Barefoot Running

[OakLeaf]

Oooh, this paper is a lot of fun! http://webh01.ua.ac.be/funmorph/kris...t_al_2009b.pdf

You can order it through a journal service ($$) if you have trouble getting the pdf above. Footwear Science vol 1 No 2 June 2009, 81-94

A fun stat mentioned in passing in that paper: 88% of healthy women in a USA study were wearing shoes smaller than their feet! (Frey, 1993)

.pdf came through fine for me.

That statistic is kind of "no duh" to me. Women's non-athletic shoes are made to stay on your feet by compressing them all around. Shoes that aren't too small, fall right off. Even when I was wearing athletic shoes that were two sizes smaller than the ones I wear now (which are just barely on the edge of being wide enough), I had to buy my dress and casual shoes a size or two smaller than that. Now that I'm not working, and living in pretty casual areas, it just isn't worth it to me to buy new shoes for the two or three times a year I need them, so whenever I do need to wear them, I feel like Cinderella's step-sisters. "Do I cut off my heels, or my toes?"

I wonder what the percentage would be if they limited the query to athletic shoes.

[KnottedYet]

I wonder what the percentage would be if they limited the query to athletic shoes.

I'd bet it would only be a bit lower for the general population wearing athletic shoes, maybe 50%, judging from what I see around me on the bus of women wearing fashionable athletic shoes. (big toes trying to leap out of the top of shoes, pinky toes lapping over the edge of running shoes)

Of course, there's a self-selection bias in an athlete and their athletic shoe-only sample, because people who run would most likely be fit better just because of the nature of the activity.

I would imagine some athletes (like cyclists) would have higher proportions of too-small shoes than others (like runners).

The Frey study was just around the time Birkenstocks were very fashionable among teens here in the PNW. I sometimes wonder how much that fashion blip influenced the shoe designs that are popular now. (young growing feet that got to spread out during the end of adolescence resisted being jammed into tight shoes in later decades?)

I'm already seeing a wave of injuries from MBT and MBT rip-off shoes, just like there was a wave from the Nike shock and Z-coil shoes. Folks who get injured by shoes leave the sample, but low-grade irritation gets accepted as part of the fashion price.

[Becky]

I'm already seeing a wave of injuries from MBT and MBT rip-off shoes, just like there was a wave from the Nike shock and Z-coil shoes.

What sorts of injuries are you seeing? I'm fascinated by these shoes, in a "OMG-why-would-someone-buy-those?" sort of way...

[KnottedYet]

What sorts of injuries are you seeing? I'm fascinated by these shoes, in a "OMG-why-would-someone-buy-those?" sort of way...

Ankle sprains, ankle strains, broken ankles, ankle tendonopathies, and.... a broken arm.

Yes! A broken arm! Z-coil heel caught on an object and patient fell.

Z-coil and MBT are very unstable shoes, among other shortcomings (don't get me started) so they can absolutely freak out the lower leg. What drives me nuts are the little old ladies on limited income who got sucked in by unscrupulous salesmen and blew $200-$300 on shoes that they end up hating and which hurt them. I've had more than one tell me the shoes are a disaster but they continue to wear them because they cost so much. They want to get their money's worth. Breaks my heart.

[Serendipity]

Well, I'm officially a convert to barefoot running.

Okay, not exactly barefoot, but close enough. I had ordered the VFF KSO's - when they came in, they were a perfect fit! Just about gave up trying to get them on the first time, but then I read the instructions and figured out how to put them on properly.

I've been gradually building up time & distance - my calves sure can feel the difference. Could hardly move the day afer the first couple of times out and that was after only 10 minutes or so of running in them. Please tell that will ease up as my muscles adapt......???

Rather intriguing how natural it feels to land on the ball of my foot. In fact, it doesn't really feel as if my heel touches the ground. Even find that I am landing more on the ball when wearing my running shoes. Not sure if I will ever get to true barefoot running; seems to be too many sharp rocks and broken glass where I run. But, we'll see.

Got quite a chuckle when I looked back at my footprints the last couple of runs. It was a bit mucky in the area even though it was barely above freezing. But there they were, clear barefoot prints!!!! Can only imagine what someone seeing those footprints thought.

[tulip]

So if someone were to want to start running, and someone had some very old (and worn down) running shoes in need of replacement, would it be advisable for that someone to start of from scratch barefoot, or try VFF, or get some new regular running shoes?

I would like to do some running--not marathons, but 5ks and perhaps a 10k now and then. 3 times a week, nothing too ambitious. I can run in the grass at several nearby parks. All this talk of being barefoot sounds kindof fun and the right thing to do. I only worry about stepping in yuck.

I don't have any issues with my feet or knees. I do have a history of SI issues but that's been under control for a while now with Pilates and yoga. I no longer do chiro ($$$) but I really don't feel I need it now.

Thoughts from the experts and the experienced?

[KnottedYet]

I'd get a $15 pair of aquasox at Target, and give minimal footwear a try.

If you decide it's the greatest thing since sliced bread, you can go spend the $95 on VFF, or Newtons, or Asics Tigers. If you decide you'd like to segue into actual barefoot running, voila, you have emergency shoes for yucky situations. If you hate it and decide your particular body mechanics work best with running shoes, well you've only wasted $15 (and they are still fine for the beach).

[Jolt]

I've been gradually building up time & distance - my calves sure can feel the difference. Could hardly move the day afer the first couple of times out and that was after only 10 minutes or so of running in them. Please tell that will ease up as my muscles adapt......???

Totally normal! I can remember my calves being very sore for about the first week. Your muscles are working differently than they are used to.

[colby]

Well, I'm officially a convert to barefoot running.

Okay, not exactly barefoot, but close enough. I had ordered the VFF KSO's - when they came in, they were a perfect fit! Just about gave up trying to get them on the first time, but then I read the instructions and figured out how to put them on properly.

I've been gradually building up time & distance - my calves sure can feel the difference. Could hardly move the day afer the first couple of times out and that was after only 10 minutes or so of running in them. Please tell that will ease up as my muscles adapt......???

Rather intriguing how natural it feels to land on the ball of my foot. In fact, it doesn't really feel as if my heel touches the ground. Even find that I am landing more on the ball when wearing my running shoes. Not sure if I will ever get to true barefoot running; seems to be too many sharp rocks and broken glass where I run. But, we'll see.

Got quite a chuckle when I looked back at my footprints the last couple of runs. It was a bit mucky in the area even though it was barely above freezing. But there they were, clear barefoot prints!!!! Can only imagine what someone seeing those footprints thought.

Yes, your muscles will adapt. Don't add time/distance too quickly, though. Listen to those muscles. After the calves for me came the glutes and adductors (not nearly as sad as the calves). Not bad muscles to be working on.

And, your footprints never get old. My husband bought a pair of the leather KSO Treks when we were in Boston and he could try them on, now he is amused by his AND my footprints.

[Serendipity]

Yes, your muscles will adapt. Don't add time/distance too quickly, though. Listen to those muscles. After the calves for me came the glutes and adductors (not nearly as sad as the calves). Not bad muscles to be working on.

And, your footprints never get old. My husband bought a pair of the leather KSO Treks when we were in Boston and he could try them on, now he is amused by his AND my footprints.

That would be funny to see two sets of footprints...

I also find that I am noticing other runners' footprints as well. For example, on a run a couple of days ago, there were a set of prints with a very obvious heel imprint - my first thought, a 'heel striker' - bet they don't know about VFFs! Beware the convert!

Thanks, for the reminder about adding time/distance. I've been careful so far and do find that my calves aren't screaming as loudly!

Looking for some ideas from everyone about transitioning and training for a half-marathon at the end of September. I would normally build up mileage over the summer to prepare for that event but not sure how to combine that with transitioning to longer distances with the VFFs. Trying also to figure out if I should train with the idea of running the half in the VFFs or in the Sauconys that I usually wear. Don't want to end up not being able to run the distance in either..