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Al B.
Al B. Sendmail

Is Barefoot Running Dangerous?

posted 10 months ago | Report

<body><p>For many runners, up until recently, choosing the correct footwear would be essential to their training. This does not mean, however, that today&rsquo;s athletes in training have taken to wearing any old shoe whilst jogging or sprinting; rather many have eschewed footwear altogether and taken up barefoot running. Proponents of this technique have stated it is the way that humans are meant to run and, as such, this style is much healthier and more beneficial for them. Yet, the question remains, is there any truth to this? Or, as the naysayers state, can barefoot running actually cause harm and injury to its practitioners? Read more >>> http://runningandmarathon.com/2012/07/is-barefoot-running-dangerous.html

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  • Jimmy J.
    Jimmy J. Sendmail

    I don't know if its bad for you or not. But one of my personal experiences was my 1st of only 2 Boston Marathons. I was standing at the starting line right next to a "guy" that was barefoot. He told me he loved running barefoot, had done it once before in another Marathon and actually finished.

    But I'm a guy that doesn't like bare feet. I never did even as a child, so wearing shoes is easy for me, lol. I will say it was sometime after my comeback to running, and at least half of my 10/Marathons before I even knew I had a foot type, lol. I clearly see now, but I still think they hype up the shoe buying way too much.

    I currently have a couple of different types of shoes, and they both feel great on my feet when I run in them. I didn't really answer your question, but I love to respond sometimes when I see a post I like. If you want to be friends send me a request.
    ...God Bless.. Jimmy. ( =

    posted 10 months ago

  • Erik K.
    Erik K. Sendmail

    I think barefoot running is less dangerous than running in over-correcting shoes. It's different than running in modern running shoes so those switching tend to overdo it and that can lead to injuries. Personally, I prefer to do a little barefoot traing but do most of my miles in minimal shoes. I'd also add that taking off your shoes without adjusting your running form can be a dangerous combination. While the shoes, or lack thereof, tends to get the attention, I believe that the change in form is more important.

    posted 10 months ago

  • David R.
    David R. Sendmail

    I have seen research supporting both sides. Having tried moving into barefoot, I think I have worn shoes now for too many years, so probably will not happen. I ran all over as a child with no shoes. What will probably happen is moving into more minimalist shoes as I correct a heel strike.

    posted 10 months ago

  • James S.
    James S. Sendmail

    Great article!

    If you want to be a barefoot runner or a runner who doesn't have to rely so much on what braces (shoes) to wear, the key is to strengthen the muscles that resist the impacts which I call the landing muscles, the spring suspension system muscles or the pronation supination cuff muscles.

    Here are my last two articles you might find helpful:

    How Does The Body Spring Back Safely From Impacts Of Running and Walking?

    http://teamdoctorsblog.com/2012/06/13/video-tutorial-12-is-running-bad-for-knees-how-the-body-springs-back-safely-from-impacts-of-running/

    Self-Tests & Exercises To Reduce Over Pronation and Over Supination From Impacts During Walking and Running

    http://teamdoctorsblog.com/2012/06/18/video-tutorial-28-the-impact-absorbing-landing-muscles-of-the-human-spring-mechanism-testing-and-training-the-spring-suspension-muscles/

    Dr James Stoxen DC, President, Team Doctors The Barefoot Running Doctor

    posted 10 months ago

  • Bryan P.
    Bryan P. Sendmail

    I read this article and then read Born to Run, and found Christopher McDougall's arguments to be incredibly convincing, starting with the argument that all you have to do is look at 4-5 year old kids.
    I personally think the argument that shoes correct our running for is slightly backwards. Correct running form is correct running form...no matter what kind of shoes you are wearing. Once you have corrected your running form, then consider the change in shoes.
    One of MacDougall's weakest points (IMHO) is that it is impossible to overpronate with a midfoot foot-strike. What he should have said was "once the muscles in our feet have strengthened...it is impossible to overpronate"

    One of his strongest points was that by "supporting" our arches, we actually weaken our arches (start playing with this idea with harder and softer surfaces, with and without arch supports, and you can prove this to yourself).

    I have been cautious because I've over-pronated all my life and am overweight so I've taken the transition slow...(this makes absolute sense!!), but after 10 months I can literally see the changes in the muscles in my feet).

    As far as the title "Born to Run" - an unbiased version of the story can be found here
    http://discovermagazine.com/2006/may/tramps-like-us/article_view?b_start:int=0&amp;-C=

    My own opinion (opting to believe in intelligent creation) is that God just meant us to run :-)

    posted 10 months ago

  • Ren S.
    Ren S. Sendmail
    in reply to what Bryan P. said:I read this article and then read Born to Run, and found Christopher McDougall's arguments to be incredibly convincing, starting with the argument that all you have to do is look at 4-5 year old kids. I personally think the argument that shoe... read more

    I'm a barefoot runner. Been running barefoot for a year now, transition from 5 fingers and Altra Adams. I used to run in regular running shoes, had to wear a knee brace when running. I was told by a podiatrist I had flat feet + had 10 extra bones in my right foot. Now I have stronger feet with a normal arch.

    posted 9 months ago

  • Paul G.
    Paul G. Sendmail
    in reply to what Ren S. said:I'm a barefoot runner. Been running barefoot for a year now, transition from 5 fingers and Altra Adams. I used to run in regular running shoes, had to wear a knee brace when running. I was told by a podiatrist I had flat feet + had 10 extr... read more

    Hi Ren

    I too have flat feet and so your comments interests me. If I can ask, how was it starting as a barefoot runner with flat feet? I'm curious to know what the 'learning curve' was like and what you went through.

    Also did you regain an arch?

    take care

    posted 9 months ago

  • Ren S.
    Ren S. Sendmail

    You have to start slow, don't get carried away and run a 5k when you first start or you will really feel it the next day, foot pain and calf pain. I know some some people who tried this and got easily discouraged and went back to shoes. Your feet needs some time to adapt and gradually get strong. Run in your reg shoes then the last .2 miles take them off and run barefoot. Gradually increase the distance. Also check out the barefoot running forum on http://www.runnersworld.com/community/forums/runner-communities/barefoot-running and also the barefoot running society http://www.thebarefootrunners.org/
    One thing I wish I would have done is make a foot print of my feet before the transition, then make another one once my feet adapted.
    Good luck and remember be patient , it takes time for the transition but well worth it.

    posted 9 months ago

  • Ren S.
    Ren S. Sendmail

    You have to start slow, don't get carried away and run a 5k when you first start or you will really feel it the next day, foot pain and calf pain. I know some some people who tried this and got easily discouraged and went back to shoes. Your feet needs some time to adapt and gradually get strong. Run in your reg shoes then the last .2 miles take them off and run barefoot. Gradually increase the distance. Also check out the barefoot running forum on http://www.runnersworld.com/community/forums/runner-communities/barefoot-running and also the barefoot running society http://www.thebarefootrunners.org/
    One thing I wish I would have done is make a foot print of my feet before the transition, then make another one once my feet adapted.
    Good luck and remember be patient , it takes time for the transition but well worth it.

    posted 9 months ago

  • Newfile
    Newfile Sendmail

    Yes.

    posted 9 months ago | edited 9 months ago

  • Chris M.
    Chris M. Sendmail

    To me the validity of the whole minimalist / barefoot movement seems so blatantly obvious that I'm kind of shocked the movement hasn't arrived sooner.

    You don't have to be a bio-physicist to observe the way in which our feet and legs have evolved to store and return energy. And it's also not hard to visualize how a heel strike bypasses all of that evolutionary goodness.

    I think cushy wedge shoes with inch-thick heels are to running like alcohol is to driving. They both insulate our senses from something we should be able to sense and react to more directly.

    If you don't believe that there's an anatomically 'preferred' way our limbs have evolved to move, try this simple experiment. Jump up and down 10 times. Now do it again, but force each jump to take 5 seconds. Now force each jump to take less than 1/2 second.

    It's maybe a dumb exaggeration, but there is unquestionably a way that our bodies have evolved to move efficiently and i think we owe it to ourselves as runners to find that natural stride we were meant to use.

    Anecdotally, I had not been able to run more than 1/2 mile for the last 15 years because of sharp knee pain that would always occur with pretty sudden onset. I went to sports physicians, did stretches, exercises, used a hard foam roller, bought the "most comfortable and supportive" running shoes I could find, went to a physical therapist, and even had meniscus surgery. None of it helped. Know what did? Switching to minimalist shoes and changing to a quick turnover stride with a mid/forefoot landing.

    Up to about 10 miles now with my first HM in September. I'm just one guy, but I'm convinced that this movement is here to stay.

    posted 9 months ago

  • Chris B.
    Chris B. Sendmail

    Anything can be dangerous with the wrong approach. I began incorporating barefoot running into my training in 2008 to strengthen my feet for ultras. I typically limit my barefoot runs to areas I am very familiar with, and to around 5 miles. Once I warm up, I find that I can easily run barefoot at 5k race pace and my natural barefoot pace seems to be quicker than my shod pace. I wasn't injured before barefoot training and not injured since. I also put 1000 - 2000 miles on every pair of shoes for whatever that's worth.

    Perhaps the best thing is that running barefoot makes me feel like I am 10 years old, and at 50 that is a really good feeling.

    posted 9 months ago

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