Running Barefoot

[margo49]

Saw something on tv years ago about some rural villages in Mexico where they (well the men) have this kind of football game that lasts about a week and the pitch is about 200 miles long. They play it barefoot (day and night) Someone brought them to do some ultra-marathon in the US and they got provided with shoes by one of the big companies and they hated them, had pain, ran slower and finally chucked them (and the sponsorship!)

[Velobambina]

Mimi, thanks for the tip on the Nike Frees. I've been looking at those for awhile and wasn't sure they were worth the money. Maybe I'll get a pair for walking and knocking about in.
I recently bought a pair of Newton Running shoes for running, and so far, so good. They are designed to "encourage" you to strike mid-foot instead of heel, and they feel good. They are made out a mesh material that doesn't cramp in your feet, like traditional running shoes. Kinda pricey but if they keep my piriformis syndrome and ankle woes at bay, they are worth it.

[KnottedYet]

Mmmm, tasty running shoes. http://www.newtonrunning.com/shoe.php?s=004

One of the things I like about running in my Chaco Z1 sandals is that they make me strike at midfoot even better than my Brooks Beasts/Addictions/Ariels. www.chacousa.com

Wearing toe socks in all my shoes really has improved my feet's happiness. www.injinji.com

[teigyr]

I love that picture! It's very dashing in a Robin Hood kind of way

All of this is very interesting. I've been a slave to my stability control ASICs and while they don't bother me, I don't think "wow, these feel great!".

Why would the socks make a difference? Or do they not smush your toes together?

[KnottedYet]

My theory on the socks: since my individual toes get to participate, all the muscles in my foot and lower leg (a lot of foot muscles are in the lower leg and have tendons that run to the foot) get to do their jobs.

I'm guessing since I'm using more of the smaller muscles they are keeping my foot working with the finesse it naturally should - therefore less fatigue.

I work on my feet for 10 hrs a day. I've compared days with toe socks and without (in the same shoes). It's been pretty consistant that on toe-sock days my feet and legs feel better at the end of my shift.

(Brooks running shoes and Chaco sandals make me say "Wow, these feel great!" Add in the toe socks, and it gets pretty blissful!)

[roadie gal]

I hate to be a grouch, but the thought of running barefoot just makes me cringe. The streets around here are covered with gravel and there's a lot of broken glass and the trails have pine needles, manzanita, rocks and other sharp objects. Ouch, my poor feet.