Barefoot Running

[KnottedYet]

Toes and Bunions.

(See, I was segue-ing on topic, more or less. Kind of. Maybe.)

Toes are very cool. They do a lot more than we give them credit for. I like to be able to use my toes, which is why I tend to prefer sandals and Birkenstocks. I also looooove Injinji toe socks. VFF are nifty because they are training flats with separate toesies.

Bunions are also very cool, but not in a nice way. They have usually two causes contributing to them: genetics and cramped toes. I like to put bunion patients who can still achieve corrected positioning of the great toe into things like Chaco Z/2 sandals. If I can get someone like that who is willing to try some VFF, I'll be very excited to see what happens. Toes like to be free! Happy toes can lead to less painful bunions. Bring on the toes!

If you've had a bunionectomy, I would suggest asking your podiatrist before you switch into any training flats. For pin placement and retention, you may need to be running in a motion control or stability shoe.

[twin]

I can wear my Vibrams in my classroom and I also have been going barefoot in my room.

[OakLeaf]

Toes are actually the #1 difference I notice between barefoot and shod. Maybe that's just because I'm so wide in the forefoot. When my pinky toes are inline with the 5th metatarsals, everything feels so much better. I can't even do that in sandals. They all pull in.

[moonfroggy]

T
Bunions are also very cool, but not in a nice way. They have usually two causes contributing to them: genetics and cramped toes. I like to put bunion patients who can still achieve corrected positioning of the great toe into things like Chaco Z/2 sandals. If I can get someone like that who is willing to try some VFF, I'll be very excited to see what happens. Toes like to be free! Happy toes can lead to less painful bunions. Bring on the toes!.

so i have small bunions but i have spent the majority of my life barefoot and have always avoided shoes that cramp my toes at all. would that mean my bunions are pretty much all genetic? they don't bother me at all unless i get shoes that don't give my toes room.

i have wanted to take up running for a long time and am finding this thread to be very interesting. i ran everyplace barefoot as a kid it ever occurred to me i could take up running now and do it barefoot!

[katluvr]

Very interesting stuff....since my massage therapist has pointed out the way I stand. Often w/ more weight on one leg and shifting my hip out to the side. Claims that has some stuff to do w/ my back muscles and some over development on one side versus the other. I always thought I had good posture since I am short, I stand up straight, don't hunch--even sitting at the computer I do that. However now that I am in my mid 40's having lots of lower back pain (noted when walking slow, strolling type walking). I do core work and know my tight hamstrings play a role. But until recently I never thought of myself as not having good posture. Hmmmmmmm, guess I need to really look into this.

As for barefoot. I spend a lot of time in flip flops or other sandal type shoes..including birks, croc's, etc. I don't really walk barefoot much (even in FL) since I have a real aversion to my feet being dirty. (It really grosses me out). I keep thinking about trying running either barefoot or trying the VFF's. Haven't made the leap yet. But after losing 2 toenails to my 1st marathon AND noting my big toe on my other foot is bruised underneath (please let me keep that toenail)...I really need to find something to run in that is not causing damage to my feet/toes. I did note that my feet hurt more after my long runs than my legs. So how does one's feet feel after that distnace? And as your speed increases in VFFs or barefoot...how does your foot strike not increase. Probably a dumb question. I feel that if I run faster, it equals harder and worry more impact on foot strike. I may just be all wrong about it.

K

[Red Rock]

Thank you Knott, once again to the rescue.

In my case they (the bunions) are genetic. So I guess I should work more on going barefoot to begin with and then work into some VFF's. When I have a job and can afford such things. I was looking at the Chacos the other day thinking how nice it would be to have my great toe facing forward.

Would the VFF's force the great toe forward by design?

Thank you everyone for contributing, I am learning a lot here.

Red Rock

[indigoiis]

If you can't wear VFFs to your work, try ballet shoes. No one's going to tell you not to wear them, and they have a very barefoot-like feel.

[twin]

I have decided to stop running in my running shoes and have been walking with a little running before and after school at about 50 minutes each. So I hope this will eventually increase to more running time with my Vibrams. I also have in really short spurts done a little BF running and walking.

[colby]

Very interesting stuff about posture and pronation - Knot strikes again. I'm going to have to do a little studying on myself there. I have a feeling my heel pain in shoes is some kind of mis-alignment that I'm arguing with and need to un-learn before I am forced to un-learn it with help.

My big toe callous under my right big toe actually hurts when I run on it for significant distance, in shoes and to a much lesser extent in the VFFs, and I'm trying to figure out why - the left one feels fine. Feels like I do have a bit of tough skin formed between my big toe and second toe (have had blisters there, too), and my right big toe callous is MUCH tougher than my left. I've considered seeing a podiatrist or someone that can tell me where the pain in my foot is referring to how I'm running, something in my posture, or something I can/should actually correct ON my feet (soften my over-hardened callous?), or maybe a combination.

I wear my VFFs to work too - I work at a software company (I also bring my dog to work ). I also wore them to a conference this week representing my company, but software/network security/IT people are kind of a different breed to begin with.

I started running in VFFs fairly "aggressively" I'd say, but I do have a relatively strong base and a fairly consistent volume of running under my belt through the last 9-12 months. If my base mileage was 3 miles in one shot or 10-15 miles a week total spread across many days, I would have started out much lighter. As it is, you really have to listen to your body, and don't forget to stretch!