Barefoot Running

[kelownagirl]

Has anyone read Born to Run? I have it on reserve. I believe it has a chapter about barefoot running.

[Jolt]

Has anyone read Born to Run? I have it on reserve. I believe it has a chapter about barefoot running.

I've read it--highly recommended! I got a copy from Amazon as soon as it came out. It does talk quite a bit about barefoot/minimalist shoe running. Really quite inspiring as far as the possibility of running a lot without getting injured.

[ginny]

VFF KSO: okay, girls... since I saw this thread this morning, I have been looking at these shoes. I have been running nearly every day since I was 13 - I am 34 now. In the past couple of years, age or gravity or something has snuck up on me, and I have really noticed things coaches have been telling me my whole life. That is, one leg is a fair bit longer than the other. I (apparently) compensate in my pelvis. I also pronate fairly severely. I did, however live barefoot the entire time I lived aboard a sailboat. I don't remember any aches or pains then (I was a fair bit younger though). I enjoy running long distance in the high country... so, whaddya think? Should I give these shoes a try? I mean, if I can't run in them, at least I can wear them around and about... I hear they stink (as do all cool shoes ... chacos), anyone have a solution for this? I work in a lab. It is feasible that I could wear them to work if I can control the stink... What do you think about this leg length issue? About the pronation? I think I'll buy them anyway - if I can't run terribly long distance in them, at least I can pretend I live aboard again

[Jolt]

VFF KSO: okay, girls... since I saw this thread this morning, I have been looking at these shoes. I have been running nearly every day since I was 13 - I am 34 now. In the past couple of years, age or gravity or something has snuck up on me, and I have really noticed things coaches have been telling me my whole life. That is, one leg is a fair bit longer than the other. I (apparently) compensate in my pelvis. I also pronate fairly severely. I did, however live barefoot the entire time I lived aboard a sailboat. I don't remember any aches or pains then (I was a fair bit younger though). I enjoy running long distance in the high country... so, whaddya think? Should I give these shoes a try? I mean, if I can't run in them, at least I can wear them around and about... I hear they stink (as do all cool shoes ... chacos), anyone have a solution for this? I work in a lab. It is feasible that I could wear them to work if I can control the stink... What do you think about this leg length issue? About the pronation? I think I'll buy them anyway - if I can't run terribly long distance in them, at least I can pretend I live aboard again

As far as the leg length issue, it seems to me that it could be compensated for by how much you bend your knees, but I'm not an expert on that type of issue--maybe someone with a background in PT etc. could speak to this. The pronation, from what I understand, tends to be less of an issue when barefoot or in minimal shoes because of the difference in how your foot contacts the ground (as was said earlier in the thread, heel-first running barefoot would be really unpleasant). The VFFs certainly can stink after wearing them for a while, but they can be washed in the washing machine and air-dried. Another thing that is helpful for getting rid of the "funk" is soaking them overnight in a vinegar/water solution and then rinsing thoroughly. Wearing Injinji socks/toe socks also helps keep it from getting bad as quickly.

[ginny]

thanks for the vinegar idea... I will also look up those socks. I wonder how in tarnation I will use these shoes in the winter here... alas, a river I will cross in a few months. I bought the shoes I will keep you all updated. I had a sneaking suspicion part of my issues in my old age have to do with all the orthotics/shoes etc I am wearing these days... well, we will see

[GLC1968]

So, I spent a good deal of my weekend working around the home. I was barefoot and on my feet for *most* of it. Funny thing I noticed? My heels started to hurt long before my forefoot did. I think I've now trained my feet to hit heel first and it hurts when I am not wearing shoes. I think that once I start running, that'll change because I know that I run more on the balls of my feet.

Another funny thing I noticed? I spent a LOT of my time in the kitchen (making & canning strawberry jam - yum!) and for the first time since we moved in, my back never hurt. Usually, extended time in this kitchen makes my back hurt something awful (I haven't figured out why). Maybe without shoes, the counter is a better height for me? What ever it is, I'm THRILLED about it.

Other than the achy heel, my feet felt fine. I think it's time to start jogging around the yard a little each day. If I can't do that safely, then I'll do it on the treadmill until I can swing the cash for some VFF's.

[wavedancer]

I am going to be doing a sprint triathlon in July that includes a 3.1 mile run. If I continue to feel as good as I have running in the VFFs I would like to use them in the tri. Has anyone done this? I don't think I will be ready to run totally barefoot by then. The main issue will be getting the little buggers on quickly. It is still a little quirky getting all the toes into their right little spaces. Any helpful hints?