PAGf 8 // WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2010
NEWS
the pendulum
Running barefoot enhances preformance
New study suggests shoes may not be as helpful as advertised and produee tnore injunes than runntng barefoot.
Nick Massa
Reporlef
After decades of
development to create the
perfect running shoe with
arrh support, air springs and
unique contours, a new fitness
fad comes in — barefoot
running.
The premise couldn't be
simpler. It is a return to the
days of the prehistoric man.
A man who had to run miles
a day hunting down or being
hunted by wild animals with
not even so much as thong
sandals.
Elizabeth Anderson, head
coach of the women’s tennis
team, said she has “not
experimented with barefoot
running."
E\en toda>, members of
a tribe in Mexico called the
Tarahumara run multiple
marathons a day, almost
entirely barefoi;:.
Fancy running shoes did
not come about until the
H)70s, when jogging became
a national craze. Along with
these new shoes came a host
of running related injuries
not seen before.
Shoes allowed for elongated
strides at the cost of proper
running form. People began
landing heel first with every
step, as opposed to their
ancestors who would land
on the balls of their feet.
Running on the balls of your
feet is much better for your
legs. Some scientists have
suggested running with high
heels is better for preventing
injury than running with
highly technical running
shoes.
According to a recent
article in Popular Science
still
about
like
magazine, landing heel first
puts a shock of up to three
times the person’s body
weight on their legs with each
step, tearing up ligaments
and cartilage in ways people
had never faced.
The article goes on to
say running barefoot can
eliminate most if not all
injuries sustained while
running.
Many people are
skeptical, especially
running on things
asphalt.
According to Harvard
University professor Dan
Lieberman, who headed the
study, “You can run barefoot
on the world’s hardest
surfaces without the slightest
discomfort and pain."
People who are worried
about steppingonasharprock
can take heart in knowing
that the body has ways of
toughening itself up — in just
a few short weeks, calluses
will form and further adapt
feet for running barefoot.
Luckily, there are solutions
for people who want to try
running barefoot without the
risk of stepping on something
and getting hurt. A company
called Vibram has created a
shoe it calls the “five fingers”
which is designed to fit the
human foot exactly, from the
shape of the heel to the five
toe holes.
According to Vibram's Web
site, the shoes provide “an
increased sense of balance,
greater agility and visibly
improved posture.”
JUSTINE SCHULERUD | Photo Ed«0(
Elon cross country runner Clay Sankey does double runs two times a week. He always runs his second run barefoot
on the grass.
iPad: Innovative or redundant?
Students sound off on Apple’s newest launch with high expectations
KINDLE vs. iPad
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Cost: $500
Developed by Amazon
Screen size: 9,7 inches
Features: Wo(i« as an flfctionic teittboolt
equipped with an t Ink display allowing
easier Widing, The Kindle DX has 4 OB of
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Ashley Jobe
Opinions Editor
Apple debuted its premier technological
advancement of the season, the iPad, on
Jan. 27, and its impending availibility could
offer significant benefits to Elon students.
The new device is 9.7 inches long and
one-half inch thick, weighing only 1.5
pounds. The Apple Web site boasts ultimate
transportability and an unprecedented
viewing experience when manipulating
photos, video, Web and e-mail interfaces.
All 140,000 applications that are available
to iPhone and iPod touch users will be
transferrable and accessible with the iPad.
Michael Shepherd, Elon University's
.'^pple systems engineer, noted the iPad's
potential to be useful to college students
and professors in classrooms.
“I think thisis just afirst step from going
from paper books to electronic versions,”
Shepherd said. “We’ve seen audio go from
audiotapes to CDs to downloaded music
stored on media devices. Time will tell if
this new approach to college textbooks will
catch on."
The device will allow its users to view
crisp, detailed images and personalize
the home screen with photos. Its monitor
can be completely operated with the touch
of the user’s fingertips by way of a multi-
touch screen. Accessories for the device
include a stand and mouse.
But although a plethora of changes
are evident, some Elon students are not
impressed.
“It just looks like an oversized iPod
touch,” senior Amanda Keller said. She
wns a MacBook Pro and a first generation
iTouch. It looks like it and performs the
same functions ~ it’s only a bit bigger.”
junior Sydnie Krause said she wouldn't
buy the new product.
“I saw an ad and it looked snazzy, but
it also looked like something I couldn’t
afford. I don’t own any Mac products," she
said. “I’m not a Mac person."
For those who fear that the iPad will
require new' knowledge to operate it, .\pple
notes that it is still host to a multitude of
programs familiar to most MacBook users.
It does not require additional software,
either.
iTunes is still a dominant fixture
on the home screen, and music can be
played externally from built-in speakers
or listened to with a Bluetooth device. The
notepad application has been streamlined
and manipulated to provide for more
organizational capabilities and the iBooks
app provides a source to buy and read
books for leisure, similar to the Kindle
device.
Its retail price starts at $499 and ranges
to $829.
“1 think the lower range is worth the
price, but Apple should push a few more
features in it. Camera, multitask suppoi*'
Flash and video output support to make it
just right," Shepherd said.
Apple’s Web site offers a tab where
potential customers can sign up to be
notified of availability.
The device may offer significant
improvement to both professional and
personal endeavors.
“I think just like theiPhone/iTouch, these
devices mold to your life-style,’’ Shepherd
said. “When you have a good balance of
work and play tools at your dispense, it
makes anything very competitive on the
market.”
Wi-Fi models of the device will ship in
March and 3G models will ship in April-