Born to run in our bare feet

"Survival of the human race depended upon being able to run long enough to catch lunch or avoid becoming it," John Woodward told The Times. In earlier times, people ran barefoot, and that's what Woodward's students do during the weekend natural running courses he offers in Kirkby-in-Furness on the north-west coast of England.

The latest research suggests that runners might get fewer injuries if they run in the way that nature intended. The reason for running barefoot is that modern running shoes can damage your body. "It all starts with the feet," explains Gerard Hartmann, a physical therapist in Ireland who works with marathon runner Paula Radcliffe. Hartmann has worked with more than 100 world-class African athletes. "Most never wore shoes until their late teens," he says. "They have few foot defects."

American author Christopher McDougall, whose book Born to Run has led the return to "natural running", found inspiration in the lives of poor Mexican runners. "I felt as if I could outrun the sun," he said, describing what happened after he replaced his expensive running shoes with simple sandals. Sports shoe makers, responding to the barefoot boom, are now selling ultra-thin shoes such as the Vibram Five Fingers and the Vivo Barefoot.