:D Barefoot Running

[IanDarkpeak]

I guess these will make an appearance in due course:

http://www.irunfar.com/2011/08/inov-...in-review.html

Foul colour, even worse than my Slab 3s.

All ready on sale in Accelerate, as are about 4 others bare foot brands, actually I was in the shop last week and they must have had 60+ fell,trail and road shoes + the barefoot stuff.

[Terry the Tortoise]

Evoskins on sale here for £36 plus free p&p http://www.ratrace.com/1539/products...8-evoskin.aspx

[molehill]

bfluc, thanks for the input. Interesting looking at your feet, probably explains why I have always had wide feet and problems with finding all fell shoes too narrow (I quickly burst the sides out). As a kid I never wore shoes all holidays (guess I was a barefoot urchin!), I spent the whole time outside and barefoot - seemed natural. Now I am approaching my second childhood and retiring in a few weeks .....time for another go!

[plodding bear]

I do bits and bobs barefoot, and I enjoy the liberating feel of it (it's even got me minimalising in other areas,) but it has to be said that bare feet do not grip well on some surfaces, such as moorland grassy slopes, and it is VERY easy to hurt your toes and stuff. I reckon the real point of running barefoot, for me, is that it shows me what running is supposed to 'feel' like, in terms of correct foot strike. Once I worked out how it's supposed to feel for my body, I can make sure I run that way in shoes.
But, like someone else here said, you don't ever want to be in thick soled, built up heel jobbies. That's why I fancy some more minimal shoes.

[bfluc]

[...]I reckon the real point of running barefoot, for me, is that it shows me what running is supposed to 'feel' like, in terms of correct foot strike. Once I worked out how it's supposed to feel for my body, I can make sure I run that way in shoes.
But, like someone else here said, you don't ever want to be in thick soled, built up heel jobbies. That's why I fancy some more minimal shoes.

I agree with you as long as shoes give you enough proprioception. This explains why I agree with Ken Bob who says it's better to learn "full monty" prior to go with minimalist shoes. I understand though that when you have races and time you're used to do more or less easily it might be hard to forget all that for 6 months or even a full year.

[Twister]

Don't forget that running barefoot is fun, impossible not to do without a big grin on your face. Although it is important to remember that when you pass by other people, you've got to revert to that pained runner expression, else they may think of you as some kind of free thinking anarchist. That wouldn't do.

[Twister]

Anyone interested can see all the minimal shoes that I've tried here... http://nearlyshoeless.wordpress.com/the-shoes/

[Twister]

Odd to read this thread on my return from walking in the southern french mountains, where people kept tutting over my "recklessly minimalist" Flyrocs.

I know. I got a tut for wearing X talons a few years back in the Vosges... Hardly extreme mountains really. The two walkers were oldish chaps with boots laced up above their ankles, should have been me tutting really.

[molehill]

Wondered how everyone is getting on "barefoot"? I spent the first 21/2 months walking barefoot, very, very gradually building up distance and rougher ground ( I haven't run at all in that time), certainly a different technique to wearing shoes and I'm very pleased I've done it slowly as I could feel different stresses and strains on muscles. I always carried a pair of sandals with me, and popped them on whenever needed - rough ground, sore feet etc. Love walking in sandals as well, and when I put trainers on for the first time last week, I had 2 blisters in a 3 mile walk. Sod that!!

Had a bit of first jog today, walk/jog for an hour all barefoot, no injuries and feet good, though sore from the hard ground and stony tracks. Certainly feet are hardening well now, a good few layers of thick skin protecting against thistles, but more importantly they are slowly adapting to the bruising from stones etc. This is what has taken the time for my feet to adapt. I really enjoyed the feeling of running over the fileds, sort of feels a bit like flying .

Obviously there are big limitations on what I can achieve barefoot, I could never really race or cover some of the rogh ground remotely fast without shoes (I think). Bu tI see myself doing a lot of training and walking without shoes.

I don't intend purchasing any "barefoot shoes", not at those prices and it isn't really barefoot is it?

[bfluc]

Good work molehill :thumbup:

Looks like a sensible way of transitioning. Be carefull in order to avoid BRE (Barefoot Running Ephoria). Avoid going too fast too early. If you keep transtioning gradually and slowly I can tell you you'll get rewarded. You'll endup being even a better runner even when shod. Also as you'll have stronger and healthier feet you'll avoid injuries more easily when fell running or hiking in the mountains.

Have fun running!