How many people run barefoot?

[SEFTON]

it does sound kind of crazy if you think of it like that. "shoes are bad, barefoot is the answer...now buy our very expensive minimal shoes" hehe.

ok since running barefoot or with minimal shoes have you found your getting injured less? (due to improved running techque and strength etc)??

[Epocian]

read "born to run" its a good read even if you dont like the idea!

Found it full of typical American exaggeration and poorly researched.
According to McDougall( on page 96) Jim Peters was ten minutes under his world best time for the marathon at the ten mile point in the 1952 Olympic race
Peters marathon best at that time was 2-20-4.2 (assuming he ran fairly even pace he went through 10 miles in 53.30 so in Helsinki according to McDougall he went through 10 miles in around 43/44 minutes - utter bullsh*t!) In actual fact Peters went through 15km in 47.58 together with Jansson with Zatopek 2 seconds down (10 miles time would have been around 51.30)
If Mcdougall can't get simple facts right how much else of the book is believable?
As for the mexican race being one of the world's toughest races - the Ultra Tour of Mont Blanc beats it hands down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0gff...eature=related

[IWCharters]

I want my Rob Jebb barefoot action toy. :wink:

They will be in the shops for Christmas - Sweatshop have prototypes already

[Hot Foot]

Yes I run barefooot - completely barefoot. About once a week except during winter I will do about a mile barefoot around some parkland at the end of a longer run. I've done it for the last 2 years and while not copletely convinced of the benefits, it certainly hasn't done me any harm !

[Welsh Harrier]

I run barefoot to the loo in the middle of the night!

[Hanneke]

I run barefoot whenever the terrain permits it... so not on the fells, well, haven't tried it yet... think I will end up with bruised footsoles!

I found I always got injured when running on the road in supportive shoes. Then I started fell running and discovered that I do much better to run in minimal shoes. Next step was to go shoe-less. It gives me a completely natural gait and good biomechanics. NO injuroes whatsoever... I have yet to step into a piece of glass or something like that. Mind, I do live in the middle of nowhere...

[nikalas]

Found it full of typical American exaggeration and poorly researched.
According to McDougall( on page 96) Jim Peters was ten minutes under his world best time for the marathon at the ten mile point in the 1952 Olympic race
Peters marathon best at that time was 2-20-4.2 (assuming he ran fairly even pace he went through 10 miles in 53.30 so in Helsinki according to McDougall he went through 10 miles in around 43/44 minutes - utter bullsh*t!) In actual fact Peters went through 15km in 47.58 together with Jansson with Zatopek 2 seconds down (10 miles time would have been around 51.30)
If Mcdougall can't get simple facts right how much else of the book is believable?
As for the mexican race being one of the world's toughest races - the Ultra Tour of Mont Blanc beats it hands down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0gff...eature=related

I'll accept the overly "American feel" to the book, but hey, the guys an American. I think you're getting snagged in the (slightly geeky?) detail and missing the overall point and burning question.

If you accept the compelling anthropological and anatomical evidence that we evolved as a running species, why then do modern human runners suffer from so many running injuries?

This is why he brings up the Tahahumara as they, as part of everyday life and play, run massive distances over very rough terrain and don't suffer classic runners' injuries. Is this because of their minimal footwear? The race involving the western runners was slightly contrived but never billed as being the "toughest". However, the Tahahumara ball games would certainly be up there with the UTMB, Western States and Leadville.

[noel]

2 people "only run barefoot"?

Care to elaborate either of you? I'd find this hard to believe under normal circumstances. Is this during a current period of rehab from injury?

[SEFTON]

I'd be interested in hearing if even minimal barefoot/minimal footwear training has changed the way you run in regular shoes.

or are you now aware of how you should run and have to make a conscious effort stride by stride?

[SEFTON]

just found a few things from inov8...(probably old news but hey):

http://blog.fitnessfootwear.com/inov8-evoskin-review

http://picasaweb.google.com/11317868...14102558408258