The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010
runningshoescore.com
The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010
1–10 of 211 posts
Re: The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010
#2I got mine around 2012 (but not the toe version) and quickly found out that running in them for more than 15 minutes makes my feet hurt, with no sign of a training effect.
But they still serve me well as gym shoes with a very low packing volume (great for business trips).
Re: The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010
#3I got mine around 2012 (but not the toe version) and quickly found out that running in them for more than 15 minutes makes my feet hurt, with no sign of a training effect. But they still serve me well as gym shoes with a very low packing volume (great for business trips).
I've been running barefoot (real, but sometimes also in 'barefoot' shoes) on and off for years, and my feet quickly got used to it.
But then, I've always had a forefoot strike.
I also do a lot of barefoot walking.
However, the first few times I definitely ran for less than 15 minutes. That seems like overkill when getting used to barefoot running. I was sore enough in my calves for days from five minutes of running the first few times.
Re: The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010
#4It's a pretty good article.
In that era I saw two major misconceptions around minimalism in running footwear. The first is the idea that heel-to-toe "drop" is the the main important metric -- of course, a shoe company thing. Actually what matters a lot more is proprioception -- the feeling of knowing where your foot is in space relative to the ground, and also the feedback your foot is getting from the ground.
The second misconception is that it's important to switch over 100%. Related to this is a misconception that somewhat more minimalist is better. As a competitive runner, I saw benefits from mixing in barefoot strides and a couple miles per week barefoot on soccer fields while keeping my training shoes the same. I'd recommend others do the same, and very gradually increase mileage.
The challenge for research in my understanding is that it's very hard to track long-term injury prevention and performance improvement in a statistically significant way. You can measure what happens when habitually shod people do a barefoot run, and you can go to Kenya and study how habitually barefoot people land when they put on shoes, but that's different from the long term impact on your gait of changing your footwear for a long period of time. (I'm not a researcher myself but I've talked to them.)
Re: The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010
#5The article is not telling what happened after the hysteria.
This movement settled and manifested to a "natural running" idea.
We now have Altra, Topo Athletic, Hoka, Invo8 and others, offering shoes with more or less flat soles. Encouraging you to run with a natural running pose.
This does not mean cushioning wouldn't be allowed.
Re: The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010
#6i started and ran a barefoot running club back then. it doesn't make your foot stronger. but you do learn to put up with pain.
i did real no shoe barefoot running and pushed most people to try that. it did have an effect; no more twisted ankles. i got them quite often and never after 3 months of no shoes. there was a kid who eventually played d1 ball who joined because he had 'bad ankles' and still credits me for solving that.
you can get all the benefits of barefoot running by running or jogging once a week on a beach or soft grass soccer field. i think it's building up muscles in the leg to better balance you. no changes occur in the actual foot.
Re: The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010
#7I’ve been using my treadmill mostly on socks, just because I’m lazy. The thought of running barefoot outside seems… interesting and risky.
Interestingly I seem to be able to run for longer barefoot (on socks) than with shoes. There’s something about shoes that makes my legs tire faster.
Re: The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010
#8It's a pretty good article. In that era I saw two major misconceptions around minimalism in running footwear. The first is the idea that heel-to-toe "drop" is the the main important metric -- of course, a shoe company thing. Actually what matters a lot more is proprioception -- the feeling of knowing where your foot is in space relative to the ground, and also the feedback your foot is getting from the ground. The se…
I think your proprioception point is huge. I sometimes randomly get a floppy foot. In anything but structurally sound shoes, I'm wrecked. Would barefoot running have avoided the problem or exacerbated the problem?
Re: The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010
#9Anecdotally, I see a lot of people wearing minimal shoes in their daily lives. But pretty much no minimal/barefoot runners anymore
Re: The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010
#10I’ve been using my treadmill mostly on socks, just because I’m lazy. The thought of running barefoot outside seems… interesting and risky. Interestingly I seem to be able to run for longer barefoot (on socks) than with shoes. There’s something about shoes that makes my legs tire faster.
> There’s something about shoes that makes my legs tire faster.
Less weight on the parts of the body that move most during a run is an obvious benefit of not wearing shoes.