CRYSTAL LAKE – As the barefoot running craze matures, the focus has been as much on the mechanics of running as it has been on footwear.

Although minimalist running shoes have gained a toehold in the marketplace and shoeless joggers aren’t as likely to draw stares, many runners have kept to traditional athletic shoes. And experts remain divided on the wisdom of running without them.

Many converts were inspired by Christopher McDougall’s 2009 best-seller “Born To Run,” which is widely credited with sparking the barefoot running trend. The book focuses on an Indian tribe in Mexico whose members run long distances without pain in little more than sandals.