Have you ever heard that BAREFOOT RUNNING could be beneficial?
Apparently running shoes are awful for your feet.
I Did barefoot running on and off for a year in high school (I was a cross country runner) in an attempt to deal with my shin splints. I developed other issues from doing it, and the bottoms of my feet were utterly disgusting. I ended up getting properly sized for my running shoes, and it turned out I have extremely high arches and wide short feet. I had to get inserts and specially sized shoes, and was told to buy two pairs of identical shoes, and alternate between each pair every other day. This gives the foam in the shoes time to rest and makes them last longer. My shoes lasted 3-4 times longer, and my shin splints went away in just over a month. When I was finally out of pain from my shin splints, I dropped a full minute off my 3 mile time.
Barefoot running is fine if you are anatomically perfect and you are running on a natural surface (grass, sand, etc.), otherwise you should have really good running shoes. Also recognize that stepping on broken glass or metal while running barefoot can sideline you for a while.
@nortonsark: That's exactly what happened to me. If there's a broken beer bottle in the grass it's pretty easy not to see it until it's too late.
Why do you think they came out with Nike free, Reebok Flex and Vibrams to name a few. It can be beneficial but you should start slow but may not work for everyone.
Sorry I can't hear you because I'm gellin like a felon..
@eeekdageek: I thought Vibrams (and other's you mentioned) were an "alternative" to barefoot running. And a rather good one at that for the reasons given earlier...cuts on your feet and shin splints.
I've got a couple of marathons on deck for this year, and I'm debating about trying to switch to the Vibrams. There is no way I'd risk running a long distance with no shoes, otherwise, as already said, if you cut your feet, you're really, really screwed. Now, I did see a couple of people with no shoes pass me on my first marathon, including somebody with a shoe on one foot and none on the other, so I know people do it for the long runs, but it's just not an acceptable risk for me.
@mistamoose: I really don't see how running without shoes and using say flats for a race would be drastically different. I always wore nike racing flats with no socks, and the combined weight was less than 6 ounces. For training, I wore a much heavier padded shoe, and this gave me a much more difficult work out, but when I switched to the lighter shoes, running felt effortless. I've felt vibrams, and other shoes that are supposed to simulate barefoot running, and my racing flats still feel lighter. shrug I think it's just personal preference. I really doubt barefoot running would give you much of an edge, because you get marginally better grip with a racing flat than barefoot, and I think that would make up for the slight weight loss you'd get by being barefoot.
For those runners that haven't read Born to Run (I don't think any exist, but on the off chance, I thought i'd post), it's a must-read.
Granted, most of those people are genetically gifted freaks, but the science & the anthropology is fascinating.
(I've got a signed copy of the book!)
Not sure, In Rocky 3, Apollo Creed and Rocky both ran on the beach in very high tube socks and sneakers and they seemed to do just fine.....
Fascinating (and long) 2008 article: "You Walk Wrong; It took 4 million years of evolution to perfect the human foot. But we’re wrecking it with every step we take". Lots of interesting testimonials in the comments as well.
Don't miss the amazing photos on every page of trompe l'oeil'ed shoes painted onto bare feet. It's incredible artwork!
I'm a little late to the thread, but here are my thoughts-- I use Vibrams as a training tool that strengthens my lower (knee-down) leg. I'll do short runs in them, no more than like 4-5 miles, and I'll also train in them at the gym (not exclusively, though). I do a circuit at the gym that includes weight training and step work (the express circuit at PF), and using the steps aggressively I think I get a lot of benefit in the Vibrams.
I've seen a benefit, as well. I've always had pretty weak ankles that've taken a pretty significant beating playing football and basketball. They've historically rolled at the slightest inclination. Well, last summer having trained in Vibrams for a while, I was going out for a run and wasn't paying attention and landed on a tree limb that was probably 1.5" or so in diameter. In the past, that would've been it, I would've limped home. But I was able to run the next 13 miles no problem - which I attribute to a stronger lower leg due to training in Vibrams
The Vibrams (and like shoes) seem to help some people. They do exercise portions of the lower leg that are responsible for stabilizing the foot, and do encourage a gentler heel strike and a more natural stride.
That having been said, I do not recommend buying a pair of these and then chucking your regular shoes out. The "natural running" advocates point out the East African runners, who do hundreds of kilometers weekly in bare feet. They do not point out they are running on (for the most part) dirt and grass, and have been running barefoot all of their lives. You cannot go from using a modern shoe to barefoot cold turkey without causing problems. Posterior leg problems, mainly achillies tendonitis (and sometimes rupture) are common, along with metatarsal head problems (including stress fractures). If you want to do this, ease into it (say start at 0.25 to 0.5 miles and work up).
Barefoot running -- when done CORRECTLY -- can have beneficial effects. Because you land with less force, you may experience what many report: elimination of knee and hip pain and plantar fasciitis. Because you engage the musculature as a shock absorber, rather than relying on the padding in your shoe and your joints, you may experience strengthening in your feet and legs as well.
Now, I say "when done correctly" because thees changes don't happen if you merely run with poor form and happen to be shoe-less. The premise of barefoot is "bad form hurts" and so you'll switch to better form to eliminate the pain.
For me, switching to barefoot changed everything. Previously, I couldn't go for 2 weeks without an injury. And I had life-long flat feet. I've now been injury-free for 3 years, and my feet developed arches.
I don't spend all my time totally barefoot -- I'm in Invisible Shoes sandals most of the time. These are way more barefoot than VFFs or racing flats.
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