Barefoot Running

[KnottedYet]

Yeah, I think you're right. It's a linguistic problem in that we lack a term (other than "barefoot") for running without the built-up shoes that have been nearly the entire market for the last 30 years. We need a term that encompasses barefoot, traning flats, running sandals, training-flats-with-toes, etc.

About the super-cushiony shoes...
(run away! here comes another lecture!!!)

If your first impression was that they are too cushiony, don't get them.

Every body has its own adjustable suspension, and has its own preferred setting. Kind of like cars: some have sporty BMW suspension, some have cushy Cadillac suspension. (if you want to google this, look up "biomechanical leg stiffness")

Say your body has its happy setting for its suspension. For sake of argument, lets say you are running barefoot on the beach. When you run into the soft dry sand, your body will make your leg firmer to adjust (keeping itself at its happy suspension). When you run on the hard packed wet sand, your body will make your leg softer to adjust the suspension.

If softening your leg makes you work harder than usual, you will find running on the hard packed sand very tiring and inefficient over all.

If firming up your leg makes you work harder than usual, you will find running on the soft dry sand very tiring and inefficient over all.

Shoes are kind of like portable pieces of beach that make running on pavement more blissful. Do you want "soft dry sand" or "packed wet sand" between you and the pavement? Depends on which lets your leg work at its optimal efficiency (and that's different for everyone).

If the cushy shoes immediately felt wrong (you called it a "problem") then I would bet dollars to donuts your body was telling you, "This piece of beach is too soft and makes me too inefficient! Do not want!"

ETA: a short little paper: http://www.cc.gatech.edu/fac/Chris.A.../legs/jh1b.pdf