Running barefoot

toots99

I've heard of running barefoot before, and how in some cases it'd better than running with shoes on.

Over the last week or so, I've seen the same guy running barefoot a few times. I don't know how he does it, aren't his feet killing him?! I know you build up calluses and all, but still! And his feet were black! :laugh: It looked so unusual. I'd be afraid of stepping on glass and bugs! (The trail I saw him on yesterday is full of bugs and since it's Texas, they're GIANT! :laugh: )

amandalc980

Have you seen the toe shoes? Like the toe socks, but they are shoes? My coworker LOVES them. He does all his hiking and running with them, expect on the beach. He said they weren't comfy with the sand.

Chenoachem

I run barefoot and minimalist. Yes your feet get dirty, but you can wash them. If you build up the pads of your feet, you wouldn't feel the glass, pebbles or even cactus thorns. Most of the time they don't even cut you. It takes time to build up, just like any form of running does. But it allows your body to move the way it was meant to and the way it is forced to.

Chenoachem

Have you seen the toe shoes? Like the toe socks, but they are shoes? My coworker LOVES them. He does all his hiking and running with them, expect on the beach. He said they weren't comfy with the sand.

They are called Vibram Five Fingers and they are awesome for hiking.

danibabs

I also LOVE the toe shoes, and used to have a pair but had to switch cause I have some arch issues.
A friend of mine is a physical therapist though and in regards to the running barefoot trend, she said that running barefoot would be good for you if we hadn't had hundreds of years of conditioning our feet to wear shoes. Basically our feet have "gone soft" and unless you are barefoot all the time, running barefoot puts strains and stresses on your feet that they aren't used to and can cause injury.

Grokette

Have you seen the toe shoes? Like the toe socks, but they are shoes? My coworker LOVES them. He does all his hiking and running with them, expect on the beach. He said they weren't comfy with the sand.

They are called Vibram Five Fingers and they are awesome for hiking.

I have a pair and I love them too!!!

toots99

Have you seen the toe shoes? Like the toe socks, but they are shoes? My coworker LOVES them. He does all his hiking and running with them, expect on the beach. He said they weren't comfy with the sand.

They are called Vibram Five Fingers and they are awesome for hiking.

There are a couple guys at my gym who wear them. I'd try them, but I don't like the feeling of things between my toes. :laugh:

Navie42

Word to the wise: start slow and small! I was on holiday visiting my parents and thought I'd use the gym at my mom's condo. I didn't bring gym shoes with me on holiday, so I figured I'd walk on the treadmill barefoot. The next day I couldn't walk, I had HUGE liquid filled blisters COVERING the bottoms of my feet. And that was just after two miles on the treadmill! Will never repeat.

LittleSpy

I have the Vibram FiveFingers shoes ("toe shoes" ) and I do like them, but my personal favorite minimalist shoe are New Balance 100s.

My toes disagree with the Vibrams a bit and although they've been great, I hate the attention they draw. So, I wear NB 100s at the gym & running/walking on populated public trails & the FiveFingers in other situations (mostly just for hiking and not running now).