Anyone tried "barefoot" running?

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/30/are-barefoot-shoes-really-better/

I will give you my personel experience:

I am a 38 YO, 200+ lb runner. I had major reconstructive knee in 1999 and I am in the Army. I've run several 1/2 marathons and 1/2 IMs. I started wearing Vibrams about 2.5 years ago and now I run exclusively in minimalist shoes. I can tell you it has made a ton of difference for me. I attempted to run in coventional shoes about a month ago and had noticiable knee pain after only 3 miles.

The philosophy that a minimalist shoe encourages runners to run naturally and that conventiaonal shoes encourage a heal strike has beared out for me.

HOWEVER, I caution you with this, I bought vibrams and walked around in them for a couple of months before I started running in them, and I eased into wearing them full time for over a year. If you rush into them then you risk achilles/calf injuries. You really need to ease into these shows...Remember when you heal strike, you absorb most of the impact in your joints hence the need for severely padded shoes. If you run more forefoot, your muscles, calves, hams, quads absorb the impact, how god intended. But for most we are not accustomed to this and need to retrain our bodies to work this way. It takes time...

I AM NOT A RUNNER

I just wanted to make that clear.

However, I love my Vibram's. I have a "five finger tattoo," aka a very clear tan line that exposes my lily white toes when i wear open shoes. I have an every day pair and a pair with a strap for sailing and other water sports. As for the breaking in, there are only a couple of months here where I can't wear them, and I still get blisters when I break them out again each year. It is always "hey, look, it's a nice day, let's go for a hike!" "OK, let me dig out my Vibram's. Every. Single. Spring. Please, be smarter than I and learn from my mistakes.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/30/are-barefoot-shoes-really-better/

The study switched the group directly to Vibram's without any transition. This should never be attempted. You go from regular running shoes to typical minimalist shoes first to promote a forefoot strike. After an adjustment period you can then slowly transition to Vibrams.

I don't run "barefoot", but I do run barefoot - on sidewalks id they are smooth enough and certainly on the beach - when the tide has just gone out is best so the sand is firm.

I used to run with conventional shoes but always suffered knee pains. Now I run bare-footed the only limitation is if I develop a hot spot - usually on concrete but never on sand.

I can't speak for minimalist shoes - I don't use them.

Let me preference this with the fact that I "dislike" running/jogging, but I will be continuing to do it at least through the beginning on May :-)

I bought my first pair of Vibram KSO's about 3 years ago when I was still around 280ish pounds. At the time I had seen an article online talking about modern shoes perhaps causing more problems than they solve in regards to a person's gait. I myself at the time was loosing weight, but found that walking or even using the elliptical for extends periods of time was causing me middle to upper back pain/fatigue and I decided to invest in a pair of barefoot shoes to see if it would help any (and cause me to enjoy cardio a bit more).

I would say within a month of "going barefoot" all my back discomfort disappeared (note: prior to this I was wearing your standard men's jogging shoes with tons of padding as well as raised heels).

Since then I have worn through my original pair of Vibram's and are now on my second pair of KSOs; While wearing them I have completed the Couch 2 5k program and routinely jog about a mile twice a week...

...And will be jogging the Color Me Rad 5K Run in May; after that though I plan on reverting back to using the elliptical/biking (As I said, I actually don't enjoy running).

I love running with vibrams. I got a pair last year and I feel they are lighter. Everyone is different, try it if you want, go to a good shoe store and see what kind of arch you have and if they would work for you.

I never have, I'm more of a walker. But, my Son does and he swears by them. He started wearing them in his first year in the Army and still does.I have to admit they look a little funny, but that's all he wears. I'd say go for it.

I got a pair on the clearance table at EMS this winter. I mostly got them for weight lifting, but I wore them when I went on vacation a few weeks ago and did a ton of walking in them, and they were super comfortable. I hadn't run in a while, but I decided to take them out for a test last week. I just ran about a mile and a half, since I knew that I'd be sore from not having run in so long. Normally when I run for the first time in a long time, I get a twinge on the side of my knee right away and shin splints the next day. This time, I didn't have any soreness at all. I'm going to ease into running a little bit longer a few times a week with no plans to wear any other shoes at this point.

My husband runs more than I do and got on the minimalist shoe kick after he read "Born to Run". He hasn't tried the toe-shoes, but he's done other kinds of minimalist shoes with mixed results.

And if you try Vibrams--the first few times you put them on will be awkward. Just getting the gist of positioning your feet and toes as you put them is tricky at first. After a few weeks, you'll be able to just pull them on as easily as any other sneaker. I got a blister under my big toe the first couple times I wore them (during an Insanity workout), but no issues since then.

My boyfriend swears by them! He has a weak ankle and would always roll it while running (Something about normal sneakers and the heal being to high). He had pretty much given up on running when he started playing with the minimilist and vibram toe shoes. It has helped strengthen his ankles and renewed his joy of running.

He did have to work up because it is tougher on your calves than if you were in "normal" shoes

The Vibrams gave me bad rub spots in many places doing 5 or more mile runs.

Prefer the Merrill Body Glove series as basically the same thing minus the toes but wide toe box, and a 1-2 mm rubber pad. Same Vibram sole though.

Sadly I have unequal leg length issue, so have to use full length shoe insert for runs over 3 miles or frequent runs, and that only works with a removable insole, so now doing 0-drop minimalist totally flexible Sketcher's GoBionics.

I had plantar injury for the longest, and it took orthotics in all shoes to finally recovery from it.

Then went barefoot as curious test. Felt great.
Started alternating with shoes running in same mid-foot strike and barefoot, and then switching to Vibram's.
Got up to 2 x weekly 6 miles in hr.
Used treadmill in winter and found one with minimal shock absorption (accidental, not purposeful) and pace increased at good HR.
Overdid it and sprained plantar, couldn't walk for 6 weeks. Took almost 1 year to come back.

Back to it, strong as ever, but more realistic. The minimalist shoes help, and have a 4mm drop Saucony Kirvana with much better padding for really long runs. Sketchers for up to half-marathon.