The Barefoot Runner
September 19, 2008 by Jacquie
Filed under Advise & Opinions, General, Running Interest Stories
For the past couple years, everytime I run my beach route, I run into the barefoot runner running along the grass. To me, he doesn’t really look like a runner - if one can stereotype what a runner is supposed to look like, so when I first saw him I thought it was just something that he was trying out. I really thought that the poor fellow is going to hurt himself and that he should get some shoes on. Well, I’ve been running into him for at least two years now - I no longer think that it’s something that he’s just trying out. I still think that he might hurt himself though - but not biomechanically, but by stepping on a piece of glass or something.
When I looked into barefoot running a bit more, it seems that it’s more popular than I would have thought. There is a whole society of barefoot runners.
What’s the attraction?
Apparently, lose the shoes and get back to your body’s natural biomechanics. The thinking behind running shoes, whether they are stability, cushioned or neutral is that they offer too much support, which makes the muscles and neuromuscular pathways of the foot and ankle weak. When barefoot we use our muscles in our feet for our balance. Try performing some indoor exercises with and without your sneakers on and you will feel the difference for yourself. When barefoot, your feet do the work - controlling your movements. And it’s amazing how much work your feet actually do. When wearing running shoes, the support that the runners provide do the work for you.
Sound appealing? If so, you can get more information from runningbarefoot.org.
Barefoot Ted on Fri, 19th Sep 2008 9:24 am
I am a barefoot runner and enjoyed reading your article.
I happen to live in a barefoot running paradise in Southern California near Burbank. I am planning on starting some barefoot running (and minimalist shoe) camps.
I think all serious runners need to take some time to investigate barefoot running, ideally through experience.
Best Regards, Barefoot Ted
thinnmann on Fri, 19th Sep 2008 10:06 am
Shoes are overrated!
Barefoot ken Bob on Mon, 22nd Sep 2008 7:16 am
Nice little post about Running Barefoot. Certainly not comprehensive (and I wouldn’t expect it to be), but I would like to see some mention of the benefit of feedback -being able to feel precisly how our feet are interacting with the running surface, and how this affects the way we run.
Have fun
Larry on Mon, 22nd Sep 2008 9:24 am
Hey,
There is more to this barefooting thing than one might think. Not only does it help you run biomechanically correct, its a lot more fun than running in plain ol running shoes. You actually enjoy most of the sensations you encounter barefoot. Like adding another dimension of sensory imput to the running experience, bare souls open the runner up to the world beneath our feet. And yes, there is glass and thorns, but that is what eyes are for- you try not to step there.
robbyh on Mon, 22nd Sep 2008 10:30 am
Running barefoot the best thing I have ever done.
I would start jogging to work up to running and every time I would start having chin splints problems. Started running barefoot in May of 08 and have not had any chin splint problems.
Karin on Mon, 22nd Sep 2008 2:46 pm
Barefoot running is the best thing I have done for my running. Not only am I now injury free, an added bonus is I am faster - still not fast but less slow.
Barefoot Karin
TigerPaw on Mon, 22nd Sep 2008 4:02 pm
I gave up running shoes about two years ago. Barefoot running has strengthened my feet/ankles beyond anything I thought possible. I would recommend barefoot running for anybody.
Jacquie Barry on Mon, 22nd Sep 2008 7:26 pm
Wow - the comments have been great - thanks everybody. How do you sidestep debris that may be harmful to your feet? Do you try to stick to softer surfaces?
Jacquie
mokagee on Mon, 22nd Sep 2008 8:31 pm
Barefoot running is the real deal, best thing that ever happened to my running hands down.
Avoiding debris is usually easy your mind adjusts your path to miss the debris without a lot of effort similar to when you drive to miss potholes etc…also there is a lot less debris than most people realize anyway.
I only ran on soft surfaces like grass in the very beginning, smooth level pavement is the easiest to run on, i like easy woodland trails with few rocks also…i suspect many barefoot runners would feel the same way.
Ryan Whitaker on Tue, 23rd Sep 2008 8:10 am
I am 54, almost 55 years old. I switched over to barefoot running four years ago and have never looked back! For me, it was a bad case of plantar faciitis that just wouldn’t go away. I have been running my entire life, and the PF had dropped me down to zero-running. It was like a nightmare come true.
I always felt that running was supposed to be natural, so I rebelled against any idea that suggested I “buy-and-try” something to correct the PF. I couldn’t justify paying money for experiments or failing ideas.
So I read about running barefoot and how it corrects foot/ankle/knee/hip/back problems. The price was right so in August, 2000 I launched my new running career. My PF disappeared, my mileage slowly climbed, and my joy of running blossomed.
Now I run about 3 times per week, from 4 to 10 miles each time. I run on asphalt, cement, grass, sand, anywhere I used to run with shoes on. I also run year-round, winter included. Glass? There’s just not that much of it out there, its easy to avoid stepping on, and with my new, improved running form, its not a problem even if I do step on it!
My PF never came back, by the way. My feet, arches, and ankles have strengthened. My smiles have gotten broader and more frequent.
Is running barefoot for everyone? Who knows? I think its worth it for me, and maybe many other people as well.
Ryan Whitaker - Vancouver, Washington
Sharon on Wed, 24th Sep 2008 3:07 pm
I’m fairly new at barefoot running, started several months ago because of knee and hip pain. I had tender feet for a few weeks, but my knee and hip pain was absent FROM THE FIRST TIME I ran without shoes! I find road debris easy to avoid, and the few times I miss and step on it, if I keep my foot relaxed, it doesn’t hurt. I love it, now I dislike wearing shoes.
Jacquie Barry on Fri, 26th Sep 2008 10:18 am
That was a good analogy comparing the side-stepping debris with swerving in your car to avoid a pothole. I am so convinced to give barefoot running a go. Since we live near the beach, I think I may have a go on the sand first.
It is getting into the cooler weather season though - don’t your feet get cold?
Ryan Whitaker on Fri, 26th Sep 2008 3:40 pm
I had to comment on the “cold feet” question. Of course, I’m lucky to live where it rarely gets below freezing, which helps. One of the truly nice features of running barefoot in the winter is how the feet compensate. My circulation increases in my feet. They don’t as cold as you’d think while running, and they warm up very quickly afterwards.
The other astounding thing is how exposing my feet to the cold by running barefoot seems to re-set my body’s “thermostat.” During the winter, my body kicks into a higher metabolism level and just stays warmer all the time. I rarely turn my home’s thermostat above 60 degrees, and I rarely wear a coat outside. Its wonderful!
Ryan