Barefooting Myths

Hello,
How are you all doing? Once I have some free time on my hands, I plan to publish a book (an actual book and not one for my Wattpad) dedicated to exposing as many barefooting myths (whether they are common, uncommon, or just plan stupid/ignorant) as I possibly can (through my point of view). So, I would like some help from all of you to list as many barefooting myths you know and/or you were told or even overheard. I will write them down and get started with my writing as soon as possible.
 
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That sounds like a neat idea. I'll try to think of some. How about incorporating some shoddie myths too? For example, wearing shoes while weightlifting (at the gym) won't protect your feet anymore than if you're barefoot. Either way, you'll most likely crush a bone if you drop your weights on your foot. :wideeyed:
 
That sounds like a neat idea. I'll try to think of some. How about incorporating some shoddie myths too? For example, wearing shoes while weightlifting (at the gym) won't protect your feet anymore than if you're barefoot. Either way, you'll most likely crush a bone if you drop your weights on your foot. :wideeyed:

True but it's just nasty at a commercial gym to go barefoot and most gyms forbid it. If you have your own home gym then do what you want
 
True but it's just nasty at a commercial gym to go barefoot and most gyms forbid it. If you have your own home gym then do what you want
And therein lies a myth itself...

Some would say the germs and bacteria inside your shoes are much nastier and harmful than the ground exposed to air.
 
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I thought we were talking about myths, not rules.
 
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That sounds like a neat idea. I'll try to think of some. How about incorporating some shoddie myths too? For example, wearing shoes while weightlifting (at the gym) won't protect your feet anymore than if you're barefoot. Either way, you'll most likely crush a bone if you drop your weights on your foot. :wideeyed:

That seems fair on something I can reference; thanks and let me know if you know any more. Just because one wear shoes does not mean they are safe to something dropping on your foot.


And therein lies a myth itself...

Some would say the germs and bacteria inside your shoes are much nastier and harmful than the ground exposed to air.

Also, there have been several that have proven that shoes are dirtier than the average toilet seat.


Possibly but if you pay for a commercial gym you have to abide by their rules

Actually, it is legal to be barefoot in any place, which includes gyms (even though not everyone knows that), but I do not go to gyms and just recommend home gyms and barefoot jogs outside to save money.
 
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I posted on reddit today my latest thoughts on "running on hard surfaces is bad for you." I believe this is a general running injury myth, though, not just specific to barefoot. However, barefoot is how I keep myself from getting injured on hard surfaces.

https://www.reddit.com/r/BarefootRu..._are_not_the_problem/?st=jgcp75ks&sh=094210c4

Good article.

Difficult surfaces teach us to run gently, especially when we are mindful.

In addition to not being mindful when running, I also believe that people who suffer from stress fractures, etc., when running barefoot, not just on hard surfaces, do so because their feet are soft, weak, and atrophied. Their connective tissues, bones, muscles, etc., cannot handle running in the same fashion they are used to. They have been coddled in cushion, and it's literary a shock to their bodies and feet when they run without cushioning or so-called protection. Of course for the newbie, too much too soon, and a false sense of invincibility with minshoes also can lead to stress fractures, etc.
 
In addition to not being mindful when running, I also believe that people who suffer from stress fractures, etc., when running barefoot, not just on hard surfaces, do so because their feet are soft, weak, and atrophied.

Certainly! And it all ties together. Because they're not being mindful they're not paying attention to or intentionally ignoring the warning signs from their feet.

As a species we're very tough, resilient and stubborn. I know for myself that lead to a misunderstanding about how to adapt to barefoot. I thought I'd just have to pound my feet into submission and the skin would toughen to superhuman levels. Of course, that just resulted in beat up feet and I didn't really see improvements in my running until I learned to listen to that pain and discomfort and let it instruct me.

Same with people who first try barefoot or minimalist. I think there's a bit of fault in the general attitude of "just take off the shoes" and assuming people will immediately figure it out on their own. They take their own assumptions and stubbornness into it and too often do what I did and don't really change anything just abuse their feet thinking they'll develop a 1:1 replacement for shoes somehow.
 
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makes sense. I remember when I first started to use minimalist shoes and noticed the sharp difference between a shoe with padding and one without. I may run barefoot occasionally in the future but right now i'll stick to minimalist shoes

My one big regret looking back 6 years after going minimalist is I didn't mix in at least a little unshod running right away. I started unshod about 3 years ago and it's really improved my running all-around.

Minimalist shoes helped me learn to run without injury.

Unshod running made me a better runner full-stop.

All I ever hoped to get out of minimalist running was injury avoidance. That's certainly a great goal for anybody in this sport that's plagued with injuries. But it's also a real low bar.

I didn't think I needed to go unshod and really only did it because I was in my early 40s and wanted to prove something. What I got was more than just "hey, lookit me I can run barefoot." It truly exposed serious inefficiencies in my gait. Once I finally started respecting the discomfort and listening to what my feet were telling me my weekly mileage took an immediate jump. One week I was struggling to do 25-30 and the next I hit 45. I didn't get magically in better shape in 7 days I just finally started running in a way where I wasn't needlessly stomping or scratching my feet on the ground. That first long mileage week also included one of the fastest 7 mile runs I'd ever had. It kind of blew me away the difference it made.
 
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My one big regret looking back 6 years after going minimalist is I didn't mix in at least a little unshod running right away. I started unshod about 3 years ago and it's really improved my running all-around.

Minimalist shoes helped me learn to run without injury.

Unshod running made me a better runner full-stop.

All I ever hoped to get out of minimalist running was injury avoidance. That's certainly a great goal for anybody in this sport that's plagued with injuries. But it's also a real low bar.

I didn't think I needed to go unshod and really only did it because I was in my early 40s and wanted to prove something. What I got was more than just "hey, lookit me I can run barefoot." It truly exposed serious inefficiencies in my gait. Once I finally started respecting the discomfort and listening to what my feet were telling me my weekly mileage took an immediate jump. One week I was struggling to do 25-30 and the next I hit 45. I didn't get magically in better shape in 7 days I just finally started running in a way where I wasn't needlessly stomping or scratching my feet on the ground. That first long mileage week also included one of the fastest 7 mile runs I'd ever had. It kind of blew me away the difference it made.

nice dude. what surfaces do you usually run on? i'd be hesitant to run on roads near me due to broken glass and other random debris strewn about. i'm not trying to set records or anything but I want to run without the "protection" of extra padding but still have a shoe on. probably will invest in some xero's
 
nice dude. what surfaces do you usually run on? i'd be hesitant to run on roads near me due to broken glass and other random debris strewn about. i'm not trying to set records or anything but I want to run without the "protection" of extra padding but still have a shoe on. probably will invest in some xero's

Heh. As a matter of fact I just made up something kind of tongue-and-cheek about the surfaces I run on:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BarefootRu...ns_of_my_usual_route/?st=jge2ytgb&sh=62681a9a

Part of the point of unshod running is specifically how you watch out for debris and other stuff. That's what we mean by "mindful" running. As a matter of fact I seek out challenging surfaces rather than avoid them because it teaches me so much.

Just a few short exercises in bare feet before going out for a run in shoes or sandals will help. Find a stretch of rough pavement or even gravel and go for a 100 meter or so barefoot run on it. If you feel like some idiot tenderfoot ouch-ouch-ouching along you're doing it right. It's an exaggeration but that's close to how your whole body should move while running regardless the surface, footwear or lack thereof. You'll be constantly working to lift those feet off the ground as quick as you can to minimize contact with the ground, back straight, arms up and working and always alert with every footstep.
 
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Heh. As a matter of fact I just made up something kind of tongue-and-cheek about the surfaces I run on:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BarefootRu...ns_of_my_usual_route/?st=jge2ytgb&sh=62681a9a

Part of the point of unshod running is specifically how you watch out for debris and other stuff. That's what we mean by "mindful" running. As a matter of fact I seek out challenging surfaces rather than avoid them because it teaches me so much.

Just a few short exercises in bare feet before going out for a run in shoes or sandals will help. Find a stretch of rough pavement or even gravel and go for a 100 meter or so barefoot run on it. If you feel like some idiot tenderfoot ouch-ouch-ouching along you're doing it right. It's an exaggeration but that's close to how your whole body should move while running regardless the surface, footwear or lack thereof. You'll be constantly working to lift those feet off the ground as quick as you can to minimize contact with the ground, back straight, arms up and working and always alert with every footstep.
You really should (hint, hint), post your articles on your Blog here (create one). Just a little birdie...
 
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Heh. As a matter of fact I just made up something kind of tongue-and-cheek about the surfaces I run on:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BarefootRu...ns_of_my_usual_route/?st=jge2ytgb&sh=62681a9a

Part of the point of unshod running is specifically how you watch out for debris and other stuff. That's what we mean by "mindful" running. As a matter of fact I seek out challenging surfaces rather than avoid them because it teaches me so much.

Just a few short exercises in bare feet before going out for a run in shoes or sandals will help. Find a stretch of rough pavement or even gravel and go for a 100 meter or so barefoot run on it. If you feel like some idiot tenderfoot ouch-ouch-ouching along you're doing it right. It's an exaggeration but that's close to how your whole body should move while running regardless the surface, footwear or lack thereof. You'll be constantly working to lift those feet off the ground as quick as you can to minimize contact with the ground, back straight, arms up and working and always alert with every footstep.

what's the longest you've ran barefoot? would you attempt a marathon barefoot? or a half marathon?
 
I have completed a marathon unshod, as a matter of fact. Just this past October. I've got a couple other events I'm planning on this year including a 50K trail run I'll be doing unshod (packing my Xero sandals with me just in case).

When I was foolishly trying to pound my feet into submission I could get up to 3 or 4 miles before I had to hobble home because the skin was stinging so bad. Once I respected my skin and learned to run light it was like there was no limit to how far I could run unshod. The only surface I can't do long-term is harsh gravel, but even there when I take my dog for runs she's constantly pulling me to the side so she can run in the grass instead of gravel.