Barefoot

Anyone else interested in barefooting??

they say thats the way to go.. but this old dog dont learn new tricks very easily ...lol

It is so very healthy for you! Over cushiony shoes, motion cotrol and the dreaded arch support is what causes injuries. Also shoes cause deformities, and are a breading ground for fungus and bacteria.

If you aren't aware of your form and your stride, any kind of running, shoe or no, will cause injuries. When you begin to slouch or lean when tired, you will get back and hip injuries. If your stride is off balance due to a dominant leg, you will see quad and hamstring issues. If your allow your feet to turn outward, indicating weaker quad muscles, you will see knee and IT issues.

It has been my experience running barefoot and with 5 finger shoes that I am more aware of my form, how my feet strike and where, and when during my runs my form is most vulnerable. This has allowed me to make my running (yes in shoes) more effective and less painful/sore. Because of all of the bullheads (nasty little stickers that even the Vibrams can't overcome) and potential for rattlers, I run mostly in shoes. But if I run on the treadmill, I'll go barefoot or in socks. I like to hike barefoot, too, and have found some great trails full of sand, rocks, and mud that are awesome! And with only a few pine needles to overcome, which, thanks to the bullheads, aren't big thorns in my paws!

I have been going barefoot for a year now. I just got a pair of vibrams last month and I can tell that I am less aware of my form with them on (compared to barefoot). I can see that going from a regular shoe to a minimalist shoe would be benefitical but coming from the other direction, their still shoes and ground feedback is limited.. I just wear them on rainy days. I live in MN so I dont have to worry about rattlers or big thorny plants ;^)

I'm using the Freeruns to transition. When I gather up some jingle, I'm going to invest in my first zero drop shoes, then who knows? I just know changing the way I run has made me not only injury-free but faster.

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Run, run, as fast as you can! You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!

I just tried the vibrams out for the first time yesterday and loved it. It is legit.