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How many of you run barefoot?

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 mikekeswick 26 May 2015
I've been running barefooted now for about 2 years. It's the best thing since sliced bread in my eyes (but to each his own).
I do about 60 mile a week and now that i've learnt how to do it properly I wish I'd never worn modern shoes. Just for a bit of fun I put on my old Inov8's and they feel like clown shoes now...and they squash my toes something cronic. It's amazing how much most modern shoes lead to deformed feet.
Just wondering how many people have tried it?
 summo 26 May 2015
In reply to mikekeswick:

You must be selective where you run, or have stepped in more flavours of dog poo than most of us have had hot dinners?

Regardless of the improved biomechanics etc. Given the amount of poo and glass etc. It doesn't bear thinking about.
 petestack 26 May 2015
In reply to mikekeswick:

> Just for a bit of fun I put on my old Inov8's and they feel like clown shoes now...and they squash my toes something cronic.

Sounds like they never fitted you right...

> It's amazing how much most modern shoes lead to deformed feet.

It's amazing what some folk say about shoes!

 Ciro 26 May 2015
In reply to mikekeswick:

I've been running barefoot for about four years now, and I'm with you on the "best thing since sliced bread". As well as improving my technique and speed, I had really bad claw toes and bunions which are much improved. I really wish I had a before and after picture.
 fmck 26 May 2015
In reply to mikekeswick

I could see doing this on the beach but anywhere else? A field maybe? minus cow pizzas.

I always feel a bit dodgy walking barefoot on the beach due to that advert in the 70s of the kid running on a beach then stops as he's about to stand on a broken bottle.
 Neil Williams 26 May 2015
In reply to summo:

I assume he doesn't mean actually barefoot, but using non-supportive shoes e.g. Vibram Five Fingers.

Neil
 Ciro 26 May 2015
In reply to fmck:

You'd be surprised, other than a fair few blisters when I was learning, the only skin injuries I've had were two glass splinters. And that was running through central london streets, inner city parks, etc.
 Ciro 26 May 2015
In reply to Neil Williams:

Shoes like the five fingers are dangerous if your running technique isn't top notch... they allow you to run badly when your bare feet would protest and put a stop to it, which can put stress on knees, hips, etc.

I wear them in winter when it's too cold for barefoot, but I'll still find my running getting sloppy in them if I'm tiring and not paying attention.
 Shani 26 May 2015
In reply to mikekeswick:
> I've been running barefooted now for about 2 years. It's the best thing since sliced bread in my eyes (but to each his own).

> I do about 60 mile a week and now that i've learnt how to do it properly I wish I'd never worn modern shoes. Just for a bit of fun I put on my old Inov8's and they feel like clown shoes now...and they squash my toes something cronic. It's amazing how much most modern shoes lead to deformed feet.

> Just wondering how many people have tried it?

I've been barefooting on and off since late 2000s. I sprint barefoot regularly on my road and pavement, but hike extensively in 5Fingers. Thoroughly enjoy it. There's some interesting links in this old thread:

http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=359816&v=1#x5247211
Post edited at 09:25
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 yorkshireman 26 May 2015
In reply to mikekeswick:

> I've been running barefooted now for about 2 years. It's the best thing since sliced bread in my eyes

Personally I don't think sliced bread is all that great. Give me a nice homemade seeded loaf that I therefore have to cut up myself over your shop bought rubbish any day.

I just read an article that said Vibram would be forced to refund customers who bought Five Fingers based on the fact that their health claims/benefits were not true.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-27335251

I actually think that is stupid - they were marketing claims more than anything but there you go.

Barefoot running (as serious training) has never really appealed to me. I do lots of trail running but its on rocky Alpine trails, and even the grass round here has sharp rocks in it.
 goose299 26 May 2015
In reply to mikekeswick:

Couldn't think of anything worse
My feet are fairly tough and a hard anyway but the idea of rocks/grass and various animal's poo does not appeal
 thedatastream 26 May 2015
In reply to mikekeswick:

Check out Aleks Kashefi - he's planning to run LEJOG barefoot. Nice chap too.
 planetmarshall 26 May 2015
In reply to Neil Williams:

> I assume he doesn't mean actually barefoot, but using non-supportive shoes e.g. Vibram Five Fingers.

Well, that's not barefoot then is it? I assumed by 'barefoot' that he actually meant, you know, 'barefoot'.

 Clarence 26 May 2015
In reply to mikekeswick:

A friend challenged me to try running barefoot and showed me correct technique etc. After a week I started to get a really sharp pain in my knees so I went to a sports injury specialist. She gave my knees the once over and asked me if I had changed anything recently, when I told her about the barefoot running she said that some people can but some people really shouldn't. I am very slightly pin-toed so barefoot running is definitely out for me, forefoot striking on a turned in foot stresses the ligaments on the outside of the knee which does not happen so much with heel striking. So, tried it but its not for me.
 Neil Williams 26 May 2015
In reply to planetmarshall:
The term "barefoot running" has been somewhat expanded in recent years to mean "running with very low profile shoes" as well - effectively barefoot other than that you have protection from glass etc. I do walk round the house and garden barefoot but I wouldn't actually run like that - too much chance of injury. I have toyed with running with basic, unsupportive shoes, but it tends to make my tendons hurt too much - partly iffy gait (I overpronate a lot) and partly that I'm a bit heavy.
Post edited at 11:25
 Ciro 26 May 2015
In reply to Clarence:

Indeed, it's not something to be taken lightly - correcting biomechanical faults (which you have to do if you're going to run barefoot) takes a lot of time and commitment.

I've always had turned out feet, and initially running barefoot exacerbated long standing piriformis problems, because to run correctly barefoot, I had to bring my toes in.

It was only when trying to figure out what was going on that I realised (and no phsyio or osteo had ever pointed this out to me) that one of the reasons my piriformis muscles were so short and tight was years of walking and running duck footed. By sticking with the barefoot, it became part of the solution.
 Ciro 26 May 2015
In reply to Neil Williams:

> The term "barefoot running" has been somewhat expanded in recent years to mean "running with very low profile shoes" as well - effectively barefoot other than that you have protection from glass etc. I do walk round the house and garden barefoot but I wouldn't actually run like that - too much chance of injury. I have toyed with running with basic, unsupportive shoes, but it tends to make my tendons hurt too much - partly iffy gait (I overpronate a lot) and partly that I'm a bit heavy.

It's a misappropriation of the term for marketing purposes, and it's not effectively barefoot - you lose the advantage of being able to feel the surface you're running on, which makes a huge difference. A bit like climbing with gloves on.
 Roadrunner5 26 May 2015
In reply to yorkshireman:

I ran Chicago with a guy running totally barefoot.. It was terrifying.

Thankfully 15 miles in he fell to pieces and quit.. Being beaten by him would have been ugly.

But people started using trainers for a reason, even the Africans.

Anyway Mike, how's the barefoot BG coming along? That would be impressive so good luck.
JMGLondon 26 May 2015
In reply to mikekeswick:
Don't think i'd be entirely confident in them up and down the Regents canal.

Horses for courses I suppose, I've never really struggled too much with injuries so wouldn't bother changing a working formula.

Can't help thinking if they were that great we'd see more (any?) at the top level.


Just recalled Richard Askwith's (Feet in the Clouds / Running Free) stories of defrosting his feet after a winter run in 5 Fingers. No thanks!
Post edited at 19:50
 The Potato 26 May 2015
In reply to mikekeswick:

Tried it a few times and does feel good but I cant tolerate tarmac / gravel for long.
I did have inov8 skins which provide a tad of protection but just didn't fit me.
I'll try it again I think
 nufkin 27 May 2015
In reply to Roadrunner5:

> But people started using trainers for a reason

That's just 'cos they're soft

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