There is a bit of talk in the running world about ditching the running shoe entirely and getting back to basics. The general premise is that running shoes with their well padded heels, while giving us a longer stride, also bypass the good biomechanics of running on the balls of our feet the way nature intended. The running shoe makes us run with a heel strike which lands at a higher impact than landing with the balls of the feet.
Here is an article about one runner’s experience with trying barefoot running.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/running/nature-vs-nike-were-we-born-to-run-barefoot/article1634595/