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The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010

runningshoescore.com

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Re: The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010

#41

Post by lukan »

mapcars wrote: post #37

There are so many things put together here almost randomly, because of that its easy to criticise the whole thing, but there are some reasonable things in it. Having barefoot connection with soil is definitely good for you, so is any reasonable exposure to nature. The key here is exposure to nature, walking on asphalt or concrete is not nature. This is about walking barefoot so that your soles connect to the soil, ea…

"In modern world you have to be careful and watch out for sharp objects, all kinds of garbage etc."

Also in the pre modern world. Spikey plants are in many places and my feet regular hurt in summer.

"but even the holiest of people would wear shoes when going on rough terrain"

Unless when done with purpose. It is a good awareness training, walking through the bushes barefeet. One moment of distraction .. ouch.

Re: The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010

#42

Post by iamacyborg »

mapcars wrote: post #37

There are so many things put together here almost randomly, because of that its easy to criticise the whole thing, but there are some reasonable things in it. Having barefoot connection with soil is definitely good for you, so is any reasonable exposure to nature. The key here is exposure to nature, walking on asphalt or concrete is not nature. This is about walking barefoot so that your soles connect to the soil, ea…

> Having barefoot connection with soil is definitely good for you

Citation needed

Re: The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010

#43

Post by JKCalhoun »

To add to the anecdotal support for barefoot running: I ran in traditional running shoes for years ... and my knees were eventually not happy. I gave up running, assuming I just had bad knees.

When I heard about barefoot running a year or so later, I tried it. Running on the balls of my feet took some re-learning but the knee pain never came back. I continued to run for 4 or 5 years. (I'm not sure why I started walking instead of running — getting older? Or to share the time with my non-running wife?)

(On a tangent: I dislike any kind of shoe-clip when biking. I feel that pulling up on your leg/knee to power a bicycle goes against the design of our knee.)

Re: The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010

#44

Post by mrweasel »

dakiol wrote: post #22
mrweasel wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know a guy who has been no shoes for almost 20 years now. I think he does use the shoes with the toes when running, but in everyday life, he's just no shoes, no socks. The exception is situations where he's in a formal wear, in those cases he does put on shoes. Most others who didn't the barefoot running have all quit.

You guys wear footwear at home? I never wear anything (not even socks, except when it’s really cold outside, so like 2 weeks per year).

Should have mentioned: This is outdoor (and indoor), in Denmark, year round, including winter.

Re: The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010

#45

Post by iamacyborg »

threeseed wrote: post #38
spacecadet wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This. Shoes are meaningless, pose, stride, biomechanical process.

They can make a difference for athletes: "The data showed significant differences in the oxygen uptake (a way to measure the energy cost of running) in the Vaporfly shoe resulting in a 2.8 percent improved running economy, or the amount of energy it takes a runner to go a certain distance, over the Adidas shoe on average" https://lifesciences.byu.edu/can-your-shoes-really-make-you-...

Also the significant benefits that comes from improved post-run recovery with modern super shoes, allowing athletes to run significantly more weekly mileage.

Re: The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010

#46

Post by epage »

I'm still running in my vibrams mostly because I've not had a reason to change and researching alternative shoes is annoying and expensive, limiting my experimentation with different brands and models. I also put in a good amount of mileage and worry how long the shoe will last. I'm mostly considering changing because vibrams aren't on sale as often, carried by fewer retailers, and sizing online is a pain (especially when they don't list the european size).

I didn't start out of any book hype but bought a pair out of curiosity and then lost my regular running shoes before a race. It was a monthly 5k and my time dramatically improved that month (I had also switched to a standing desk, making root cause fuzzier, which I also still use). Most of my running is on rough, rocky trails except when they are wet or for the 5k.

Re: The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010

#47

Post by virtualritz »

Hendrikto wrote: post #23
virtualritz wrote: post #11

I bought a pair of the original Vibram Five Fingers while living in London, 2007/2008. It was more out of curiosity than anything. They were displayed in a shop window in Spitalfields and looked bizarre in an appealing way. I was never a runner/jogger. But I do walk a lot. Especially in summer. For example, if something is 20 walking minutes away and public transport takes 15, I walk. I wore the Five Fingers all summ…

> I have exceptionally strong feet and I attribute it to these shoes. It’s probably more because of this: > But I do walk a lot. […] For example, if something is 20 walking minutes away and public transport takes 15, I walk.

Maybe it's indeed just the walking.

The shoes I wear most other times are oxfords, monks or brogues however.

These kinda lock your foot in place, metatarsal and arch of the foot are not 'exercised' as much because of the rigidity of these shoes.

I do use more feet muscles in my Five Fingers for the simple fact that these shoes allow me to do that.

You can kinda flex your feet and e.g. choose to land only on the metatarsal and feel safe.

Re: The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010

#48

Post by lm28469 »

> strongly worded claims: barefoot running prevented injuries; barefoot running was more efficient; heel striking was evil; barefoot running was the natural and therefore "correct" way to run.

Anecdata: a friend of mine has been running for years, and for years he complained about knee pain. As it turns out he was heel striking the whole time, it completely disappeared since I told him to run 50 meters barefoot to find his "natural" point of contact

Re: The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010

#49

Post by iamacyborg »

virtualritz wrote: post #11

I bought a pair of the original Vibram Five Fingers while living in London, 2007/2008. It was more out of curiosity than anything. They were displayed in a shop window in Spitalfields and looked bizarre in an appealing way. I was never a runner/jogger. But I do walk a lot. Especially in summer. For example, if something is 20 walking minutes away and public transport takes 15, I walk. I wore the Five Fingers all summ…

Shop window in Spitalfields - that didn’t happen to be a personal training gym called The Foundry, did it?

Re: The Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010

#50

Post by lm28469 »

JKCalhoun wrote: post #43

To add to the anecdotal support for barefoot running: I ran in traditional running shoes for years ... and my knees were eventually not happy. I gave up running, assuming I just had bad knees . When I heard about barefoot running a year or so later, I tried it. Running on the balls of my feet took some re-learning but the knee pain never came back. I continued to run for 4 or 5 years. (I'm not sure why I started walk…

Same for a friend of mine, years of heel strikes and doctors appointment to cure his bad knees. Cured after 5 mins of barefoot running and finding his natural stance
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