Minimalist or Barefoot Runners

gemiwing
gemiwing Posts: 1,525 Member
edited September 19 in Fitness and Exercise
Hello all,

Does anyone here do any barefoot or minimalist running?

I'm starting out and would love to meet more people who are into it!

Thanks!
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Replies

  • Chenoachem
    Chenoachem Posts: 1,758 Member
    My husband has researched it a lot but neither one of us do it. What do you think of it? Are you wearing the little padded feet shaped shoes or going barefoot?
  • gemiwing
    gemiwing Posts: 1,525 Member
    I've been training my feet and so far it's amazing.

    I can't afford any of the minimalist shoes right now- so I've taken a cheap pair of 'exercise' shoes from Target and removed the soles. There's maybe a few milimeters between me and the floor. I'm going to test them at the gym tonight.

    I've been walking and running through the house and it's liberating. lol. I feel like I'm a kid again and I could run forever!

    I can't wait until my endurance is higher so I can go for a nice long barefoot run :)


    Oh and here's an article on it from Runner's World- just in case anyone else is curious:
    http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-319--6728-0,00.html
  • annaliza
    annaliza Posts: 809
    I've never heard of it but I love going barefoot!! Have always been a barefoot kind of kid when I was growing up.

    Thanks for the article. I might try it one of these days but I don't have much of a place where it would be good. I run on the roads...I bet a beach or a trail would be great for that.

    Good luck on it. How far do you go when you run barefoot? Where do you usually run?
  • chrissyh
    chrissyh Posts: 8,235 Member
    Ouch! I am a whimp - I'll stick to my shoes!
  • gemiwing
    gemiwing Posts: 1,525 Member
    I'm just starting out so I don't go very far lol

    You don't land the same while barefoot/minimal as you do in heavily padded shoes so it doesn't matter what surface you run on. Most barefooters prefer running on a harder surface than a softer one.

    I'm working up my soles and have been walking on the sidewalks/grass/gravel for about a week. It's great so far- no problems. I live downtown and haven't really had any issues with cuts/etc. I just watch where I step.
  • PunkinHeadsMOMMA
    PunkinHeadsMOMMA Posts: 306
    I don't exactly run barefoot, but my feet are so callused they would be a pedicurests' nightmare. No matter how much I scrub I can never get them clean cuz they are so callused. Mostly from being barefoot in the house and out in my garden. Too many rocks to go running though. (I live in the mountains, Rocky mountains, hehe:laugh: ) Happy barefoot running....:happy:
  • gemiwing
    gemiwing Posts: 1,525 Member
    Minimal Running Update-

    It Was Awesome! I went twice as far as before and it was tons easier.

    Not saying this is for everyone- but boy howdy is it for me. I felt so darned free- I wanted to keep running but I had already burned 600 cals and honestly it was too late to eat more than that.

    I can't wait until Thursday so I can run again! YAY!:drinker:
  • annaliza
    annaliza Posts: 809
    How far did you run? Did you burn 600 cals barefoot running?

    Holy cr*p! It takes me an hour to burn 600 cals just plain running on the road!
  • gemiwing
    gemiwing Posts: 1,525 Member
    I wasn't barefoot- I was at the gym and they frown on that lol. I was wearing my minimalist shoes. I ended up running about a quarter of a mile in them. Walking the rest of the time because I don't want to do too much too soon.

    I also did weight lifting while I was there- so the cal count is for the whole gym day lol. I WISH I could burn 600 calories by only doing a mile! :tongue:
  • cherapple
    cherapple Posts: 670 Member
    :happy: Just the thread I was looking for, and recent, too! :happy:

    I am just getting into barefoot running -- and weight lifting, and just plain living -- after watching my husband benefit from going shoeless over the last couple of years. (He has cured his back pain, and his race times just keep getting better and better.) I have a pair of Vibram Five Fingers, but have now chucked them off, too. (They gave me a false sense of being able to run "barefoot" too far, too soon. I'll keep them for the gym.)

    My husband and father just completed a triathlon, both barefoot, two days ago. My husband shaved 8 minutes off his time from last year (which he also ran barefoot) and my father came in second in his age group. (They were two out of three total barefooters.)

    I'm hoping to be able to run races barefoot myself at some point, but for now I am doing short (20-25 minutes) runs on grass (beach this past weekend) and trail. The road that I usually run on near us has too much gravel, so I may try a different road soon, and find some more trails. My challenge is that I've had bunion surgery on one foot, so have some scar tissue and lack of full mobility in that foot -- which is why I watched my husband run barefoot for two years before giving it a try. I didn't think it would be possible for me, but I'm now doing it! Even after the surgery, I was still struggling to find shoes that fit comfortably without squeezing my toes and giving me corns. No worries about those things (and no wasted money on shoes that don't fit right) with bare feet. It feels amazing to run shoe-free, as our feet were born to do!

    Exciting to find other barefooters! Let's keep this thread going!

    Cheryl
  • annaliza
    annaliza Posts: 809
    Wow, Cherapple! Thanks for sharing that...your husband and father sound amazing!! I had never heard of barefoot running until this thread. And to hear someone doing a triathlon barefoot...WOW! Is it a special race (a barefoot race) or did they run with a bunch of shoe'd people?

    Ok, I tried running barefoot this weekend. Just a little bit around my house on the sidewalk and in the grass. I agree that it was very liberating however I would have a long way to go before I could go anywhere else except around my house. I definately need to read more about it and proper form.

    Anyways, thank you for opening my eyes.
  • annaliza
    annaliza Posts: 809
    I WISH I could burn 600 calories by only doing a mile! :tongue:

    LOL, Me too!!!!!
  • Schaff
    Schaff Posts: 83
    Nice to see others trying out barefoot running! I run barefoot at least twice a week, it is one of the most organic experiences I have ever had in my life, it has made me a MUCH better runner. I started (and still do) run on the inner turf of a track. The connection between your brain and your feet is incredible!

    Few words of advice for those of you who want to give this a try, and I will also include a very helpful website for barefoot enthusiasts.

    START SLOW!!! You should NOT be logging considerable mileage barefoot. I started out running a mile, walking a lap of the track, repeat one or two times. If you feel sharp pain, then you should stop. What will probably happen is you will have most of your muscle soreness in your calves. This pain can be intense, and can last a few days when you start out. I promise that the calf muscle pain will completely go away in a about two weeks.

    You should also be running at a comfortable, easy, conversational pace. You need to get your body used to running this way, I cannot stress this enough. There are a lot of advantages to barefoot running, and a lot of runners and doctors swear by it. But the risk of injury is also high if you are not careful and don't listen to your body.

    Good luck trying it out! Here's the website I mentioned: http://runningbarefoot.org/
  • gemiwing
    gemiwing Posts: 1,525 Member

    START SLOW!!! You should NOT be logging considerable mileage barefoot.

    You're not kidding! I pushed too hard (I got so darned excited and it felt soooo good) and now I'm on the DL for a week. Bah.

    I'm so glad to find other barefoot runners on MFP!

    It truly is an amazing experience. I feel so connected, natural, free and just.. whole, I suppose. It's all part of learning that my body is not the enemy professionals and the media would have me believe.

    I don't need 200 dollar shoes, 100 dollar inserts, special equipment or anything but what my body came with- feet! There is nothing wrong with my body's design- what's wrong is how I've been using it.

    I've been blessed with this body and through barefoot running I'm learning just how amazing it is. Really opened my eyes.

    Okay enough gushing and mushy stuff :blushing:
  • Schaff
    Schaff Posts: 83
    Lol, I feel the same way about it! A friend of mine got me into barefoot running, and the way he explained the concept and rationale just made perfect sense to me.

    If you have ever broken a limb (or known someone who has) what happens after the cast comes off? Your muscles have atrophied from non-use. Same concept with shoes and your feet. Since you had the first pair of shoes put on you, its as if your feet have been trapped in a cast. There are tons of muscles, nerves and tendons in your feet, they were never intended to be trapped inside rubber!

    When you run barefoot, you run naturally, the way humans were intended to run, on the balls of your feet. The best running form should not be forced, it should be natural, and that is what barefoot running has given me, I have MUCH better form since running barefoot.
  • gemiwing
    gemiwing Posts: 1,525 Member
    I couldn't agree more.

    I've always dreamed of being a runner. Everytime I would try it just didn't work. My shins would burn, my knees would cry in pain. So I tried to Run Like Everyone Else and slam the hell out of my heel and shove my legs as far as they would go.

    Damn I was stupid. :laugh:

    Then I researched on better form (who knew you had to research running??) and that helped. Started running on the balls of my feet. Just one problem- my nice expensive running shoes wouldn't let me do it. The heel was so padded I couldn't naturally land any higher on the foot without some serious downhill action.

    Then I found barefoot/minimal running and wow. Just wow. I tried it out and felt RIGHT for the first time. It sounds cheesy to say that it changed my life- but it did. It opened up my mind and reconnected me to my own body.

    Having been in a wheelchair I had this lingering sense that my body was 'wrong' or that I would never feel capable of moving under my own natural power again. BFR changed that for me. I'm learning that my body is just as perfect as it can be. I wasn't designed wrong, I just wasn't using what had been given me in the right way.
  • cherapple
    cherapple Posts: 670 Member
    My husband and father ran with a bunch of shoed people. :smile: They were two of a total of three barefooters (out of 215 total racers) in the triathlon. Barefooters are still too rare to have entire barefoot races. Usually there are only one or two of them in a race at most. I think our numbers are growing, though!

    I run barefoot mostly around my house at the moment -- in my yard, driveway, and on the road out front -- and only every two or three days. Tomorrow morning I hope to find a good field or trail to run on!

    I definitely recommend starting out slow and letting your feet get used to their new freedom.

    Cheryl
    Wow, Cherapple! Thanks for sharing that...your husband and father sound amazing!! I had never heard of barefoot running until this thread. And to hear someone doing a triathlon barefoot...WOW! Is it a special race (a barefoot race) or did they run with a bunch of shoe'd people?

    Ok, I tried running barefoot this weekend. Just a little bit around my house on the sidewalk and in the grass. I agree that it was very liberating however I would have a long way to go before I could go anywhere else except around my house. I definately need to read more about it and proper form.

    Anyways, thank you for opening my eyes.
  • Sara2525
    Sara2525 Posts: 50 Member
    I started reading this thread last week and decided to give it a try this weekend. I ran on my treadmil barefoot and went a lot further than usual without getting winded. I was on the treadmil for about 40 minutes mostly running and only stopped because my toes were getting a little sore!

    I ran again yesterday with some socks on and was able to run a mile, walk .25, and then run another mile. It's amazing how much shoes weigh you down. It felt liberating to run like that and once the Texas heat settles down, I'm going to try it outside!
  • LeanLioness
    LeanLioness Posts: 1,091 Member
    Ouch! I am a whimp - I'll stick to my shoes!

    Don't feel bad, you are not the only one!!! I can't even walk in the house with my socks on and flip flops outside hurt my feet if I have to walk on rocks............
  • gemiwing
    gemiwing Posts: 1,525 Member
    I started reading this thread last week and decided to give it a try this weekend. I ran on my treadmil barefoot and went a lot further than usual without getting winded. I was on the treadmil for about 40 minutes mostly running and only stopped because my toes were getting a little sore!

    I ran again yesterday with some socks on and was able to run a mile, walk .25, and then run another mile. It's amazing how much shoes weigh you down. It felt liberating to run like that and once the Texas heat settles down, I'm going to try it outside!

    Don't go too far too fast- your calves need to build up. Plus ligaments and tendons and and and..

    Long story short- don't do what i did :laugh: I'm out of commision for a week because it just felt too good to stop.

    Isn't it amazing? Once you try it you get it- It's the most freeing thing I've done to date. It's amazing how our bodies are perfect just the way they are :flowerforyou:
  • cherapple
    cherapple Posts: 670 Member
    Today I drove to the town park and ran through the sports fields for about 30 mins. Three successful BF runs in a row under my belt!

    I'm feeling it a little bit in one of my feet (feels like I slightly pulled something), but it's my "good" foot (vs. my bunion/surgery foot), and to me that's a promising sign. Any aches and pains I have felt over the last three runs have been in my "good" foot. If my "bad" foot doesn't hurt, it means that if I continue to take it slowly, I can do this! :smile:
  • maddiebabe
    maddiebabe Posts: 193 Member
    I have a question about this. I have never really been arunner before, but I started the couch to 5km a couple weeks ago and have been having some problems with my shins. I know there are shoes out there that are geared towards simulating bare-foot motion while still being a shoe. i know nike makes them so is that something that you could get to run in. Im a littlehesitant to run without any kind of shoe but my legs have adjusted to flat-footed style footwear (ie uggs in winter and flip flops in summer) so I think it could be good.

    Any advice would be amazing and congrats to all of you. You have all achieved something awesome :)
  • cherapple
    cherapple Posts: 670 Member
    It's almost impossible to find any shoe that is completely flat on the bottom. Frustratingly (for me), even most flip flops have raised heels. Most so-called "barefoot" shoes are gimmicks. They come from companies who are trying to profit off barefooters (or not lose profits to them) and people interested in the idea of going barefoot, but not quite ready to take the plunge. You cannot be barefoot, however, with a shoe on your foot. I can understand your hesitancy at going completely barefoot because I hesitated too, for months. You just have to get to your own point where you feel ready to try it, for your own reasons. If you keep having problems with your shins, that might be a reason for you. No hurry, though. Do it when, and if, you feel ready!

    Oh, and barefoot is not just a "motion," it is a sensitivity. If you have anything on your foot, it is "blinded" to the ground. It can't feel anything, and therefore can't respond to surfaces. Your feet will teach you how to run correctly by the way they feel when you run. If you are not running with good form, you will get an immediate response from your body. That's probably what your shins are telling you, and your shoes are keeping you from correcting yourself.

    Look up some barefoot running videos on youtube and you will understand how shoes force you to run a certain way and how bare feet allow you more freedom to run correctly.
    I haves a question about this. I have never really been arunner before, but I started the couch to 5km a couple weeks ago and have been having some problems with my shins. I know there are shoes out there that are geared towards simulating bare-foot motion while still being a shoe. i know nike makes them so is that something that you could get to run in. Im a littlehesitant to run without any kind of shoe but my legs have adjusted to flat-footed style footwear (ie uggs in winter and flip flops in summer) so I think it could be good.

    Any advice would be amazing and congrats to all of you. You have all achieved something awesome :)
  • maddiebabe
    maddiebabe Posts: 193 Member
    Thanks so much :) That was really helpful. I'll go check out the videos now! have a great day!
  • GuitarJohn
    GuitarJohn Posts: 64 Member
    My running is extremely minimalist. I try to keep running to an extreme minimum. :bigsmile:
  • gemiwing
    gemiwing Posts: 1,525 Member
    Hey fellow toe wigglers- I'm off the DL today!!! YAY!

    I'm going to try and get down the stairs to my apartment haha Maybe hit the gym later and do some walking- no running for now- not quite there yet. But today was the first day I could walk normally again, so I'm taking that as a good sign. It only took six days of recoup :grumble: ha

    Have a great day and enjoy your runs!
  • cherapple
    cherapple Posts: 670 Member
    Hey fellow toe wigglers- I'm off the DL today!!! YAY!

    I'm going to try and get down the stairs to my apartment haha Maybe hit the gym later and do some walking- no running for now- not quite there yet. But today was the first day I could walk normally again, so I'm taking that as a good sign. It only took six days of recoup :grumble: ha

    Have a great day and enjoy your runs!

    What's DL stand for? :blushing:

    I hear you on recuperating! Been there too many times! Glad you're up and walking. Today was a running rest day for me (did strength training). After injuring myself so many times running in shoes, it's now a habit to never run two days in a row. Maybe with bare feet I'll eventually be able to run on consecutive days, but for now, while I'm building foot strength, it's still good to have healing days in between. My feet have ached a little after yesterday, but it's a good ache! :wink: :laugh:
  • gemiwing
    gemiwing Posts: 1,525 Member
    DL- Disabled List. Sorry, sports thing lol. I'm itchy for basketball season I guess :)

    I learned the hard way not to run back to back- not doing that again! Whew!

    I'm glad you're feeling the good burn. If someone would have ever told me I'd describe after exercise pain in a good way I'd have laughed till I wet myself. haha How far the mighty have fallen :tongue:
  • NinaDawn79
    NinaDawn79 Posts: 164
    Hello BFRs! I just had to post to tell you that I was so captivated by your posts about this (which I had never heard of before!) that I actually was dreaming about running barefoot night before last. :laugh: I keep asking around trying to get some people's response to the idea and everyone laughs at me.

    Since I'm obviously not finding any help around here (:angry: ) what do you recommend as the best way to ease into this?? I just started running about 3 months ago and finally bought an actual pair of running shoes because my crosstrainers were killing one of my arches. I seem to have licked the arch pain, but of course am fascinated with the thought of "learning" how to run well, naturally!
  • gemiwing
    gemiwing Posts: 1,525 Member
    Hello BFRs! I just had to post to tell you that I was so captivated by your posts about this (which I had never heard of before!) that I actually was dreaming about running barefoot night before last. :laugh: I keep asking around trying to get some people's response to the idea and everyone laughs at me.

    Since I'm obviously not finding any help around here (:angry: ) what do you recommend as the best way to ease into this?? I just started running about 3 months ago and finally bought an actual pair of running shoes because my crosstrainers were killing one of my arches. I seem to have licked the arch pain, but of course am fascinated with the thought of "learning" how to run well, naturally!

    Hi there :)

    I find that most people get confused when I talk about running barefoot. People don't understand that you run differently (more naturally) than you do in shoes. You don't slam your heel down and you don't run through piles of glass for kicks. lol. It's not about being tough- it's about being natural.

    You're going to want to start slow. Barefoot running is really going to require that you pay attention to your form, which is good for any athlete. A general rule is to run 10% of your mileage barefoot for a week. Keep at that for a week or two, then up by 5-10% again. It's going to take some getting used to at first because your feet/ligaments and calves are weakened from wearing shoes. So take it slow- it'll come as it's meant to.

    Here's a good website with tons of info- www.runningbarefoot.org Just scroll down on the page and you'll see tons of links with great info.

    Happy Running! :flowerforyou:
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