I recently read the book of the same name and found it really interesting and I am now curious and wondering if anyone here runs barefoot or with 'barefoot shoes'?
Personally I hate walking barefoot but the sections (admittedly lightweight) that cover anatomy and evolution are very interesting and appear to make sense, to a non-scientist.
I will hang on to my traditional shoes but the book has made me question my technique.
I've been wearing barefoot shoes full time since 2012, having taken about six months to adapt. As I only started running in 2020, I've never run in any other type of shoe.
I have done some true no-shoes runs too, most notably the Coldham's Common parkrun in Cambridge last August Bank Holiday weekend. (It's almost all grass.)
Hi BahamaMama, I've run a fair bit without any shoes; I like it better than walking barefoot - because when I walk, my heel touches the ground first and when I run, it's the ball of my feet. Running without any shoes feels a lot lighter (and thus easier) to me than with shoes (though I've never tried the "barefoot shoes"). I also prefer trails rather than paved roads, because part of the appeal, for me, is the rich sensory input from feeling the ground. Forest trails (especially with pine needles!) are great, as is smooth rock (hot asphalt and gravel are not!). Even though the beach is the one place where adults feel okay taking off their shoes, sand and especially wet sand is quite abrasive... Keep your eyes open, and don't run truly barefoot where you can't see the ground...
I'm trying to gradually harden my soles so that gravel is less of a pain (literally).
Rolled asphalt is great as it has negative texture, but high friction asphalt or surface dressing (tar laid with loose chippings) is not. Concrete paving stones can be nice too.
I'm running on a treadmill right now. I actually ran up until about week 5 totally barefoot. I did try one run with my old running shoes (from about 12 years ago!) but it felt really awkward and unnatural. I don't think it helped that the treadmill is at a fixed incline so hard not to heel strike.
I'm now running in some barefoot shoes and it feels great. I didn't use any adjustment period but I spend most of my time in the house barefoot so maybe I didn't need it. I have read quite a few articles about them so there are lots of tips and advice to be found. My only concern is how quickly they will wear out with the thin soles but we will see!
I haven't tried them outside for running yet although I hope to transition to running outside when I have a solid habit. The treadmill is just much easier for me currently with 4 kids and no freedom to just pop out alone most of the time!
Just out of curiosity, which type of barefoot shoes? I'm pretty much 99% in Vibram FiveFingers (the ones with individual toes).
I wear Vibram five fingers to walk in, but because I pronate sooooo badly, in the days when I did run, I had to wear specialist shoes otherwise after just a few minutes I got excruicating calf pain.
I love my Vibram's but you do get really funny looks from some folk I've noticed 😂😂😂
The funny thing is that I used to have totally flat feet. Orthotic insoles, the lot. I have hypermobility.
After 6 months of wearing Vibrams I had an obvious arch when stepping out of a shower.
I've not needed my insoles for over ten years. No pains at all. However it was eight years before I took up running.
What did happen was when I was finishing C25K I didn't yet have the ankle stability and I gave myself an ankle sprain. Physio fixed that, and I've never had ankle problems since.
I no longer care what people think of my footwear choice. The funny thing is the first question asked is invariably, "Are those shoes comfortable?"
🍏you have raised some intriguing discussion. I have no thoughts of running barefoot but am going to read the book! Thanks for writing in!!!
Tried barefoot shoes (Xero) for knee pain a few years ago. Now wear them all the time and find them the most comfortable things ever.
I have no idea where I'd even run barefoot - apart from round the garden! I did buy some barefoot shoes a few years back and wore them for a week or so before my holiday, then for two weeks away. I did a lot of trail walking and the shoes were utter rubbish and basically disintegrated. I'd been detailed when buying them, saying exactly what I planned on using them for and was told they'd be ideal. They weren't. I got a full refund. I confess I've not gone back to them, though the initial experience of being more in touch with the ground was lovely.
Thank you all for your views and responses - I am still curious but cautious 😆
I use Saguaro barefoot shoes for occasional running. To be honest, what first made me want them was taking up less space in a suitcase as im away a lot. I find they are great and that I seem better in them on uneven surfaces. I haven't gone much over 6 or 7k in them though and started off with much shorter distances.
I fell into barefoot/minimalist running shoes from my first pair... by chance: I was looking for shoes with other criteria. So there was no adjustment for me to make (prior to that I was running in light walking boots)
My worst shoes have been when I have strayed away from that. I think I need to feel the ground when I am running. I have always avoided tarmac and pavements and I am not sure barefoot would be so sustainable for long on those surfaces (especially with the aging process reducing the padding on the soles of the feet)
True barefoot (ie no shoes at all) is not an option for me, not even around the house as I have an old toe injury which has to be protected - although I am reminded we're coming up to #30DaysWild and I always include walking on grass as one of my activities.
barefoot running - any tips?
Barefoot Parkwalk
Using C25K to start Barefoot Running Form in Brooks PureDrift
Anyone ever run barefoot?
