Running shoes do not protect against injury

The Daily Mail - The painful truth about trainers: are running shoes a waste of money?

An excerpt from a book by Christopher McDougall that is aimed at the running shoe industry, specifically at the rise in foot and running-related injuries since the invention of the modern running shoe. The modern running shoe was basically invented by Nike in the late 1960s and since then there has been no evidence-- at least none that was gathered in a scientific manner that is subject to peer review-- that the cushioned, rubbery running shoe reduces injury. In fact, there has been a correlation between increased injury and more expensive running shoes. [If you assume that more money buys you more padding/cushioning, then there is a correlation between cushioned running shoes and increased injury.] The way that the foot hits the ground when in running shoes is heel-to-toe, straight down; when running barefoot (the way humans evolved), we tend to splay out our toes and go toe-to-heel-to-toe and pronate, placing weight on the outside of the foot more. The article has three major lessons:
1) Studies have shown a correlation between cushiony shoes and greater injury
2) You instinctively search for terra firma and may be coming down harder than you normally would if you didn't have cushiony soles. Tests on gymnasts provides analogous evidence. Further, those soles do little to reduce the impact of running (the impact on your legs can be 12x your weight).
3) Pronation is natural and the arch of your foot should be allowed to do its work of support rather than be pushed up from underneath or allowed to atrophy by running in the modern running shoe.