15
15
0
Once upon a time, you couldn't attend a race without seeing a slew of runners wearing Vibram Five Fingers, looking like they had lizard feet.
It seemed like nearly everyone had jumped aboard the barefoot running bandwagon by either rocking weird shoes or forgoing shoes entirely.
Today, not so much. So is barefoot running still a thing?
"The barefoot running movement has certainly fizzled over the last couple years," says Dr. Justin Franson, a podiatrist at the University Foot and Ankle Institute in Valencia, Calif.
In hopes of improving their form and gait, many runners experimented with barefoot or barefoot-feeling shoes, but quickly encountered problems.
"Runners often tried it too fast and too long and wound up with stress fractures and Achilles tendinitis, among other injuries," Franson says.
Some runners also got a little too eager to lose their shoes after reading "Born to Run"—a 2009 book about a tribe of barefoot runners in Mexico—without understanding the full context.
Franson points out that those runners have small body frames and have been walking and running barefoot since birth.
"This same idea doesn't work for a 225-pound stocky man who works at a desk for 10 hours every day and then tries to run barefoot for an hour, two to three times a week," he says.
Hit the link for the rest of the article.
@ SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas Capt Christopher MuellerCOL Mikel J. BurroughsSgt Joe LaBrancheSSgt (Join to see)Capt Seid WaddellSrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F.PO2 Ed C. SFC(P) Hercules Lobo MSG Tom EarleyPVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" NagelSGT John " Mac " McConnell SFC William Farrell LTC (Join to see) SPC Britanny *Winnie* Balthaser SSgt Robert Marx SFC (Join to see)
It seemed like nearly everyone had jumped aboard the barefoot running bandwagon by either rocking weird shoes or forgoing shoes entirely.
Today, not so much. So is barefoot running still a thing?
"The barefoot running movement has certainly fizzled over the last couple years," says Dr. Justin Franson, a podiatrist at the University Foot and Ankle Institute in Valencia, Calif.
In hopes of improving their form and gait, many runners experimented with barefoot or barefoot-feeling shoes, but quickly encountered problems.
"Runners often tried it too fast and too long and wound up with stress fractures and Achilles tendinitis, among other injuries," Franson says.
Some runners also got a little too eager to lose their shoes after reading "Born to Run"—a 2009 book about a tribe of barefoot runners in Mexico—without understanding the full context.
Franson points out that those runners have small body frames and have been walking and running barefoot since birth.
"This same idea doesn't work for a 225-pound stocky man who works at a desk for 10 hours every day and then tries to run barefoot for an hour, two to three times a week," he says.
Hit the link for the rest of the article.
@ SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas Capt Christopher MuellerCOL Mikel J. BurroughsSgt Joe LaBrancheSSgt (Join to see)Capt Seid WaddellSrA Christopher Wright LTC Stephen F.PO2 Ed C. SFC(P) Hercules Lobo MSG Tom EarleyPVT James Strait Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" NagelSGT John " Mac " McConnell SFC William Farrell LTC (Join to see) SPC Britanny *Winnie* Balthaser SSgt Robert Marx SFC (Join to see)
Is Barefoot Running Still a Thing?
Posted from active.com
Running
Marathons
Training
Fitness
Health
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
9
9
0
I started running barefoot while living in Hawaii back in 2007. I started on the beach where I ran barefoot in the sand to cushion my knee and as added resistance and then progressed to the road. I have had three knee surgeries and find that running barefoot allieviates most of the pain to my knees that I feel when I run in shoes. I have actually run numerous 5k and 10k races completely barefoot. Unfortunately the Army frowns upon it so when I do PT I run in New Balance Minimus trail shoes....the closest I can find to running barefoot. I have never tried those fiver finger shoe things and have no desire to.
(9)
(0)
SFC William Farrell
LTC (Join to see) - I'm a walker Sir. Never could run to save my life. And after having most of my spine fused, the docs told me dome even think of running, stick to what you are doing. I agree, dont knock it til you've tried it. I do live near the beach in the City of Newport, Rhode Island. Thanks for the tips, Im sure other will appreciate it. And Ill be sure to tell my two Irish friends who are marathon runners, to check it out!
(2)
(0)
CPL Brendan Hayes
LTC (Join to see) I loved my NB minimus shoes! I did my first trail marathon in them. I've done some longer road runs in the road version as well.
(1)
(0)
LTC (Join to see)
As far as I am concerned, at least for me personally, they are the best shoe out there, Although now they are near impossible to find, at least in the version I like. I have also run some longer road runs (10 milers and 1/2s) in them, as well as couple trail 50ks an never had an issue.
(0)
(0)
CPL Brendan Hayes
LTC (Join to see) - For my first trail 50k I used Merrell Trail Gloves, which are a lot like the NB Minimus. I switched back to NB shoes for my next couple of ultras. As I mention below, I ran my first and only 50 miler in NB M730, which are a lot like the NB MR10. I ended up with severely bruised feet after, so I've switched to low heel-toe offset shoes with some cushion like the Saucony Kinvara for Marathons and below. I did complete the Land Between the Lakes 60k this past March in a pair of Hoka One One trail shoes and actually enjoyed it quite a bit. For me, the key is the low heel-toe drop. The amount of cushion hasn't really been an issue one way or the other as of yet.
(0)
(0)
2
2
0
I don't necessarily endorse barefoot running but I do try to spend a lot of time barefoot when I can to include running around the yard/street with the kids. I do this for a couple of reasons. 1. It keeps the bottoms of my feet tough to ward off blisters. 2. I believe it corrects bad walking/running form. When walking or running barefoot (especially on rough/hard ground) you naturally adjust your gait to the softest, most shock absorbing landing possible. i.e. no heel striking. I don't believe that running shoes cause bad form but they can certainly mask it until you end up with knee issues (or other issues).
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I don't endorse it and wouldn't encourage it. However if it gets someone moving...all for it. Great question SP5 Mark Kuzinski
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google