a case of plantar fasciitis that kept me from running more than a block for about a month after that.
On the surface, others had better luck: Michael Johnson and his golden slippers set world records later that summer in the 200 and 400; the former endures nearly a decade later. However, after Haile Gebrselassie won the 10,000 meters, he withdrew from the 5,000 meters, complaining of severe blisters on the bottom of his feet caused in part by the hard track.
But comparing trail to road is a bit more complicated. Trails can be pretty hard and also, not as smooth and even as (some) roads, and asphalt is different from concrete. The linked article has some good discussion of different surfaces.
I used to get shin splints so now I only jog on jello
Lucky you, the only place I can run is on the moon.
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Martin Luther Ting?
Yes. I ran on asfalt and my shins started to hurt a lot. Friend’s an athlete and told me why it is. Started running on gravel and was fine.
I guess it also depends on how hard your dirt is.
Yes it’s absolute shit for your body. There is good reason why dedicated running tracks use a rubber like substance. Running in the woods is also a good alternative. Just not the rock hard surface of urban infrastructure.
Yes.
Definitely. Decomposed granite (that orange gravelly stuff) or dirt is much better for your joints and shins than running on cement.
Just jog on the beach with no shoes so you get those cool spread out toes
Is this how one joins the merfolk?
Hah I’m not sure about that but I know about the toes b cause I had a teacher who grew up along the beach and played soccer barefoot a lot and now has super spread out toes and is proud of them
That’s actually how our feet are supposed to be. Modern shoes have changed out foot structure as we age.
Yes, this should be true.
Not a medical person, just common sense.
