Barefoot Running

[colby]

I still haven't tried running in my VFF's yet, but I do have a new barefoot running goal.

Two days ago I did a mini-tri at a local lake. The run was a trail run over hard packed dirt trails and a few sections of asphalt (~2 miles). I found it very difficult to do effectively in my new running shoes. I think this is because I bought my shoes a size bigger than normal to get more toe space. It makes them feel a little like clown shoes on terrain where I need to be nimble. Not good! I had to slow WAY down to keep upright. There is another mini-tri at the same lake (same course) in two weeks. I want to run it barefoot. I'm not sure I'll be ready!

My calves and feet are conditioned since I run in my barefoot shoes up to 4 miles now, so that'll be fine. The soles of my feet are not. My longest truly barefoot run is now 1 mile and that was on rough pavement and cement. I've never run barefoot on a trail before. Since this lake/park is near my house, I'm going to give it a try a few times prior to the next tri, but I will also need to work up to longer distances on my regular routes too. I've heard that the soles of your feet will toughen quickly, so I'm hopeful.

Any thoughts? Has anyone else had to toughen up the soles and how long did it take?

You might run (jog, walk) this route in your VFFs to learn about how your feet need to adapt to the route. Where are there roots, rocks, or other things that you need to pay attention to, and how does it feel on your feet.

Next, I'd say the soles of your feet will be decent on the dirt/trail (depending on roots/rocks/etc but you might have trouble with that even in VFFs), but the asphalt might be harder (no pun intended?). The biggest problem I think would be that when pavement gets hot, it's HOT. I can feel hot pavement through my VFFs and socks, and when walking barefoot have had to put them back on because it was too hot.

I'm always afraid of stepping on rogue rocks and weird stuff being barefoot-barefoot, the VFFs basically let me be a little more lazy (on a scale of 1 being super careful to 10 being running shoes, I think the VFFs are a 3 but being barefoot would be 1). I've considered starting to run barefoot also, especially for short runs, but as the season wears on I just don't think I can take the heat on my feet. Maybe that's something you build a tolerance to as well?

[GLC1968]

Yeah, I'm not sure about hot pavement as well. I know that you can build up to it as we used to have to as kids on hot sand, but I have no idea how long it took. The pavement part of the route will be in the shade though (I did pay attention to that) so heat shouldn't be an issue.

I already run on bad pavement and cement barefoot, so I'm not worried about that part, either. I am nervous about the trail part - it's not only rutted packed dirt, but it's also narrow. What if other runners step on my feet? What if I have to jump to the side to allow someone through and there are blackberry brambles there? Oy...maybe this is a bad idea. Maybe I should give my VFF's a try.

One guy was wearing VFF's last week, but I couldn't find him afterward to ask his experience. I don't think my VFF's fit well enough to run in. They are kind of large around the heel area (I needed a bigger size because of my super wide feet) so I think they might rub and blister. My injini socks don't fit real well in the toes either - too cramped - so I have to wear them without socks. Mine are sprints and I tried on classics at REI and they fit better, but I don't have the $75 to spare for a second pair (yet).

You are right though - I need to try the trail with my VFF's on. That would be a smart thing to test out.

[colby]

Yeah, I'm not sure about hot pavement as well. I know that you can build up to it as we used to have to as kids on hot sand, but I have no idea how long it took. The pavement part of the route will be in the shade though (I did pay attention to that) so heat shouldn't be an issue.

I already run on bad pavement and cement barefoot, so I'm not worried about that part, either. I am nervous about the trail part - it's not only rutted packed dirt, but it's also narrow. What if other runners step on my feet? What if I have to jump to the side to allow someone through and there are blackberry brambles there? Oy...maybe this is a bad idea. Maybe I should give my VFF's a try.

One guy was wearing VFF's last week, but I couldn't find him afterward to ask his experience. I don't think my VFF's fit well enough to run in. They are kind of large around the heel area (I needed a bigger size because of my super wide feet) so I think they might rub and blister. My injini socks don't fit real well in the toes either - too cramped - so I have to wear them without socks. Mine are sprints and I tried on classics at REI and they fit better, but I don't have the $75 to spare for a second pair (yet).

You are right though - I need to try the trail with my VFF's on. That would be a smart thing to test out.

I have mixed results running in mine barefoot, I think it comes down to distance, speed, and terrain, along with the fit (of course). I ran in my KSOs once barefoot (concrete/asphalt) and did intervals for 5-6 miles, my feet were marked up on top and bottom on my left foot (wider than my right). Not blisters, more specific (and painful, never again, but maybe if I built up tougher skin there I could take it). I ran a sprint in my Sprints (how appropriate) a couple of weeks ago barefoot and my feet weren't marked up in that way at all. I did have blister-like rubbing, but no different than wearing running shoes with wet-ish feet. I of course had sand in my shoes and my feet were wet. :P

My KSOs are one size bigger than my sprints in mens sizes - I intended to wear the KSOs for distance/running, the sprints for daily wear but I can't run in my running shoes anymore so I sometimes use my sprints. For shoes that were built to be used barefoot, they sure don't seem very well thought through inside (we'll pretend you can't get blisters or hurt your feet, it'll be MAGIC!). I have not tried running barefoot in my Bikila yet, they are womens sized and one size bigger than my KSOs numerically (M39 KSO, M38 Sprint, W40 Bikila). The Bikila are lined inside more like a sock liner so I'm hoping I can run in them barefoot for longer distance, and that the padding will help with running on concrete (the Seattle Marathon has many concrete miles, sigh).

Shade is good. You should be fine on the asphalt, then. Just remember your running posture, sometimes in races I fall back to bad habits as I'm still developing new ones.

So, I'm kind of thinking a few different directions. Maybe if you're uncomfortable being barefoot, you'll overthink things and be too cautious. On the other hand, you won't really know until you try it, and this is a good distance to do something like that. You could try running it in your VFFs if you walk it and decide it's too iffy. You could try running part of it barefoot or in your VFFs ahead of time and see if you can tolerate either of those two. You do have two weeks, so if you can run this course a few times barefoot and/or in VFFs before then, you can learn something about it - and be more confident.

[Tri Girl]

The biggest problem I think would be that when pavement gets hot, it's HOT. I can feel hot pavement through my VFFs and socks, and when walking barefoot have had to put them back on because it was too hot.

I've discovered that this week. So far I've pretty much spent the summer on the treadmill (my longest run in recent weeks being 10 dreadful miles inside), but this week I've been running in the VFF's outside. OH MY- my feet get so hot!!! Not so bad on the trails in the shade, but even then the dirt can be pretty hot.
I'm training for a 24 hour trail race in late October, so being on the trail is better for me anyway.

QUESTION:
I'm noticing the balls of my feet are getting tender when I run. Do you think I can put something on the ball of my feet (moleskin or something) to cushion it? I've never blistered in my running shoes before, but I'm getting blisters with the VFF's.

When the Bikilas come out, it looks like I'll be investing in my 3rd pair of VFFs. I *LOVE* them oh so much. My VFF's are my BFF's.

[Jolt]

I did some real barefoot running today and it felt great! I was at my church's summer camp and alternated swimming with running laps around the dirt/gravel (think river gravel, not sharp crushed stone) road through the camp. I did two miles total of running (one mile at a time) and could have done more but had to go somewhere.

[colby]

I've discovered that this week. So far I've pretty much spent the summer on the treadmill (my longest run in recent weeks being 10 dreadful miles inside), but this week I've been running in the VFF's outside. OH MY- my feet get so hot!!! Not so bad on the trails in the shade, but even then the dirt can be pretty hot.
I'm training for a 24 hour trail race in late October, so being on the trail is better for me anyway.

QUESTION:
I'm noticing the balls of my feet are getting tender when I run. Do you think I can put something on the ball of my feet (moleskin or something) to cushion it? I've never blistered in my running shoes before, but I'm getting blisters with the VFF's.

When the Bikilas come out, it looks like I'll be investing in my 3rd pair of VFFs. I *LOVE* them oh so much. My VFF's are my BFF's.

I'm glad I'm not the only one with the hot feet. The closest I get to blistering in mine barefoot (and I guess even with socks) is below my toes and I've thought about bodyglide or something on the inside of the shoe to reduce some of the friction with the spots inside the shoe where the fabric meets the interior. I think I would protect against blisters the same way you would in shoes, moleskin or taping, keeping the feet clean and soft (though I guess not TOO soft ).

I have a pair of the Bikila, they are comfy inside, and built a little different (other than the harder sole), more like they were intended to be worn for running without socks. They are harder to put on than the KSOs, but I have put a ton of miles on my KSOs so I'm sure they're quite worn in. I hope to run in the Bikila this week. I can't race triathlons in them, but I hope to wear them for just running. They are also white and someone already reported your feet don't get as wet running through surface water in them, so maybe they'll pass less heat on, too.

[KnottedYet]

I do all my barefoot stuff on grass or dirt trails, so I'd never thought about the heat factor on asphalt. Hot dirt feels good on my feet, but considering my trails are in damp cedar and fir forests, even sunny patches of dirt aren't all that hot.

I'm a heat wimp. I'll just keep running in sandals when I go on concrete and asphalt. I really have no desire to run barefoot on man-made surfaces. I'm not only a heat wimp, I'm also a concrete wimp. But I do walk on crushed gravel to get my feet tougher... <roars and pounds chest like Tarzan>

[katluvr]

I was a bit surprise that I rubbed a place on my heel and my arch of my foot had a tender spot. I was hoping NOT to have feet issues w/ the VFFs.
I have not run in them since (I have not run at all d/t work schedule!)

I'll try again later this week. Mix things up a bit.

And my toes do have "lines" on them when I take them up, leave impressions (does that make sense). They are tight little boogers! (sp??)

K

[TsPoet]

I was a bit surprise that I rubbed a place on my heel and my arch of my foot had a tender spot. I was hoping NOT to have feet issues w/ the VFFs.
I have not run in them since (I have not run at all d/t work schedule!)

K

here's a post by a guy with a similar issue, and about his fix for it.

http://birthdayshoes.com/vibram-five...ics-vs-bikilas

As to the tender spot, it'll likely go away when your feet get used to using their muscles.

[GLC1968]

Acorns hurt. That is all.

[sarahspins]

I am not a runner but I wanted to add my 2¢ in here about the VFF Bikilas.. I finally got a pair, and I originally thought these would be neat due to the extra tread.. and offer a little more protection from the crazy hot pavement we get here in TX, except that they don't even come *close* to fitting me - I can't even get them on my feet I can just barely get my KSO's on (I eventually cut a slit in the top so I could get them on easier - it doesn't seem to effect the performance of those), so I knew to order a size up (my KSO's are a size smaller than my classics) and even with that, there's just no way I can get my feet in these... there's no stretch in the material, and I'm not willing to cut a brand new pair of VFF's for the sake of "maybe" being able to put them on, so I'm sending them back

Very disappointing.. my classics in 39 are on the verge of being too big, so trying a 40 is really out of the question - they'd be much too big and I'm not convinced it would really give any more space in the instep area.

[KnottedYet]

Sarahspins, can you just run or walk barefoot on grass?

After all, that's what "barefoot running" is all about.
I prefer to run on grass and dirt barefoot, and in Chaco Z1 or Z2 sandals on asphalt.

(and I would never consider running in my sandals "barefoot" running. That's shod running.)

VFF just don't fit me, and I tried them a few years ago and do realize there are more models now. But I've run barefoot my whole life and don't really have a desire to wear VFF anyway.

[jessmarimba]

Sarahspins, slightly off-topic, but how did you even get a pair of Bikilas without trying them on? Not being snotty, I just want some and supposedly they aren't available online.

[colby]

Sarahspins, slightly off-topic, but how did you even get a pair of Bikilas without trying them on? Not being snotty, I just want some and supposedly they aren't available online.

I bought mine on zbsports.com back when a big lot of them came in. Kayak shed, zbsports, and city sports are the 3 reliable places I've bought stuff that do carry Vibrams. (REI too but I don't think they have Bikilas)

The way I understand it is that a store can only carry them online if they carry them in a physical storefront too.

[TsPoet]

Sarahspins, slightly off-topic, but how did you even get a pair of Bikilas without trying them on? Not being snotty, I just want some and supposedly they aren't available online.

Got mine from City Sports. They are the hardest to put on of all of the styles that I have (Treks, KSO, Sprints, Bikilas).