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Running Goes Barefoot

well.blogs.nytimes.com

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Re: Running Goes Barefoot

#11

Post by gcheong »

chasingsparks wrote: post #5
bhousel wrote: post #2

I've started barefoot running and I have to agree that it really helps you focus on running with proper form. People interested in running barefoot should definitely start out slow and run somewhere safe, like a soccer field or park. If you decide you like it, I also recommend checking out the Vibram Five Fingers. I only just got a pair a few weeks ago, but so far I'm having lots of fun running in them, and they give…

I run in Vibram Five Fingers. BHousel is right on when he says start out slow. The first day I got them, I excitedly ran my usual w/ shoes length of time. I spent the next two weeks with calve muscles and ligaments so sore that I had trouble walking down any lightly sloping hills or escalators. That was three months ago. I now run exclusively in these shoes. I used to have knee problems; Now, no part of my legs ever…

I'm going through this right now.

Re: Running Goes Barefoot

#12

Post by delackner »

This is turning into a recurring topic on HN. Last time it appeared I commented that some traditional japanese split-toed shoes I have are super comfy to walk in, and someone responded that they might make really good running shoes. Well I haven't tried running in them, but I recently danced on a hard packed dirt field three days straight, 6 hours, then 8 hours, then 12 hours, in these shoes with a split toe and sole about 10mm thick if that. And aside from my calves aching for the next few days, my feet were very happy. In normal shoes my feet would have been in agony by the end of the second day.

Re: Running Goes Barefoot

#13

Post by msb »

bhousel wrote: post #2

I've started barefoot running and I have to agree that it really helps you focus on running with proper form. People interested in running barefoot should definitely start out slow and run somewhere safe, like a soccer field or park. If you decide you like it, I also recommend checking out the Vibram Five Fingers. I only just got a pair a few weeks ago, but so far I'm having lots of fun running in them, and they give…

That settles it, I am going to have to try the barefoot run this week. I have yet to come across a bad overall experience by anyone who has run barefoot or used the Five Fingers or the Nike Free. I wonder if returning to lightweight running shoes after a period of barefoot running would help to improve form at all.

BTW - Light review and photo comparison of the Vibram and Nike here: http://skylertanner.com/2009/05/17/nike-free-vs-vibram-five-... for anyone interested.

Re: Running Goes Barefoot

#15

Post by cr0tus »

you have to be careful where you try this

your inclination might be to try this on trails. wrong. trails are full of rocks and tree roots. if you run barefoot or in vibram toes, you will have broken toes. any trail runner seriously bonks their toe box once per run. this is why trail shoes have toe boxes that are rock hard

i don't understand what the fascination is with barefoot running, and i say this as someone with 50+ marathons under my belt. its not something that elite runners do and novices aspire to...its more like the token town freak who shows up to the marathon in cutoff jeans. there is always one.

Re: Running Goes Barefoot

#16

Post by cr0tus »

redcap wrote: post #3

While I've always run heel first when using shoes, when running barefoot perhaps unconciously I've always gone ball/toes first - I guess it really is what comes naturally. There was also another article a while back that perked my interest with a bit about runners in South or Central America who would go ultra-long distance running with only a thin slice of rubber strapped to their feet.

heel-striking is bad no matter what you run with. you will suffer injury if you continue to heel-strike

Re: Running Goes Barefoot

#17

Post by kingkawn »

delackner wrote: post #12

This is turning into a recurring topic on HN. Last time it appeared I commented that some traditional japanese split-toed shoes I have are super comfy to walk in, and someone responded that they might make really good running shoes. Well I haven't tried running in them, but I recently danced on a hard packed dirt field three days straight, 6 hours, then 8 hours, then 12 hours, in these shoes with a split toe and sole…

Please describe the circumstances for dancing on hard packed dirt for 26 hours in three days.

Re: Running Goes Barefoot

#18

Post by latortuga »

cr0tus wrote: post #15

you have to be careful where you try this your inclination might be to try this on trails. wrong. trails are full of rocks and tree roots. if you run barefoot or in vibram toes, you will have broken toes. any trail runner seriously bonks their toe box once per run. this is why trail shoes have toe boxes that are rock hard i don't understand what the fascination is with barefoot running, and i say this as someone with…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barefoot_running#Prominent_bare...

Seems to indicate that this is something that (at least some) elite runners do.

Re: Running Goes Barefoot

#19

Post by [deleted] »

msb wrote: post #13
bhousel wrote: post #2

I've started barefoot running and I have to agree that it really helps you focus on running with proper form. People interested in running barefoot should definitely start out slow and run somewhere safe, like a soccer field or park. If you decide you like it, I also recommend checking out the Vibram Five Fingers. I only just got a pair a few weeks ago, but so far I'm having lots of fun running in them, and they give…

That settles it, I am going to have to try the barefoot run this week. I have yet to come across a bad overall experience by anyone who has run barefoot or used the Five Fingers or the Nike Free. I wonder if returning to lightweight running shoes after a period of barefoot running would help to improve form at all. BTW - Light review and photo comparison of the Vibram and Nike here: http://skylertanner.com/2009/05/17…

[deleted]

Re: Running Goes Barefoot

#20

Post by Torn »

bhousel wrote: post #2

I've started barefoot running and I have to agree that it really helps you focus on running with proper form. People interested in running barefoot should definitely start out slow and run somewhere safe, like a soccer field or park. If you decide you like it, I also recommend checking out the Vibram Five Fingers. I only just got a pair a few weeks ago, but so far I'm having lots of fun running in them, and they give…

I've had Five Finger Sprints for about a year now, and have been heavily evangelising them to my friends. Running barefoot really does feel liberating, especially going off-road through parks, fields and trails. It's like being a kid again and definitely bought the fun back into running for me. I can really hammer out the miles with them now, zero sore legs or calves. :)

It took me about a month of a few runs per week (20-30 mins) to adjust -- so not long at all. One of the mistakes I made at the start was going too far, too fast: I tried to do my usual 1h+ runs straight away in the Vibrams and was pushing-off from the ground, concentrating on staying on the balls of my feet. Bad idea.

Anyway, here's some tips from someone who has been through it:

---------------------------------

- Relax, relax, relax.

- Don't push off from the ground, rather, concentrate on lifting your thighs.

- Don't aim to balance on the balls of your feet. You're not running on tip-toes, and that's going to put insane strain on your calves. Instead, get the general area of the top half of your foot to land first, almost flat-footed is fine.

- Aim to tap the ground with your feet about 2-3 times a second, as if your feet are going in a circular motion, and passing by the ground. It's like you're incidentally propelling yourself along with gentle touches to the ground.

- Keep hips relatively low, legs relaxed, leaning slightly forward. If your calves start to hurt, then relax more.

- You will get sore calves as your feet and leg muscles get used to the new style of running. Stick with it, and don't overdo it.

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