Tread Lightly cover art

Tread Lightly

Form, Footwear, and the Quest for Injury-Free Running

 Preview
Get this deal Try Premium Plus free
Offer ends 29 January 2026 at 11:59PM GMT.
Prime members: New to Audible? Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Just £0.99/mo for your first 3 months of Audible.
1 bestseller or new release per month—yours to keep.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, podcasts, and Originals.
Auto-renews at £8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Thousands of incredible audiobooks and podcasts to take wherever you go.
Immerse yourself in a world of storytelling with the Plus Catalogue - unlimited listening to thousands of select audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Tread Lightly

By: Bill Larson, Peter Larson
Narrated by: Richard Allen
Get this deal Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly. Offer ends 29 January 2026 at 11:59PM GMT.

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

Buy Now for £18.99

Buy Now for £18.99

LIMITED TIME OFFER | £0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Premium Plus auto-renews at £8.99/mo after 3 months. Terms apply.

About this listen

Humans evolved over the millennia to become one of the most exceptional distance-running species on Earth. So why are injuries so common? Are our shoes to blame, or is it a question of running form, training, or poor diet? In this groundbreaking book, Peter Larson and Bill Katovsky explore the reasons why runners experience injuries and offer potential solutions to the current epidemic of running-related injuries. Their findings, gleaned from research studies and conversations with leading footwear scientists, biomechanical experts, coaches, podiatrists, physical therapists, and competitive runners, are informative and enlightening.

Topics include:

  • How modern runners differ from their ancestors
  • Why repetitive stress causes most injuries, and how runners can safely reduce their occurrence
  • The pros and cons of barefoot running
  • Why it’s time to move beyond the pronation-control paradigm with running shoes
  • How certain running-form flaws might increase injury risk
  • How footwear has evolved over the past 10,000 years
  • The recreational runner
  • Why running shoes are not inherently evil

Tread Lightly is a highly listenable, multifaceted investigation of running - past and present, with a hopeful look to the future.

©2012 Peter Larson and Bill Katovsky (P)2013 Audible, Inc. Pain Management Physical Illness & Disease Running & Jogging

Editor reviews

Runners experience a plethora of nagging injuries and pain, making this a valuable examination into the evolution, history, and future of the human body as it pertains to running. Bill Katovsky and Peter Larson look at how footwear, form, and food can impact the body, providing guidelines and possible solutions to the wear-and-tear that comes with constant running. Richard Allen displays a deft command while also performing with a light, agreeable touch, creating a welcoming and reassuring environment. Tread Lightly is an illuminating resource that will hopefully make shin splints and plantar fasciitis a thing of the past.

Critic reviews

"Larson presents a wealth of balanced info on the raging debate over proper running form and minimalist running shoes." (Erin Beresini, Outside Online)
“Peter Larson is both a scientist and a realist when it comes to running shoes, and that's a good combination.” (Amby Burfoot, "Peak Performance Blog", Runner's World)
All stars
Most relevant
I found this book to be interesting and incredibly useful. It is definitely informative with advice and suggestions without any dogma.

Really glad I listened.

Incredibly Useful

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is an interesting review of scientific research with regard to running and injury prevention. There is good advice and the book is easily comprehensible.

The narrator brings life to the work. But there is one really annoying problem to me. A minor one perhaps.

This is not the only audio book in which the narrator makes this error and it often occurs in scientific-based works. But please, narrators and producers, the authors don't talk about "CASUAL" links they talk about "CAUSAL" links and relationships!

This mistake occurred so often that I found myself exclaiming "CAUSAL!" out loud while running much to the astonishment of passers-by who probably thought this was some kind of new running mantra.

CAUSAL!!! <br />

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
some goog knowledgeable stuff in it with some intresting facts about running dietary stuff and shoes them selfs aswell as barefoot running ...

runners knowledge

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A really interesting insight into improving as a runner and some of the misconceptions that we have based on the information provided by the industry. The narrator’s voice was at times monotonous but this did not detract from the quality of the book.

Interesting and informative

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I loved this book, was great information for any runner.
I would recommend it for beginner to any advanced stage as lots of useful tips and Information to help prevent injury. good information from studies carried out over the years also

Good book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews