Barefoot?...BAREFOOT?

[Hawkbilly]

Tmo, do what works for you. shoes are tools and should be applied accordingly. however everyone can benefit from actual skin to ground without having to convert completely. a little will go a long way in achieving benefits from it.

This is where I'm at right now, just trying to benefit from BF'ing. After my last injury layoff I've gone back to wearing shoes for my longer runs.....just doing shorter training runs barefoot. I'll slowly pick up the BF miles over the summer, but I'm happy right now just being able to run comfortably for now. My form has improved a ton from the BF running, so my legs feel great so far. None of the usual achilles soreness and tightness I typically get after longer runs.

 

[Robbi]

Now, that's interesting. I split between skin-to-ground (STG? S2G?) and running shoes on longer runs so I can keep up the distance. I would have thought that from a stress standpoint (on ligaments, tendons, muscles, etc...) that there would be virtually no difference between skin-to-ground and huaraches.

I think that's pretty much true - I imagine it's really the plantar surface that's being worked harder when barefoot as opposed to muscles and tendons in general (assuming technique is correct in both cases). My limit is plantar toughness, not muscle/tendon conditioning, at least at the general distances I am running....I don't get those pesky adjustment pains anymore but I will beat my feet up trying to run too far (and too fast).

It's a bit annoying, but it keeps me from giving in to the endorphin monster and overworking something else. I appreciate this natural limiter, which in VFFs etc. may be lifted enough for me to really hurt myself with TMTS as I've done in the past.

 

[Bare Lee]

it keeps me from giving in to the endorphin monster and overworking something else.

Ha, I like the idea of an endorphin monster lurking and tempting us . . .

 

[Bare Lee]

I think claiming a barefoot style of running actually muddies the water. It should be just proper form regardless of whether shod or in minimal foot covering.

This is why when I want to learn about running, I read what elite shod runners/trainers do/theorize, not what recreational barefoot runners do/theorize, because it's all about form (and various training protocols). A veteran barefoot runner may be able to teach initiates about different surfaces and how to transition successfully, but one should take their advice on form with a grain of salt. There simply isn't a barefoot style of running, unless we want to say people like Usain Bolt are actually barefoot runners who use minimalist shoes.

 

[TMo]

No difference in form between S2G and Huraches. My feet are just not to the level to go more than 4 on asphalt yet. Very few people do BF in my area, so whether S2G or in my sandals I still get a lot of looks and questions.

In my half iron man I passed a lady and she said what I perceived derisively, "You're kidding with those shoes?" I smiled and said yuuup!

 

[Longboard]

Now that I think about it the guys that are running barefoot exclusively seem to be the ones that STARTED their running barefoot, rather than the transitioning runners. That's how I started, and it's not that I'm a purist but I have no interest in running in shoes. I know of a few others that are the same way.
One of my neighbors started walking barefoot this spring after seeing me walking, then I helped her transition to gravel and trail hiking, and now she has started running. She will never have a need to use shoes as tools so as not to be losing cardio/other training levels, because she is working her way up from zero.
My wife cycles in Kean cycling sandals now, because she is riding 200 + miles per week.
But, she has no interest in walking, hiking, or running in shoes. She is only running 1 mile or less, but is thinking of building up to a 5K. If shoes made it easier she still would have no interest.
I guess we are barefooters than dabble in running rather than runners who switched to barefoot.
I remember being surprised to learn that a few of the Michigan barefoot runners I met at the First Annual International Barefoot Runners Day event in Ann Arbor had only started running a half year before, but had started barefoot, were running exclusively barefoot, and were getting faster and faster eventualy running a barefoot marathon exactly a year after taking up the sport! And, a sub-24 minute 5K!
I think the shod runners used to their times and distances don't want to sacrafice just in order to run barefoot if they CAN run in shoes. Those that can't or never did don't really care.

 

[Bare Lee]

Well put Longboard. I've made a similar observation, and would also add a third category. There are those who come to BFR as runners first, and those who come to it as barefooters. I belong in the latter category too, for the most part. I used to say I'm a barefooter who runs, not a barefoot runner. But now I'm wondering if I might be becoming a bona fide barefoot runner, sort of in the sense that Barefoot Gentile describes the experience, a certain approach in which you embrace the challenge of different surfaces, temps, or other difficulties in a sort of zen-like practice, like flower-arrangement or archery, as a way of clearing one's mind.

 

[TMo]

All my walking is BF. Hiking as well. I do have goals for events and such, so I am not disciplined enough to take a full year off to convert totally, that is why I am running BF and augmenting shod. I a year I will be there.

 

[NickW]

I prefer to be barefoot, but unfortunately with family and wife restrictions I wear footwear of some sort occasionally (sandals or minshoes usually). I also am limited to strictly concrete and pavement running because I have to push a stroller, which I think is different than those that can mix up their surfaces. I cannot run multiple days in a row. After the third or fourth day my feet are tender, although I may not have any blisters or anything like that. I'm jealous of those like LB and Lee that seem to have no trouble at all.

 

[Longboard]

I'm jealous of those like LB and Lee that seem to have no trouble at all.

Yeah but Nick, I was only running 9 miles per week before, and with the neck thing I'm only doing 5.1 -7.9 per week. My longest run EVER was 4 miles, and that was exactly two years ago.
Who knows how my feet would be if I upped the mileage!

 

[Bare Lee]

I'm jealous of those like LB and Lee that seem to have no trouble at all.

Thanks, but I think you're confusing me with Jason or Gentile or DNEchris or someone. Maybe in a year's time I'll be close to what I'd consider a good base: 20-25 miles a week (with at least one plus-10 mile run per week), av. 8-min pace, most surfaces. If I get there sooner or do better than that, I'll be sure to let you know. After I establish that base, anything on top of it will put me in the bonus rounds.
P.S., I'm also working to run more consecutive days so I could use my rower less.

 

[NickW]

Ok, well, 4 miles is about an average distance for my runs. Although, recently, at least until this knee problem developed for me, I had shortened my runs so that my "long" run was maybe 4 miles. I'm curious about some of the people like Gentile who run long distances barefoot if they are able to run days consecutively on pavement or if they need a break too... Whether that's a break from pavement or an actual off day.

 

[Bare Lee]

Ok, well, 4 miles is about an average distance for my runs. Although, recently, at least until this knee problem developed for me, I had shortened my runs so that my "long" run was maybe 4 miles. I'm curious about some of the people like Gentile who run long distances barefoot if they are able to run days consecutively on pavement or if they need a break too... Whether that's a break from pavement or an actual off day.

Sounds like a good post; go for it! It would be interesting to see the different motivations people have for scheduling in specifically BFR rest days. (P.S. I had a really good trail run yesterday so I'm thinking of blowing off my weights and rowing day today and try some fartlek running in the neighborhood and nearby fairgrounds.)

 

[DNEchris]

I'm curious about some of the people like Gentile who run long distances barefoot if they are able to run days consecutively on pavement or if they need a break too... Whether that's a break from pavement or an actual off day.

Errr............. I didn't run on June 8th (can't remember why) or May 25th otherwise I've run every day since May 17th. I didn't have much time to run between May 7th and 16th, as I was working 12 hour days installing a new kitchen in our apartment, but I see that the last day I didn't run before that was April 8th.
Rather than seeing running as a workout I see it as playtime - and I like to play!

 

[NickW]

It's my playtime too Chris. I wish I could run bf like you do. Wow I'm impressed. Is most of that running on pavement or concrete?

 

[NickW]

I mean I wish I could run bf as much as you do.

 

[DNEchris]

Is most of that running on pavement or concrete?

Nearly 50/50 with a little trail running to keep me honest

 

[NickW]

I've noticed for me, my feet feel better after a trail run (pretty tame trails) than after my normal pavement and concrete runs.

 

[Bare Lee]

I've noticed for me, my feet feel better after a trail run (pretty tame trails) than after my normal pavement and concrete runs.

I agree. For me, a nice, compacted dirt trail is the best/most forgiving, although as you know, I'm embracing the idea of tackling more challenging surfaces, or perhaps tackling the idea of embracing more challenging surfaces.

 

[Mark Wilkinson]

Ha, I like the idea of an endorphin monster lurking and tempting us . . .

I would be more tempted by something more delicate like an endorphin muse. I certainly wouldn't be running towards and an endorphin monster.

Unless I am the endorphin monster a la Incredible Hulk. He is a big time barefoot runner....