Barefoot Running

[Trek420]

We saw a guy doing our half-marathon barefoot. He was in the butt-end of the pack, way back with the slow folks like us. He had a t-shirt on advertising a barefoot running site.

[colby]

I saw a dude at the half marathon I did over Memorial Day weekend running barefoot, too. He was toward the middle to the back of the pack. He looked happy, though.

I definitely know several folks have ran the Seattle Marathon barefoot, as at least one or two have passed me every year over the last few years. Brave, considering it's mostly concrete. I will have to decide whether I stick with it this year in ye olde Fivers, the concrete was bad enough with full shoes on.

Have not wore my Bikilas for a run, I decided I was too afraid to introduce something new before Ironman. So, it'll be the KSOs.

[Jones]

Yesterday, I ran the "World Famous Mud Run" and saw 3 people running in VFF's and one lady running barefoot. I briefly spoke to each of them and they loved thier VFF's and the lady running barefoot said it was her second Mud Run barefoot and loves it. I wish I could of weighed my shoes when I took them off because they were so caked with mud, filled with sand and soaking wet that I am sure they weighed several pounds each and I wished I was barefoot.

[katluvr]

They finally arrived. I am sitting here in my new VFFs, the sprint. I got the smallest pair they have and they do fit my tiny feet. I must admit it feels weird to have all my toes surrounded. Actully my toes feel "trapped" (Mind you I prefer flip flops) And I cannot imagine running in these (yet), since they are very thin on bottom. So does anyone run on pavement in sprints? are the KSO's any thicker on bottom? I know I should start on soft surfaces and I will.
Anyway I now have VFFs and we shall see how it goes!
(The smallest size comes in that pinkish/lavender, oh well!)

K

[colby]

They finally arrived. I am sitting here in my new VFFs, the sprint. I got the smallest pair they have and they do fit my tiny feet. I must admit it feels weird to have all my toes surrounded. Actully my toes feel "trapped" (Mind you I prefer flip flops) And I cannot imagine running in these (yet), since they are very thin on bottom. So does anyone run on pavement in sprints? are the KSO's any thicker on bottom? I know I should start on soft surfaces and I will.
Anyway I now have VFFs and we shall see how it goes!
(The smallest size comes in that pinkish/lavender, oh well!)

K

I have ran briefly in my sprints, and will ironically be using them for sprint triathlons this summer. I don't know that the KSOs are that much thicker, maybe by 1mm? They don't feel a whole lot different to me. I run mostly asphalt, some concrete, and then trails at a distant third. Give yourself time to get used to it. I still find it weirder to walk in them than to run.

Some people are definitely weirded out between the toes. Maybe on the days you aren't wearing the five fingers you should try toe socks to adjust to the feeling.

[GLC1968]

I finally saw a podiatrist for my foot pain on Friday. I saw one about 6 years ago for the same pain (back then it was in both feet - now it's just my right one) and he prescribed custom orthotics. When they never really resolved the pain, I bought a road bike and stopped running/impact all together.

Fast foward 5 years: Last November I started running again in the interest of getting into tri. I hoped that if I started SLOWLY, I could get up to distance without pain. It didn't happen. The pain started about a month ago. It hurts when running in shoes and when wearing certain shoes (usually narrow flats or most anything with a heel). I was astouned that running barefoot didn't hurt at all (I'm only up to about 0.5 miles barefoot).

Turns out that I have fibular sesamoiditis caused by my shoes. My prescription? Run barefoot! Woohoo!!! (starting slowly - which I already understand)

I also have to buy only certain types of shoes (my VFF's got a big thumbs up) and I have metatarsal pads in most of them now. I also have these things called 'Correct Toes' to wear when I don't have my VFF's on. All of this should allow my toes to realign back to where they SHOULD be and the extraneous pressure on that sesmoid bone should go away (overly simplified, of course).

I really *heart* my new podiatrist for not just sticking me in some orthotics!

I've been following his advice all weekend and my legs were aching yesterday. They are so NOT used to having no heel elevation. Wow, what a difference! I can't wait until my body gets used to this....

[colby]

I finally saw a podiatrist for my foot pain on Friday. I saw one about 6 years ago for the same pain (back then it was in both feet - now it's just my right one) and he prescribed custom orthotics. When they never really resolved the pain, I bought a road bike and stopped running/impact all together.

Fast foward 5 years: Last November I started running again in the interest of getting into tri. I hoped that if I started SLOWLY, I could get up to distance without pain. It didn't happen. The pain started about a month ago. It hurts when running in shoes and when wearing certain shoes (usually narrow flats or most anything with a heel). I was astouned that running barefoot didn't hurt at all (I'm only up to about 0.5 miles barefoot).

Turns out that I have fibular sesamoditis caused by my shoes. My prescription? Run barefoot! Woohoo!!! (starting slowing - which I already understand)

I also have to buy only certain types of shoes (my VFF's got a big thumbs up) and I have metatarsal pads in most of them now. I also have these things called 'Correct Toes' to wear when I don't have my VFF's on. All of this should allow my toes to realign back to where they SHOULD be and the extraneous pressure on that sesmoid bone should go away (overly simplified, of course).

I really *heart* my new podiatrist for not just sticking me in some orthotics!

I've been following his advice all weekend and my legs were aching yesterday. They are so NOT used to having no heel elevation. Wow, what a difference! I can't wait until my body gets used to this....

Interesting. I have described to some people the effect of wearing VFFs as like the toe separator dealies. I have before/after pics of my toes (more or less, it's a crappy before pic but still visible) that show how far they have separated/straightened just from wearing FiveFingers.

In other news, I was told there were four "barefoot" finishers at the Ironman yesterday (including myself) - one of which was fully barefoot, the other three "barefoot".

[nscrbug]

I finally saw a podiatrist for my foot pain on Friday. I saw one about 6 years ago for the same pain (back then it was in both feet - now it's just my right one) and he prescribed custom orthotics. When they never really resolved the pain, I bought a road bike and stopped running/impact all together.

Fast foward 5 years: Last November I started running again in the interest of getting into tri. I hoped that if I started SLOWLY, I could get up to distance without pain. It didn't happen. The pain started about a month ago. It hurts when running in shoes and when wearing certain shoes (usually narrow flats or most anything with a heel). I was astouned that running barefoot didn't hurt at all (I'm only up to about 0.5 miles barefoot).

Turns out that I have fibular sesamoiditis caused by my shoes. My prescription? Run barefoot! Woohoo!!! (starting slowly - which I already understand)

I also have to buy only certain types of shoes (my VFF's got a big thumbs up) and I have metatarsal pads in most of them now. I also have these things called 'Correct Toes' to wear when I don't have my VFF's on. All of this should allow my toes to realign back to where they SHOULD be and the extraneous pressure on that sesmoid bone should go away (overly simplified, of course).

I really *heart* my new podiatrist for not just sticking me in some orthotics!

I've been following his advice all weekend and my legs were aching yesterday. They are so NOT used to having no heel elevation. Wow, what a difference! I can't wait until my body gets used to this....

Thank you for posting this! I just read up on Correct Toes, and will be ordering a set ASAP. I have a severe toe over/underlap issue and I think Correct Toes may just be exactly what I need to help my situation. I've had to scale back my running because no matter what running shoe I try, I get toe pain/numbing in my 4th toe on my right foot. This toe curves underneath and lies below my 3rd toe...which I think is causing a lot of friction, rubbing and general irritation. I was thrilled to find out that Correct Toes can be worn in shoes and while running! I've tried other toe-spacers in the past, and all of them eventually fall out of place after a short while. I can't wait to try out these Correct Toes! I'd be interested to hear how they work for you, too GLC. Please keep us posted on this.

Linda