How many people run barefoot?

[plodding bear]

Cheers Simgreen, nice to hear that about the grip as I was thinking about getting these shoes in maybe a month or two. Where on your foot did you get a blister? I've started doing some short runs in an old pair of flat, thin water shoes I've had sat in a cupboard for a while, and so far a lack of grip hasn't been a problem on rocks and grass, although I haven't had them on in full-on mud and bog yet! I've also started running barefoot, just 7-10 minutes after my normal run, and I must say, it feels quite liberating. It's certainly easier to get the technique right in bare feet which I think is the point of doing it; running on smooth tarmac or grass is ok in bare feet, but the bit of gravelly track I tried... well, let's just say I won't be trying THAT again for a bit!

[moondust]

I use the Nike Free 3.0 for long distance road running at the moment and find them quite comfortable. Am looking at getting a minimalistic trail shoe for long distances (half marathon and above) which will be okay for running on small sections of road as well. I wear New Balance 840 trail shoes at the moment but I find my feet suffering after 8/9 miles. Any suggestions?

[bfluc]

I've got the NB Trail Minimus, which is the shoe that Krupicka had design input on. In terms of grip, they are brilliant. I've had them on tarmac, trails, mud, rock, moorland all of which both dry and wet and all of which at a good pace and I didn't have any slipping issues at all.

I am waiting for the newer model the Minimus Trail Zero that should be avalaible next Spring. They should be avalaible in larger width (as is possible with mt 10 now as well). :thumbup: They saw what Anton did with his mt 10 and they redesigned it. I had the opportunity to test the mt 10 for a couple of days thanks to the kindness of a guy from New Balance. Those with Inov-8 BareGrips are the new shoes that providing me lotta fun this year.

If you want to see what will be my thoughts after the first sessions of testing follow me on my DailyMile profile: http://www.dailymile.com/people/bfluc

I DID however have issues with badly blistering toes and mashed up legs. [...] Oh, and I didn't wear socks either, which in retrospect was really dumb. Having done some more research, it takes some adjustment to successfully get into 'minimalist' running, and that includes just toughening the undersides of the feet before you even get onto the biomechanics side of things!

As no one has shown any interest in buying the shoes (sob sob) [...]

One important point too many folks are missing is what Ken Bob Saxton have said and written for years e.g. you better first go "full monty" (run barefoot) in order to learn how to have the proper running form before going with minimalist shoes. Believe me if your running form isn't honed it will not go well barefoot. That's what I did because I wanted to see if I could race a 10 km race. I even managed to race a half marathon. In order to achieve that I had to forget times for almost a year (I know it's easy when you're a slow Clydesdale runner like me) because the secret for success is building up slowly and gradually. I did my 2nd personal best10 km race barefoot last year and I would probably have done better this year if cancer did not stopped me from running.

Regarding those doubting that someone can go 100% barefoot asked Ken Bob Saxton if it is possible. Of course for someone like me living in Crazy Canucks Land it's another story. For your information I did most of my winter running outdoor since December 2009 till 2011 end of Spring with Mizuno Wave Universe and my running mates have hard time following me in icy conditions.

[Pete F]

The main reason for barefoot running seems to be that you end up running the way we were meant to run and so you reduce the risk of injury and possibly run quicker too. It seems like a no-brainer. The big problem is that so many of us are already conditioned into using footwear that has a thick cushioned sole - and not just for running. I spend only a small percentage of my time running (sadly) and so just going barefoot when I'm running isn't going to help me that much.
To benefit from the barefoot approach you need to go barefoot (or use minimally-soled shoes) all the time. That doesn't just mean buying a new pair of Vibram Five Fingers or whatever, but replacing your whole cupboard of footwear. Few of us have that sort of cash or the appetite for that much shoe shopping but what you can do is avoid buying thick-soled footwear whenever you get new shoes - whatever you are going to use them for. Over a period of time you could make the transition to thin soles and that would give your body plenty of time to adapt.

[molehill]

After about 3 months of total barefoot walking only (to slowly build up), I am just starting to add jogging. I will say it is totally different from running with shoes, both walking and running actions, so I think a very slow transition is essential to avoid injury. I am doing it to try and strengthen my calves and achilles - which have been a disaster area for years :thunbdown:. Also interested to see where it leads me and what is possible given time to harden up, but already I see there is far more that will prove impossible to do fully barefoot. Unfortunately I'm not prepared to spend big money on minimal footwear (just to try it out), but have just found these Hauraches which I shall be ordering shortly and see how they go: http://www.invisibleshoe.com/store/

Far more like what I had in mind and they should help over those big rough stoney tracks .

[Al Fowler]

Surely you all just continuously nail your feet on rocks, tree roots and every other form of uncomfortable obsticle?

I cant even avoid hurting myself WITH shoes on!

[molehill]

Surely you all just continuously nail your feet on rocks, tree roots and every other form of uncomfortable obsticle?

I cant even avoid hurting myself WITH shoes on!

You know the old saying "No sense, no feeling" seems to work fine for me .

[daisy]

I wondered if anyone had any comments about the grip on minimalist shoes, the Merrells, New Balance and so on. They all market themselves as 'trail' shoes, but that could mean anything, really. I'm not sure it would cover rocky moorland paths, bog, and so on.

I got the NB minimus trail, PB. They're the best shoes I've ever worn...except when it gets muddy ( Iknow someone else here thinks they're fine on all surfaces, but maybe I'm doing something wrong (more than possible) I find them hopeless/dangerous on slippy slopes and am hoping desperately that NB will bring out a sole suitable for fell rather than trail. Even my tamest local trail loop is beyond them at this time of year. Do however, find them pretty good on road!

[daisy]

I've got the NB Trail Minimus, which is the shoe that Krupicka had design input on. In terms of grip, they are brilliant. I've had them on tarmac, trails, mud, rock, moorland all of which both dry and wet and all of which at a good pace and I didn't have any slipping issues at all.

...

I'm really impressed, simgreen78. I can't get away with my mimimus on anything with even the merest hint of mud...do you think this is a technique issue? I dont' think my pace is what you'd call 'good' - do you sort of float over the ground? Am I hitting it too hard? They're ok on wet rock for example, but don't seem to dig in enough on a loose surface...am thinking this might be me, not the shoes....

[fellrunnerreuben]

daisy when using minimalist shoes try to be soft over the ground, almost try to glide(as if you were really barefoot). A good thing to remember is why take one step when you can take three. a short gentle stride is essential. if you concentrate on foot placement first and then build up the speed it will greatly increase your performance and make it easier for you not to slip and slide around.