Confronted at the gym

Ya that was a pretty bad game. I thought about saying something to you on FB, but then I decided not to. Next week, well, it will be a closer game I think than this was, but Seattle will come out on top next week. Ponder won't have an answer for the Seattle D.;)
 
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I HAVE WON.

Below is the letter I sent to David LLoyd, Cheadle, England.

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am a barefoot runner and try to adopt a barefoot lifestyle. I have been for a couple of years. I am an ex marathon runner but found I was picking up injuries to my knees and also plantar fasciitis.

Following the worldwide success of the publication Born To Run I took on barefoot running to see if it helped my injuries.

http://www.chrismcdougall.com/

The results were virtually immediate. My form changed so I no longer became a heel striker and my cadence quickened resulting in my feet landing below my center of gravity. My arches and bent knees are all I need for cushioning and support. Shoes take away your proprioception and cause you to run with poor form. It is a myth that runners need support and cushioning which you can see from the major manufacturers u turn on the footwear they are now producing. Every company is trying to sell a ‘barefoot’ shoe.

There have been many studies on form/heel strike, perhaps the most widely regarded is by Harvard professor Daniel Lieberman:

http://barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu/


A couple of weeks ago I was approached by the gym manager saying I needed to wear shoes. I asked why, he said ‘in case you drop a weight on your feet’. I said I was only going on the treadmill to which he replied ‘what if you fall off and cut your foot?’ I found this comment somewhat surprising and I believe I have signed a disclaimer when I joined absolving David Lloyd of any responsibility. He asked me to put trainers on to which I said I don’t own any. He asked what I came in and I said running sandals which have no upper. Apparently they were OK to wear even though my upper feet weren’t protected. He sighted health and safety then changed his mind to club etiquette as he couldn’t really find a plausible argument for me not being barefoot. Now if I had any sort of infection then clearly I have a responsibility to others just as I do when I am in the pool/sauna/steam room/outside in summer where there is no issue with being barefoot. Why is it OK those areas, some of which are very slippy and transmit infection easily, but not in the gym?

I am writing to seek permission to be barefoot in the gym. I believe it is far healthier than wearing shoes, it strengthens bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, produces good form and reduces lower leg injuries. The soles of the feet have the toughest skin on the body and after running outside for two years mine are even tougher, almost like leather.
I am happy to sign any sort of extra disclaimer if necessary.

Finally here is a fitness class that is proving popular in America should you wish to take a look?

http://www.fitnessgoop.com/2012/11/barefoot-workout-gains-followers-willpower-method/

I look forward to hearing from you.

Their sports manager discussed it with senior members of the group and while they recommend something to wear on the soles of my feet they will not make me wear them. He said 10 years ago they would never have allowed it but they are more than aware that the barefoot movement is growing.

Happy days.
 
Great example of how effective letter writing can be. Congratulations!
 
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I swim barefoot at my gym all the time. I haven't taken a yoga class yet, but I bet they're barefoot. In my tai chi class, half of the people wear shoes, half wear socks, and I'm barefoot. It is sort of hard to determine why it's ok in part of the gym but not in other parts ...
 
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The thing started when I was shopping at Kroger in suburban Detroit a few years ago. Two large old white ladies approached me and told me I needed shoes because of health department regulations. I told them they were incorrect, and continued pushing my buggy. They continued to double team me, adding the insurance excuse which I also debunked, so eventually they said "A customer complained". I looked at them sheepishly and said "Well in that case I better go get some shoes before I continue with my shopping" As they smiled and nodded I motioned for them to come closer and I whispered to them "I noticed a rather large black gentleman shopping in aisle three, I feel VERY uncomfortable around black people, will you please tell him to leave the store so I can continue shopping once I get some shoes?" I ended up shopping till I dropped, wrote corporate a letter, they were reprimanded and I was assured of barefoot shopping freedom for ALL by Kroger of Michigan.

LOL that is hilarious! So are Kroger stores run on a state-by-state basis? Was the "shoes required" portion of the sign near the door removed or covered up at stores in your area? Because they sure as heck still exist here, although I have been in there BF several times without incident. I don't normally shop there because of their high prices. I usually shop at Aldi and Walmart and have never had issue there, either.
 
Good work! Glad you have a turn around, and this means since they will do it for you, they should have to do it for others there too.
 
So are Kroger stores run on a state-by-state basis? Was the "shoes required" portion of the sign near the door removed or covered up at stores in your area?
The letter was signed by the manager of operations Kroger of Michigan. I'm not sure how they are set up, but when challenged at other Kroger stores in Michigan the letter signed by him was good as gold. Neither my wife nor I have had problems in any other state at Kroger stores. Also, there were no signs prohibiting bare feet even before the encounter.
Another Michigan BFRunner and member here (Dmchesney) wrote his own letter, and received a similar positive response. Challenged at a different Michigan location his letter also worked like a charm.
 
So are Kroger stores run on a state-by-state basis?

It is a "regional" basis. However, usually it just depends on an individual store manager. If he/she doesn't mind, you're fine. If you have to escalate to the regional office, it's a crap shoot. Here in central Ohio, I've shopped my local Kroger's barefoot for nearly 11 years without incident (back then I showed my Health Dept. letter to the manager who exclaimed: "I love going barefoot. Can I have a copy of your letter?") Since then I seem to be grandfathered in. However, in a different Kroger farther away, I had a problem, escalated it, and their droids claimed they had a rule (but would not show it to me).
 
As an alternative to gyms, try yoga classes! Everyone is barefoot!

Yeah but I've heard that dirty feet in a yoga class are frowned upon. You remove your shoes to keep the mats from getting all dirty, but with no shoes to remove your feet are all dirty. Unless you wash them off first, I guess.
 
Yeah but I've heard that dirty feet in a yoga class are frowned upon. You remove your shoes to keep the mats from getting all dirty, but with no shoes to remove your feet are all dirty. Unless you wash them off first, I guess.
I don't think that's true, but in any case, nothing wrong with wearing some sandals over there. I mean, especially if you have your own mat, it wouldn't be a big deal.
I tried gyms for years, and just came to the conclusion they're for a certain type of personality. I don't like the meat market scene, and the blaring music, the noisey machines, the wierdly muscley dudes grunting, and the tvs playing. Not relaxing at all. Better to just avoid them. I have no desire to be a bulked up protein-drink swilling manly-man anyways!
 
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Way back when I was a shod runner I belonged to a gym with a great indoor track - 10 laps/mile - which I used about 3 or 4 times a week in the winter.
When I started running barefoot it didn't take long for the management to shut me down. Ironically a large part of the track was directly in front of the glass-enclosed aerobics room, which also was used for martial arts classes. So while I was not allowed to run on the track barefoot, just steps away there were 25 or 30 people doing hour-long workouts completely barefoot. Pointing out the inconsistency of this to the gym manager was like talking to a stone wall. I quit the gym shortly thereafter. I now do all of my running outside, and when the weather is too bad I just take a break for a day or two.