barefoot running

[msquared]

For a couple years now I've been keeping in shape, both at the gym and with regular gigs as a drummer. A new child in April and a job change in January have meant no gigging and no regular workout schedule at all this year. I need to get into something again, and it occurs to me that I'd like to try running.

I came across this link about barefoot running a while back and it pretty much convinced me that I should give it a shot, even if it doesn't end up being a regular thing.

If you've ever done this I'd love to hear about any experiences or tips you may have to share.

[TheDarkReaver]

I'd go outside barefoot more, if it I wasn't sure to step on glass or something round the city.

[Marley's Ghost]

I run about 15 miles a week. I tried barefoot running on the beach about 5 years ago. My calfs hurt for about a week. I went back to sneakers. Maybe if you are young and lightweight it might work.

[Relic]

Is there really such a problem with unhealthy feet these days where shoes = bad?
I think you're better off running with some sort of lightweight flexible athletic shoe, this way you wont be down for the count if/when you step on something nasty.

Ironically, when I was a kid we were always barefoot, even in the woods and such. I remember being able to walk on gravel driveways and not even wince.

[enyapj18]

If you are going to run barefoot I'd start out on natural terrain before running on pavement. Even though your feet were made for barefoot travel if you've been wearing shoes your whole life you'll have to build some of those muscles and calluses back up.

If you run barefoot you’ll also need to be more mindful of your foot falls. You don’t want to be sidelined because you stepped on a piece of broken glass or a nail.

Also, some shoe companies make running shoes that mimic the movement of a bare foot like the Nike Free 5.

[PSPookie]

Originally Posted by enyapj18

Also, some shoe companies make running shoes that mimic the movement of a bare foot like the Nike Free 5.

I was just thinking the same thing.

I would give these a try first.

[msquared]

Yeah, I agree about the trail/track debris being an issue. Luckily when you're running in suburban midwest neighborhoods (at least in mine) you don't have to worry about it so much. If I get into it I will most likely pick up a set of Vibram FiveFingers shoes as my distance increases.

I imagine I'll start out by doing a lot of barefoot walking around my block to build the calluses. I already go without shoes for most of the day (no shoes in the house or at work - I love working in IT) so the muscles and the stride are there already.

[spade2you]

I dunno, running with good shoes isn't exactly "easy" on the knees. I'm a light weight, but probably wouldn't try running barefoot.

[Petary791]

Get these, they're badass. I have a pair.

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/pro...cts_sprint.cfm

Very very comfortable and I even longboard in them.

[playinpearls]

i dont even run around my house without socks on....i couldn't imagine going for a run without anything....

one pebble and i'd be done...

[machine gewehr]

Originally Posted by Petary791

Get these, they're badass. I have a pair.

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/pro...cts_sprint.cfm

Very very comfortable and I even longboard in them.

Seems like a good idea.Lately my feet hurt no matter which shoe I wear,I started hating walking which was a big part of my life.

But,do these come in uglier shapes?

[Tsal]

Originally Posted by machine gewehr

But,do these come in uglier shapes?

I kinda like how those look. But, there are other manufacturers with products that look less like gloves. Can't remember the names, though.

[Ívar Þórólfsson]

I've seen on the net shoes from Terra Plana called Vivo barefoot.

Look nice, I wouldn't mind trying them out.

[MAJOR METAL]

From what I am told this is just about as close as you can get to running barefoot http://www.teva.com/ProductDetails.a...del=Terra+Fi+2

[g00eY]

I love running barefoot on a good football field or astroturf. My school is getting astroturf over the winter, so that's going to be amazing for track season.

I use to be a cross country runner and whenever we ran strides on the football field, I would run barefoot. Now that I've switched to shorter stuff (pole vault) I don't get many opportunities to run strides.

[msquared]

Originally Posted by spade2you

I dunno, running with good shoes isn't exactly "easy" on the knees. I'm a light weight, but probably wouldn't try running barefoot.

That's the interesting thing about the article in the first post. It contends that since your feet have so many nerve endings which are tied in with the rest of your body, running with shoes on is actually short-circuiting your body's natural ability to keep itself injury free. So allegedly it's easier on the knees to run barefoot than it is to run with good shoes on.

Thanks for the posts on other shoes to check out, everyone.

[spade2you]

Originally Posted by msquared

That's the interesting thing about the article in the first post. It contends that since your feet have so many nerve endings which are tied in with the rest of your body, running with shoes on is actually short-circuiting your body's natural ability to keep itself injury free. So allegedly it's easier on the knees to run barefoot than it is to run with good shoes on.

Thanks for the posts on other shoes to check out, everyone.

I'll give 'em the better circulation theory, but impact is impact and your knees absorb the brunt of it.

[Ívar Þórólfsson]

Originally Posted by msquared

That's the interesting thing about the article in the first post. It contends that since your feet have so many nerve endings which are tied in with the rest of your body, running with shoes on is actually short-circuiting your body's natural ability to keep itself injury free. So allegedly it's easier on the knees to run barefoot than it is to run with good shoes on.

Thanks for the posts on other shoes to check out, everyone.

Yup, it says in the article that when you are wearing shoes with all that extra padding, air cushions etc. you actually hit the ground with more force. A study said that the stress on the knees is actually 12% less without shoes.

You walk/run completely differently with shoes on, the heel takes most of the force, without shoes it is a whole another story. You walk/run with a completely different style. It's all explained in the article in a much more elegant manner than my word garble here.

[msquared]

Originally Posted by spade2you

I'll give 'em the better circulation theory, but impact is impact and your knees absorb the brunt of it.

The question is, are they supposed to?

[spade2you]

Originally Posted by msquared

The question is, are they supposed to?

Kinda unavoidable.