Barefoot Running

[OakLeaf]

Barefootin' hits the big time.

I really need to find a PT or podiatrist who, as the article says, doesn't believe that "one size fits all."

[Biciclista]

the article that Oakleaf mentions above listed several shoe manufacturers that supposedly carry minimalist running shoes. the only one who seemed to have minimalist shoes was the Terra Plana brand. The others all carried running shoes that looked like they had the typical big heels, etc.
I walk in Nike Free shoes, before that I was wearing a popular brand (i forget) with a big built in arch and a firm sole. My feet hated them. TOo bad, they were so cute.

I believe what we need is something to protect our feet from the elements and the glass and other sharp stuff on the ground; nothing more.

[Jolt]

I believe what we need is something to protect our feet from the elements and the glass and other sharp stuff on the ground; nothing more.

Exactly!!!

[HillSlugger]

One of the things that got me interested in barefoot running was listening to a podcast of an interview with the author of "Born to Run". An excerp from his book claims that wearing running shoes does not decrease the rate of running injuries and that injuries are actually more frequent as the cost of the shoe increases! The thicker the padding the less the foot can feet the running surface and the less it can properly adapt. The result is a weakening of our inherent foot mechanics

Before I started running I went to a reputable running store and after doing their stuff they put me into motion control shoes because I over pronate. As I started running I experience bad ankle pain that had me seeking a podiatrist. By the time I finally got in to see him the pain was reducing but he got me into custom orthotics. I admit that I no longer have ankle pain, but I now find that I need MORE support in my everyday shoes! When I started running I was definitely a midfoot striker but I find myself moving towards heel striking. I believe the idea that the motion control shoes and the orthotics are making my feet weaker. I think if I had just waited it out a little longer I would have been fine without the orthotics.

I've already been going around the house more in bare feet and I'm gonna be checking out the VFF's when they arrive today but I'm not sure how soon I'll try running in them. I've just also started thinking that maybe I should remove the orthotics and go back to running without them. I'm just not sure how to work the transition back to "normal" feet.

[Biciclista]

good luck mdhillslug
remember there are muscles that need to be strengthened, so take it slowly.

[HillSlugger]

good luck mdhillslug
remember there are muscles that need to be strengthened, so take it slowly.

Yes, I'm keenly aware of this. That why I've started the barefooting around the house and why I intend to start just walking around with the VFFs. I'm thinking that transitioning out of the insoles is also a step in the right direction (pun intended).

[HillSlugger]

My VFF's came!

I ordered the classics and the KSOs in two sizes each. I've been wanding about the house in the classics since around 6pm. Takes some getting used to but I like them so far.

[GLC1968]

I believe what we need is something to protect our feet from the elements and the glass and other sharp stuff on the ground; nothing more.

Isn't that what the Vibram FiveFingers does?

If I want to start running barefoot around our property, I need something to protect my feet from blackberry shoots. Of course, those suckers will sometimes go right through my croc soles, so I doubt that VFF will work.

[Serendipity]

Barefootin' hits the big time.

I really need to find a PT or podiatrist who, as the article says, doesn't believe that "one size fits all."

Been suffering from a heel injury for the last month or so and not really feeling like it was improving, despite resting & icing it. I randomly made an appointment with PT at a local sports medicine clinic and fully expected to be told to 'hang up the running shoes'. After a thorough assessment, the PT confirmed that it was a bruised heel and we talked about treatment. It was when he suggested that I try running barefoot on the treadmill that the light went on. We spent the next 15 minutes talking about barefoot running - showed me the VFF KSO's he uses - and I had a chance to try running barefoot on the indoor track attached to the clinic. What - no pain?

Now I can hardly wait to try this out - I had to order VFFs as no one in town sells them - but they should be here within the next few days. And I do need something on my feet. First of all, there's too much snow on the ground right now and way too much crud on the roads, trails, paths, to truly run barefoot.

The other thing I'm excited about is going barefoot around the house and around the yard....when the snow goes, of course. Had always done that; like so many others on this thread, I had grown up barefoot but over the past few years had listened to those telling me that I needed to protect my feet as I got older.

So, the PT did tell me to 'hang up my running shoes' but not in the context I imagined. It's been very enlightening reading about others' experiences on this thread; while I don't expect all my foot troubles to magically disappear, I am looking forward to the 'barefoot running' expeience.

Sorry this is so long - but can you tell I'm excited..

[Kimmyt]

I picked up a pair of VFF sprints at REI on a whim a few months ago- they had one pair in stock (normally they don't stock them, but someone had returned an online order and they were just sitting on the ground in the shoe section) and they were in MY SIZE. I tried them on in the store and said, 'what the heck!' and bought them.

I wore them once on a treadmill before realizing they were actually a bit too big, so I ordered a smaller size. Still actually have the bigger pair, have yet to return them (left the tags on since I wasn't sure about the fit).

Anyway, I've been adding on 0.5 miles on to the end of my treadmill runs this winter when I didn't run outside, so I got a bit more used to them, but I've been waiting for it to get warmer to take them out!

I took them out yesterday for 0.8 miles and they felt GREAT. I felt so... fast! And free!

My feet certainly aren't made for these shoes. My second toe is slightly longer than my big toe, but not enough to make a huge difference. And my pink tends to curl under the other toes, so that means it takes a lot of manual labor to get my toes in their respective pockets. But once in there they feel okay, at least for now.

Here's a question for people, any funny stores of 'what are THOSE!'. When I first took mine outside on the track at work, I passed some of the security guards out walking during lunch, and their conversation stopped as they passed me, then they started whispering and laughing. I knew they were looking at my shoes but I didn't really care. It was way too much fun to run in them!

Also I saw a girl at my rock gym in these, though i personally think the rubber is too soft to use for any really technical climbing and that also might make them more prone to rock-induced damage and would get ruined too quickly. I also know another guy at my work gym who runs on them on the treadmill, but then apparently there's a growing crowd of BFers at my work gym. What can I say, we're scientists... we're all about empirical research!!!