What's your experience with barefoot running?

I haven’t run barefoot since I was a little kid. But if I recall…stones, twigs, bees, prickly plants, dog poop, rusty nails, mud…

Do you wear those socky things when you run, or completely barefoot?

I saw a few people doing this today. Considering we were on asphalt and there was all kinds of debris on the ground, it didn’t seem like a good idea. Maybe if it were out in nature it would be okay. I’d try it. I really hate shoes. You lost me on the spiritual aspect, though.

I haven’t tried it either, but I was considering it. Your description is even more inspiring! I may have to get a pair of those ugly feet shoes now. :) I’ve heard that the benefits are huge and I’m a firm believer in doing things naturally – as they should be done.

I believe you are experiencing is a oneness and a grounding with all that is around you. I have that with riding a horse in the woods and glens with it lasting sometimes for days. Or about 10 minutes into meditating for a quieter wonderment.

I can run better barefoot than not but I am not a runner. I would have to wear the footies. We have rocks on our roads.

I hardly ever wear shoes, but I suggest people would have to have much stronger feet than I do. There is a product that can be used to toughen the skin.

I always had totally flat feet and every little stone, bottle cap, piece of glass hurt my feet.

Have you read “The Zen of Running” By Fred Rohe? I think that you can download it for free from his website. I’ve seen and talked to several barefoot runners at marathons (NY City, Portland, St George and Seattle Rock N Roll). I tried to run barefoot once and it felt very good for exactly 2 blocks and then my feet felt like they were on fire. I don’t know how you barefoot runners do it but I love it! More power to you!

Well, as a general response for the uninitiated, there’s definitely a huge training period : ) When I first started my feet would be killing me and my lower calves would be on fire for days! But eventually your feet toughen up (both the muscles and the skin) and soon enough asphalt is a breeze! Of course grass is always the best. I’d give it maybe 2 solid months, starting over from ground zero in terms of distance (I used to run 5+ miles at a time, and only now after 4 months am I starting to get back up to that). It’s a strange experience because you work different muscle groups than shod running does. The idea is to have your muscles on your legs absorb most of the shock rather than your shin/femur/spine.

Also, you don’t have to worry too much about twigs, glass, rocks or nails after a while. You instinctively develop a knack for scanning the ground ahead of you for possible foot danger and avoid it accordingly. That’s not to say nasty thorns in the foot don’t happen occasionally though.

@silverfly You should definitely give it a try. The ugly feet shoes are a good way to start, but honestly the best teacher in terms of developing your natural form/gait are your bare naked feet : ) Go for a nice little half mile jog around your local park! I’d recommend “Born to Run” as an introduction to the idea, and The Running Barefoot site as a guide in terms of technique.

@gondwanalon I haven’t read that, but it sounds like a good read! I’ll check it out. Make sure you toughen your feet before you start going for a stroll on asphalt!

When I ran track and cross country then it was common for most of us to experiment with barefoot running but in the end we opted for shoes. You never know what piece of something is going to give you a poke, upset your balance and send you into a fall, spasms or plain old pain. Personally, I like the zen of soft, smooth, clean massaged feet that slip like butter beneath cotton sheets.

You might be interested in this podcast on Skeptoid.com
http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4185

@BarefootChris – I love that book, I have it on my iPod and I listen to it regularly for the inspiration it provides. And I too was intrigued by the emphasis on barefoot running, just not enough to actually give it a try. It just seems as if there is too much glass around, but you make me want to give it a try. (are you really Barefoot Ted in disguise???)

@Rarebear – thanks for the link, that was also interesting and thought provoking.

I think I am going to have to try a pair of the ugly feet things, I saw them in a shop just last week. They are definitely odd looking.

In the Australian bush, the Aboriginal people most all go barefoot, they too have developed such tough callouses on the soles of their feet I was always astounded that they could walk on melting blacktop on the hottest days without noticing. It was burning me right through my Sauconys. They also play all sports barefoot, Australia Rules Footy, I don’t see how they can kick barefoot but they do. The only kid in town with cleats is usually not allowed to play because he tramps on other unprotected toes!

There is Tarahumara blood in my family, and though I do like walking around barefoot, I didn’t inherit any of their epic marathon abilities.

But the way you described a spiritual awakening just by running around barefoot is something I never thought of, and now I find really damn inspiring.

Fred Rohe can be considered the God Father of barefoot running. Here’s some of his thoughts from his book (1970) “The Zen of Running”:

Altho you shouldn’t let anyone
Tell you how to run
Any more than you should let anyone
Tell you how to live
Your life,
There is one principle
Useful to all who run:
Run as erect as possible!

whatever you do
with your running,
you only cheat yourself
by pushing, pressing, competing

There are no standards
and no possible victories except
the joy you are living
while dancing your run.
in any life
joy is only known
in this moment — now!
so feel the flow
of your dance
and know
you are not running
for some future reward—
the real reward is now!
in the running
in the run
—- now—-
why not start
now?

I used to occasionally trail run barefoot during lunch when I forgot to take my running shoes to work. It actually worked out quite well for trail running, although the occasional toe stub was pretty damn painful.

I’ve been barefoot running for almost a year now with my Vibrams. It’s so comfortable and flexible to wear – like wearing slippers. I also noticed how my ankles became better – as I used to have sprains before I had my Vibrams.

@BareFootRunner – I am intrigued by these shoes with toes. Which model do you have, on the vibram Australia site they don’t really say any of the models are specifically designed for running? Also what happens if you tramp on glass, is the sole thick enough to protect you? When I run over 5 or 6k my toes always seem to cramp, I have tried running without socks but that leads to blisters and I know my shoes fit properly so I don’t know what is the cause. Maybe these would help.

I’m so desperate to stop injuring myself I’m thinking about giving this a shot… I would love to hear anyone else’s experience with injury and whether barefoot running made it better or worse.