Kinda sucks they do not mention the McDoughall's book with the same title, which, although far from scientific work, definitely fueled the debate.
My own experience is that, indeed, running, especially barefoot (really barefoot, not in overpriced minimalist shoes), among the trees and meadows in the countryside feels... well, natural. For people without much physical activity it can be demanding at the beginning, but after few days it should become a pleasure of some kind. I do not do that to reduce weight, for I am far from overweight, and I do not do that to participate in any sport events, for I do not care about them. It just feels good, to run and be out there in nature.
So yeah, my anecdotal evidence really ensures me that there is some truth in the statement that humans are somewhat "born to run". We do not need to hunt in this way anymore, as bows and other ranged weapons changed the rules, yet evolutionary baggage is hard to left behind.
I have always been fascinated by bare foot running. I think in a city I have less interest because all it takes is one tiny shard of glass to get a nasty infection but how do you handle stuff like pebbles etc?
Usually put a grimace on my face in a short moment of pain ;d.
I try to take a route that doesn't have plants with thorns or lot of stones and pebbles. In my area that is not difficult. When it is not possible, or I have some wound on my foot, I wear very thin, flat sandals (could be called "minimalist", but cost like 1/3 of the price of sandals really marketed as such). And I need to look out for vipers, but so far they tend to escape when I approach, and, to be honest, normal running shoes wouldn't help me if I would step on them.
In the city I would definitely be more cautious. When I lived in a town, there was a forest around 20 km away, and I preferred to take a car ride there instead of running though streets. Took more time and planning, and maybe I couldn't run as often as I would like to, but it was much better experience.
As for wounds, at least here in the countryside, so far I didn't catch anything serious. Few splinters or thorns. Nothing that would require seeing a doctor. Definitely it is wise to begin slowly, run much shorter distances, maybe even slower than you are able to. In time your feet become stronger and more resistant. You also notice that you become more aware of the ground and what lies there. This makes it easier to spot and avoid things that could be unpleasant.
Depends on the city. I run barefoot in Singapore and the places I go are all very well-maintained, smooth surfaces without much to cause trouble. You just look where you are running to avoid stepping on anything nasty. But I wouldn’t think about doing that in, say, Hanoi or Penang. Somewhere like Bangkok would be okay if you stuck to the big parks, but not if you were running along the streets.
My own experience is that, indeed, running, especially barefoot (really barefoot, not in overpriced minimalist shoes), among the trees and meadows in the countryside feels... well, natural. For people without much physical activity it can be demanding at the beginning, but after few days it should become a pleasure of some kind. I do not do that to reduce weight, for I am far from overweight, and I do not do that to participate in any sport events, for I do not care about them. It just feels good, to run and be out there in nature.
So yeah, my anecdotal evidence really ensures me that there is some truth in the statement that humans are somewhat "born to run". We do not need to hunt in this way anymore, as bows and other ranged weapons changed the rules, yet evolutionary baggage is hard to left behind.