Natural/Barefoot Running???

Joggers tend to strike their heels heavily on the ground, making use of the heels of conventional running shoes. Despite the cushioned heel of the shoe, joggers send a shock through the heel, knee, hip and spine of the quantity of 2-3 times their body weight with every step. This causes the majority of running “overuse injuries”, also called “repetitive strain injuries”.

from http://www.heelless.co.uk/

this is the case for me as I have a lower back injury that is aggrivated when running on the heel .

I have been able to jog with out back pain using the heel-less method and am in the process of build up my distances as I reduce my weight.

Hope this helps you

I purchased a pair of vibram's about 4 months ago and am still not up to running in them. As of now, I do my cardio routine at the gym in them (arc trainer, strength training) and walking in them. You need to be very slow and cautious as you build up your foot muscles with these shoes. It is so easy to hurt yourself when you aren't strong enough to run in the barefoot way. However, I just ran a 10 mile race in nike frees, which were fantastic. I think the Nike Free (Mine are the 3s) are a great transition into barefoot running. They aren't as severe as typical running shoes yet support your feet much more than vibrams. Good luck! I will never, EVER lace up my old running shoes again!

Maybe build up your running muscles first and then transition to bare/nearly-bare feet.

A runner with bare feet passed me on the sidewalk the other day during my noon time constitutional. I wanted to stop him and question him but he was moving pretty fast!

I guess our ancestors pretty much ran barefoot their whole lives, but there was no pavement in those days. If there's a dirt path or a field with short, soft grass for you to run in, that might be easier on your joints than asphalt or concrete. A beach would be nice, too.

I plan to do more running as I get lighter. For now, elliptical cross trainer does the trick.

My husband and I went to a running store and got fitted for some aloes last year. His intentions were to start the c25k, but he were both out with shin splints not long after! I only did evening walks and some light jogging, but got shin splints.

6 months later, after continually trying to heal and run, we bought some vibrams. I'm just about to finish week two pain free! I run a little part of my route on concrete, but mostly on grass and dirt. I love it! There is an adjustment period, so I wore them while I was outside with the kids playing a bit. Also, if you go barefoot in your home, you'll adjust more quickly. I think starting c25k was a perfect pace to start wearing them!

Give it a try!

I was looking at Reebok Realflex shoes. And, if I do run the "natural" way as my normal running and don't reall do a heel strike I wonder if I would be O.K. purchasing the Reeboks. Since I am just starting out running,
I will report back tomorrow on how I run after I go tonight.

i meant to mention the adjustment period too, sorry! it'll depend on the extent that you have to alter your form.

i believe barefoot devotees are inclined to advise people to go fully barefoot because any imperfections in form become immediately apparent and your progress is limited by how quickly your feet can toughen up. minimalist shoes allow folk to skip the feet-toughening part, get away with slightly dodgy form and do too much too soon - a really common way to get injured. if you naturally run with appropriate form and you've already got strong legs, you shouldn't have such a difficult time getting used to it

i had to spend a few weeks running laps of a grassy cricket pitch in tiny burts, then did the first few weeks of c25k on it before i started c25k again on pavement. been fine since, although my calves are still my limiting factor because they were horrendously weak - your milage may vary!

One last thing, I too thought grass, and "softer" areas would be better to start out in, but quickly learned, dry ground is hard, and running on pavement was no big deal, and actually let me see small rocks/pebbles so I could avoid them easier than when they are hiding in the grass.

I agree. I usually slow down in the grass because I am wary of stepping on things that hurt or in holes. On pavement I can go full bore because I can see what's there. Pavement also offers a firm surface for the elastic properties of the tendons to rebound against.

I am the Co-Fonder of Run Free SD, a group of individuals in the San Diego area that are dedicated to barefoot or minmalist style running. I have been running in VFF KSO's for almost two years now and run further and faster than I have ever been able to in the past with regular shoes. The most important thing to remember is give your feet muscles time to grow. Your feet have been shielded and "supported" for so many years that they have had no reason to grown any real muscle. Once you get through the "growth pains" and the blisters have grown and long hardened any terrain will be your best friend. Running long distances will become enjoyable and liberating. The benefits of mid foot striking are unvbelievable and once you have it down joint pain "should" be a thing of the past. When in full barefoot running shape it doesn't really matter how hard or soft the terrain is because you have taught yourself how to run and use your foot and leg MUSCLES (vs. joints) to absorb that shock, and what happens when you use your muscles? They get stronger! vs. when you use your joints they only get more and more weak. Finally, my own personal opinion is that Vibram Five Fingers should only be used for running or aerobic style workouts. Weight lifting in VFF's is not only pointless but could be dangerous if a person at the gym happens to drop a weight on your foot! So be cautious when exercising barefoot, but not to the point where you are not willing to work through the pain. The benefits are long term and amazing! Check out the FB page below if you live within the San Diego area and want to meet up with us for one of our weekly runs:

www.facebook.com/runfreesd

Geo

I am the Co-Fonder of Run Free SD, a group of individuals in the San Diego area that are dedicated to barefoot or minmalist style running. I have been running in VFF KSO's for almost two years now and run further and faster than I have ever been able to in the past with regular shoes. The most important thing to remember is give your feet muscles time to grow. Your feet have been shielded and "supported" for so many years that they have had no reason to grown any real muscle. Once you get through the "growth pains" and the blisters have grown and long hardened any terrain will be your best friend. Running long distances will become enjoyable and liberating. The benefits of mid foot striking are unvbelievable and once you have it down joint pain "should" be a thing of the past. When in full barefoot running shape it doesn't really matter how hard or soft the terrain is because you have taught yourself how to run and use your foot and leg MUSCLES (vs. joints) to absorb that shock, and what happens when you use your muscles? They get stronger! vs. when you use your joints they only get more and more weak. Finally, my own personal opinion is that Vibram Five Fingers should only be used for running or aerobic style workouts. Weight lifting in VFF's is not only pointless but could be dangerous if a person at the gym happens to drop a weight on your foot! So be cautious when exercising barefoot, but not to the point where you are not willing to work through the pain. The benefits are long term and amazing! Check out the FB page below if you live within the San Diego area and want to meet up with us for one of our weekly runs:

www.facebook.com/runfreesd

Geo

THIS!!!!!