During my incessant forum lurking I have noticed an interesting transformation happening in two different but related trends, barefoot running and the paleo diet. Both of these trends gained popularity around the same time and now are also fading and being bastardized. What I find fascinating is Americans (I am only speaking for the US as I don't know enough to give an educated opinion on other cultures) are experts at taking something that works and manipulating it to make it as painless as possible. Usually this process destroys the efficacy of that method and essentially leaves the public with advice that is watered down and inefficient. From my experience the reason these methods are modified is because they are strict, require patience and typically hard work, all things Americans are seemingly uncomfortable with.
Now that “barefoot running” is being replaced by “barefoot running in shoes” will this trend fade as well and cycle back to a desire for cushion and corrective footwear? I understand that minimalist running and barefoot running are similar, but they are so different as well. I wholeheartedly agree that used in conjunction (preferably slanted to the barefoot side) they are highly effective and the sum may be better than the individual parts. However I also feel that strictly barefoot running is more beneficial to running than strictly minimalist running. In other words the relationship is not inversely equal.
My reasoning is that minimalist shoes can be an awesome supplement that allow you to run longer and faster in a wider variety of terrains and climates. However if you ignore barefoot running you are giving up the best (and cheapest) running form coach you can find. Now if you listen and dutifully follow the instruction given by your running coach you are on your way to smooth running, soft footfalls, heightened body awareness, unmatched proprioception, greater balance, ninja like agility and more efficient running. Sure you will get a portion of these benefits from running in minimalist shoes, but it will be muted and often incomprehensible instruction. And unless you have a deeper level of understanding the message from running barefoot you will likely ignore or misinterpret the instruction being given.
I know you are all thinking “yeah, yeah footwear as tools blah blah blah”, that is not my point here. My point is a little more harsh. My point is to encourage everyone to buck the American trend of bastardizing barefoot running. Don't let the fad fade into oblivion or garner a bad name due to poor advice and ignorance. Don't quit after doing it for a couple of days. Treat it as a journey and enjoy the journey rather than looking to the horizon of running that race barefoot. Don't shy away from working at it. Learn to run well barefoot and as you become more skilled mix in minimalist shoes when necessary. Or more specifically when the benefit gained from wearing shoes outweighs the benefit lost by being barefoot.
On the other hand if you have given it a fair shake and really don't enjoy barefoot running or you find it isolating, don't force it. There are other ways besides running to make being barefoot work for you. Spend more time barefoot, go for walks barefoot, or go to the park and run the loop of smooth concrete in a controlled environment. If your friends are going for a run on a gravel trail and you can't run it barefoot, don't hesitate to wear shoes. You will have plenty of time to run alone, take advantage of running with others when you can. A friendly warning though, be cognizant and make sure you are capable of running the same pace of your group, don't overdo it to impress them, injuries blow and should be avoided at all costs.
I'll borrow and screw up a quote from a famous author: Run, occasionally in minimalist shoes, mostly barefoot.
Now that “barefoot running” is being replaced by “barefoot running in shoes” will this trend fade as well and cycle back to a desire for cushion and corrective footwear? I understand that minimalist running and barefoot running are similar, but they are so different as well. I wholeheartedly agree that used in conjunction (preferably slanted to the barefoot side) they are highly effective and the sum may be better than the individual parts. However I also feel that strictly barefoot running is more beneficial to running than strictly minimalist running. In other words the relationship is not inversely equal.
My reasoning is that minimalist shoes can be an awesome supplement that allow you to run longer and faster in a wider variety of terrains and climates. However if you ignore barefoot running you are giving up the best (and cheapest) running form coach you can find. Now if you listen and dutifully follow the instruction given by your running coach you are on your way to smooth running, soft footfalls, heightened body awareness, unmatched proprioception, greater balance, ninja like agility and more efficient running. Sure you will get a portion of these benefits from running in minimalist shoes, but it will be muted and often incomprehensible instruction. And unless you have a deeper level of understanding the message from running barefoot you will likely ignore or misinterpret the instruction being given.
I know you are all thinking “yeah, yeah footwear as tools blah blah blah”, that is not my point here. My point is a little more harsh. My point is to encourage everyone to buck the American trend of bastardizing barefoot running. Don't let the fad fade into oblivion or garner a bad name due to poor advice and ignorance. Don't quit after doing it for a couple of days. Treat it as a journey and enjoy the journey rather than looking to the horizon of running that race barefoot. Don't shy away from working at it. Learn to run well barefoot and as you become more skilled mix in minimalist shoes when necessary. Or more specifically when the benefit gained from wearing shoes outweighs the benefit lost by being barefoot.
On the other hand if you have given it a fair shake and really don't enjoy barefoot running or you find it isolating, don't force it. There are other ways besides running to make being barefoot work for you. Spend more time barefoot, go for walks barefoot, or go to the park and run the loop of smooth concrete in a controlled environment. If your friends are going for a run on a gravel trail and you can't run it barefoot, don't hesitate to wear shoes. You will have plenty of time to run alone, take advantage of running with others when you can. A friendly warning though, be cognizant and make sure you are capable of running the same pace of your group, don't overdo it to impress them, injuries blow and should be avoided at all costs.
I'll borrow and screw up a quote from a famous author: Run, occasionally in minimalist shoes, mostly barefoot.
