6 Best Shoes for OCRs
Mud run and obstacle course races are becoming increasingly popular these days. Running these races gives you an advantage over running road races
Running Shoes
What Are Cushioned Running Shoes Actually Doing to Your Feet, And Ankles?
The tight, inflexible fit of most cushioned running shoes unfortuntely do nothing to make your feet and ankles functionally strong. This is because the narrow design is counter to the normal shape of the human foot, which was found to irritate and inflame the soft tissues and tendons, not just in the foot, but the ankle and shin as well.
Are Cushioned Running Shoes Bad for Your Arches?
Unfortunately, many components of the conventional running shoe was found to literally tear away at the functional strength of the arch in ways that causes long-term damage, including collapsed arches and chronic plantar fasciitis as compared with running barefoot or in minimalist (barefoot-like) shoes. 
Do Cushioned Running Shoes Prevent Injuries? NO!
Sadly, cushioned running shoes do not prevent injury because according to extensive research cushioned running shoes dramatically alter joint mechanics (i.e. causing heel striking, over-striding and over-pronation) that accounts for all the impacts that cause injuries, especially servere injury, such as long bone and chronic muscle injuries. Conversly, running barefoot or in minimalist shoes enhances neuromuscular programming of a more controlled forefoot strike, while pushing the rest of your stride mechanics in a more functional direction, making you far less prone to all injuries.
Is Barefoot Running Faster?
Barefoot running was found to be faster for many reasons. For one, the lightness factor reduces the cost of transport of the leg at each step. Secondly, barefoot running engages a forefoot strike which in turn engages the mechanics that perfectly matches the function of the elastic structures of the lower leg. This results in a stride that’s more elastically-powered which greatly reduces the need for costly muscle demands.