Barefoot Running

[indigoiis]

Okay call me cheap, but I am seriously looking at a pair of $15 Old Navy Ugg style boots with cheap flip-flop foam bottoms, to wear over a pair of thick alpaca boot socks.

It can't hurt to try, I guess. It will be like running in socks more than VFFs.

[nscrbug]

Has anyone here tried treadmill running with the VFF's? I'm interested in trying them, but I don't do cold-weather running due to my asthma. All of my running during the winter months, is done on the gym treadmills. I'm just wondering if I would reap the same benefits using them on a TM vs. outdoor running? I understand the need to build up slowly with them...so what would be an ideal amount of time/mileage for my first run in them? I typically run shod, for about 30-40 minutes at a 5.7 - 6.0mph pace...so, at a 10+ minute per mile pace, I'm pretty slow. My lower back simply cannot handle a higher running pace...so this is the range at where I stay for all of my runs.

Linda

[twin]

I am giving running a shot with a tiny bit of barefoot and a smaller amount with KSO vibrams and I hope it works. I really love the idea of this.

[Tri Girl]

I bought the VFF sprint shoes almost 2 weeks ago. I have no arch- I have totally flat feet and I overpronate severely. I've been running in motion control shoes with custom orthotics for 5 years now. I've had so many knee and ITB issues since starting to run that I've decided it's time to try barefooting it to see, if in fact, it's the shoes that are making me injured.

I've worn them to work and walking around (to get used to them slowly), but I haven't yet run in them. I'm going to try some running tomorrow.

I LOVE the VFF's. I can tighten the strap across the arch to make it more supportive in my arch when I need it. They are GREAT!!

[HillSlugger]

I bought the VFF sprint shoes almost 2 weeks ago. I have no arch- I have totally flat feet and I overpronate severely. I've been running in motion control shoes with custom orthotics for 5 years now. I've had so many knee and ITB issues since starting to run that I've decided it's time to try barefooting it to see, if in fact, it's the shoes that are making me injured.

I've worn them to work and walking around (to get used to them slowly), but I haven't yet run in them. I'm going to try some running tomorrow.

I LOVE the VFF's. I can tighten the strap across the arch to make it more supportive in my arch when I need it. They are GREAT!!

Where do you work that you can wear VFF's there?

I'm trying to figure out how to get from motion control + custom orthotics to VFF's without injuring myself.

[nscrbug]

Where do you work that you can wear VFF's there?

I'm trying to figure out how to get from motion control + custom orthotics to VFF's without injuring myself.

I'm sort of in the same boat as you. I really want to try VFF's, but I'm a bit hesitant given my past history with ongoing foot issues. I'm currently wearing (and have always worn) stability shoes with an OTC heat-moldable insert. I have a set of custom orthotics that my podiatrist had made for me, but after 3 adjustments to them, I still cannot comfortably wear them while running. So I've pretty much given up on them and they are now $600 dust-collectors.

Two years ago, I had a bad case of PF/heel spur in my left foot...but it seems to be under control at the moment and is not causing any pain now. However, I do have a toe-numbing/tingly issue on my right foot which generally flares up anytime I run over 3 miles. I'm not sure if it's a friction/swelling issue, a nerve issue, or what...but it's really annoying and frustrating...and I've tried dozens of different running shoes in hopes of resolving this problem with no success so far. I would love to try a minimalist shoe like the VFF's, but fear that I will still have the toe pain issue. Any ideas on how I could go about making the transition a little easier and less painful?

[KnottedYet]

Posture! Posture! Posture!

I'd say that 95% of the patients I see for "pronation" are a posture problem, and at most maybe 5% are a structural problem.

To find your good foot posture, it really helps to have someone work with you who knows what makes the lower extremity pronate and how to un-pronate it. It's not just the foot, it's everything from the hip down which pronates.

For starters, stand in front of your mirror in your underwear. (or a pair of shorts if you are shy) Stand like you normally stand. Note your hips: do they look wide? Note your knees: do they look narrow and bent backwards? Are your kneecaps looking kind of cross-eyed? Are your ankles wider than your knees? (like Betty Boop) Is your inside ankle-bone hanging out over empty space? Is your arch flattish? Are you standing duck-footed?

Those are all subtle hints that you are pronating (which is the entire leg, remember!)

How to unpronate: straighten your feet. Pull your lower belly flat. Tuck your tailbone under (don't stick your @$$ out like Betty Boop). Squeeze your buns together a little. Unlock your knees. Quick! Look at your feet! Where is your ankle and how is your arch? If the arch has returned and your inside ankle bone is now over the inside of your foot instead of outer space, this is what caused your pronation - GIRL HIPS. If the foot still looks sloppy and the ankle is still hanging to the inside of the foot, try pushing the outer edge of your foot into the ground. You may have a combination of sloppy girl hips and sloppy-foot-desperately-trying-to-clutch-at-the-ground.

Whatever you did to fix your foot posture, work on making that your habit. Usually you can play with it all in front of the mirror and figure out which one thing makes the rest of it line up. (in my case tucking my butt back where it belongs, instead of sticking it out like a baboon in heat which flops my belly flab out over my waistband and locks my knees and pronates my feet)

If you can't do anything with your muscles to even change your foot posture the slightest bit, then you need some custom orthotics and structural help.

Get your foot posture up and running, and barefoot running will go much easier. (I prescribe barefoot running to help teach posture, as well.)

[KnottedYet]

However, I do have a toe-numbing/tingly issue on my right foot which generally flares up anytime I run over 3 miles. I'm not sure if it's a friction/swelling issue, a nerve issue, or what...but it's really annoying and frustrating...and I've tried dozens of different running shoes in hopes of resolving this problem with no success so far. I would love to try a minimalist shoe like the VFF's, but fear that I will still have the toe pain issue. Any ideas on how I could go about making the transition a little easier and less painful?

Take off your right shoe and sock. Look at the sole of your right foot. Look at the ball of your right foot. Is there a nice callus (or thick skin) under the ball of your big toe? There should be.

Is there a callus or thick skin under the ball of your pinky toe? There should be.

Is there a callus or thick skin under the ball of any other toe? NOT such a good thing. From what you describe I expect there is one under the ball of the second (index) toe or the one next to it. Or maybe between the ball of the big toe and the index toe.

If there is a callus or thick skin, you probably have a dropped met head which is causing compression on one of the nerves that runs through the ball of the foot.

It's not a big deal, it's pretty easy to correct with exercises, and it often goes along with a postural pronation issue.

Let me know if you need the exercises.

(I'd get them rolling before starting the barefoot running, so the running can help you get the metatarsal arch back up to strength)

[Tri Girl]

Where do you work that you can wear VFF's there?

I'm trying to figure out how to get from motion control + custom orthotics to VFF's without injuring myself.

I teach. I've worn them for 2 weeks without any "no no" from my principal. The kids LOVE them and think they are too funny. I figure they are no uglier than the Ugg boots that teachers wear, or the crocs or open toed sandals.
When I'm told I can't wear them anymore I won't. Until then, I'll wear them.

I think they've helped my posture. I've noticed it lately that I'm walking more with my shoulders back and standing taller. Don't know if it's the VFF's or not, but I like it.

I ran .5 mile with the VFF's today, then finished the 3 mile run with my running shoes & orthotics. I want to work up very slowly so I don't have any issues. I've been doing lots of arch stretching and calf stretches.
Crossing fingers this helps all my feet/knee/ITB problems...