Interviewees wanted for trend piece

whatever it's for, that full-name thing is a deal-breaker.

I don't have a problem with the name (notice my user name, oops). With the internet nothing is private anymore. I would have a tough time with number 5. Injuries are so hard to blame on a specific activity or lack of activity.

I'll play. Would it work better through a personal message or email?

1. What personally got you into barefoot/minimalist running?
Curiosity. I always have been running my whole life, but never was into distance. 5 years ago I ran my first half marathon, after that I experience I started to get more serious with running. My go to shoe were Asic Kayanos, I wanted to switch up my footwear so started searching on the net about shoes, I wanted to go with less rubber, I had no clue about minimal footwear or heard of such a thing. At the time I think Vibrams was the only minimal shoe out there. Just searching about less footwear I saw the word MINIMAL footwear, then from there saw things on barefoot running, then from there I saw link to a barefoot running forum on runnersworld.com. (Our own Barfoot TJ started that forum, just a little history for you all). I was (still am) a member on that forum for many years, and had no clue there was a barefoot running forum. I checked it out, read some threads, and the following morning took my first barefoot run, which was a mile. Yeah I had no clue about TMTS. To say the least I was amazed how comfortable it felt, and decided at the moment I would be running barefoot from now on.

2. What brand of minimalist running shoes do you wear?
Vibram Five Fingers KSO's was the first pair of minimal footwear I bought. I have 3 other vibrams models. I have two pairs of Soft Star DASH runamoc's, and two pairs of the original luna sandals. I rarely use any of them for running, mostly for casual wear or other activities.

3. What has your experience with these shoes and barefoot running been like?
Barefoot is best. I don't think a comfortable pair of minimal footwear exist, it's still footwear.

4. What are the benefits of barefoot running? What are the detriments?
Form, endurance, less injuries, and it is always fun to run barefoot, it never gets boring. Detriments would be having to put footwear on to run certain trails, or extreme cold temps.

5. Have you experienced any injuries from barefoot running?
Yes. All from TMTS. When I started there really wasn't much info out there as there is now. I wanted to learn it quickly and go far quickly. I pulled tendons in my feet, ankles, bruises, etc.

6. Would you recommend barefoot/minimalist running shoes to a friend?
That's a tough question, I think you need to have the desire to transition. So I would say NO, I personally don't push barefoot running in my daily life.

7. Full name, age, occupation, and state you currently live in (This is for ID purposes in the article only)
Adam Gentile, 43, Purchasing Manager for an Engineering Company. I live in Fairfield, CT

8. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
No.

1. What personally got you into barefoot/minimalist running?

Boredom.
After 20+ years of running, I was ready for a change. I had seen a barefoot runner a few years before my transition and started to think about why we needed to run in shoes. My feet were the same shape as Asics Gel Kayanos

2. What brand of minimalist running shoes do you wear?

Vibram 5 fingers but only when the temps. are below 29 degrees F.

3. What has your experience with these shoes and barefoot running been like?

Barefoot is best. VFF's are a compromise.

4. What are the benefits of barefoot running? What are the detriments?

Benefits = fun, quicker, more pleasurable, better for you, lower cost for running gear, great conversation starter.
Detriments = pain when you step on a pointy rock, acorn, etc.

5. Have you experienced any injuries from barefoot running?

No, only from running shoes.

6. Would you recommend barefoot/minimalist running shoes to a friend?

I would recommend barefoot running first but minimalist shoes only after complete transition to barefoot.

7. Full name, age, occupation, and state you currently live in (This is for ID purposes in the article only)

mike roccanti 58 public servant, CT

8. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Yes, Barefooters seem to be individualists who like to buck popular trends. I often wonder if I would go back to shoes if everyone else started running barefoot, just so that I could still be different.

1. What personally got you into barefoot/minimalist running?

I heard about a book called "you walk wrong," didn't read it but realized its basic theme was true, started doing workouts and general exercise barefoot. Started running years later.

2. What brand of minimalist running shoes do you wear?

I have never worn a minimalist running shoe.

3. What has your experience with these shoes and barefoot running been like?

people stare at you. some of them think it is funny, while others are amazed and worship you as a god. I get more of the worship thing because I run fast.

4. What are the benefits of barefoot running? What are the detriments?

better speed and less stress on my skeletal system. better sprinting ability. The detriment is fewer available surfaces. Synthetic tracks are usually covered with knobbly texture, and trails are covered with gravel.

5. Have you experienced any injuries from barefoot running?

plantar fasciitis briefly while transitioning. And torn skin from fast track repeats.

6. Would you recommend barefoot/minimalist running shoes to a friend?

no. minimalist running shoes are a scam.

7. Full name, age, occupation, and state you currently live in (This is for ID purposes in the article only)

Karmak the Jaguar Hunter, 42, superhero, Oregon

8. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

I live in the Willamette National Forest where I am chief of a tribe of Bigfoots. We hunt jaguar but they are scarce around here.

Barefoot Gentile said:

Just searching about less footwear I saw the word MINIMAL footwear, then from there saw things on barefoot running, then from there I saw link to a barefoot running forum on runnersworld.com. (Our own Barfoot TJ started that forum, just a little history for you all).

. . .
To say the least I was amazed how comfortable it felt, and decided at the moment I would be running barefoot from now on.

Click to expand...

Thank you for the history Barefoot Gentile, and thank you TJ -- finding you all has been like stepping on a rocket to improve LIFE!! *** gratitude *** <3


1. What personally got you into barefoot/minimalist running?

After numerous haltings from TMTS and then-unbeknownst-to-me poor-form-caused injuries shod, happened across articles recommending barefoot walking and BF running for recovery and injury prevention, by strengthening the feet/system and natural form. Intrigued. Tried it, and the sensory tidal wave addicted me instantly!! It’s is so fun and feels so good!!


2. What brand of minimalist running shoes do you wear?

As a newb, 100% S2G (few hundred miles) -- I do see lunas or scuba boots (suggested here at BRS) as options when conditions for s2g are beyond me and the alternative is to not run.


3. What has your experience with these shoes and barefoot running been like?

(All severe and scary-to-me serious injuries [like never before experienced deep joint pain] have been from running shod, before trying barefoot.)

Barefoot = another gift from the Heavens.


4. What are the benefits of barefoot running? What are the detriments?

Physically? Wow -- so many: strength, form, heightened awareness to partake of the act of running, feeling ALIVE!! Childhood giggling. And of course, like countless others here, enjoying running pain-free for the first time ever!

"Detriment" has been tight reigns respecting TMTS -- erring on the side of conservative, which for me has been deliciously and incredibly challenging because that is so not MY ENTIRE LIFE so far lol!


5. Have you experienced any injuries from barefoot running?

Just the occasional light bruise from a stone or tiniest cuts from minor debris like small twigs -- on a scale of 1 to 5, I’d say 0.7 to infrequent 2.0.


6. Would you recommend barefoot/minimalist running shoes to a friend?

Yes. Especially when they share suffering from pain or injury, or mental or emotional attrition from exercising (as I experienced shod).


7. Full name, age, occupation, and state you currently live in (This is for ID purposes in the article only)

Dan Rai, 48, computers, PA


8. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

“Every day is a gift.” Divorces got me running, echoing print RW, which saved my life. Unexpectedly, the spiritual states attained while running shod were totally(!) escalated when went to BF -- now comparable to those in yogic meditation and deep prayer. So grateful to all of you. Namaste!

Ok, guess I can chip in here too.

1. What personally got you into barefoot/minimalist running?
I suffered a climbing injury in my left ankle 3 years ago, structural damage to the lateral malleolus and ripped the superior retinaculum from where it attaches to the lateral malleolus.
As I slowly eased back into running, I discovered that running as before was simply too painful and I slowly made a transition via soft minimalist shoes for a year to fully barefoot.

2. What brand of minimalist running shoes do you wear?
I prefer being totally barefoot, but for running I prefer vibram five fingers (the el-x, seeya and Spyridon)
For non running activities I wear shoes from vivobarefoots casual like the Ra and Gobi to be exact.

3. What has your experience with these shoes and barefoot running been like?
Overall a very positive experience, it has allowed me to run again and running have taken on a whole new dimension.
Particularly when running completely barefoot.

4. What are the benefits of barefoot running? What are the detriments?
There are many benefits, I feel connected to my running in a whole new way, my running form has improved and my ankles and feet are stronger than ever.

I am sure there are detriments, but I have yet to find them. I am considered a bit of a running weirdo in my community, but I can handle that.

5. Have you experienced any injuries from barefoot running?
Save from mild bruising of my my feet I have not really seen any injuries. I suffered a pulled calf from doing speedwork without warming up, but that is hardly something I can blame on me being barefoot.

6. Would you recommend barefoot/minimalist running shoes to a friend?
I generally do not push my running choices onto others.
I frequently recommend working with a running coach on a regular basis, but I tend not to push my choice of footwear or lack of onto others.

7. Full name, age, occupation, and state you currently live in (This is for ID purposes in the article only)
Thomas Bojer Eltorp, Project Manager and freelance photographer, 33, Nuuk, Greenland

8. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
No

How about going international??

1. What personally got you into barefoot/minimalist running?

Curiosity, plagued by injuries, and needed to try something different. Always fascinated with distance running and used barefoot running to get me to an Ultra marathon level.

2. What brand of minimalist running shoes do you wear?

Unshoes sandals, Sockwas. Tried many others. I do use shoes for longer trail distances.

3. What has your experience with these shoes and barefoot running been like?

I prefer to be barefoot, but having something on does allow me to go much further and slightly faster.

4. What are the benefits of barefoot running? What are the detriments?

My experience, benefits too many to list. Number 1 is fun. Detriments - can be limiting with surfaces, distances, and environmental factors (temperatures). Given enough patience however, limitations can be reduced.

5. Have you experienced any injuries from barefoot running?

I have certainly had some setbacks, (knee pain and plantar fasciitis) but the question is would these injuries have happened with footwear? Most likely yes. The only barefoot specific injury was frostbite due to very poor judgement.

6. Would you recommend barefoot/minimalist running shoes to a friend?

With caution. I would recommend researching and trying barefoot first.

7. Full name, age, occupation, and state you currently live in (This is for ID purposes in the article only)

Richard Whitelaw, 42, farmer, Utah

8. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

The Barefoot Runners Society has been an extremely valuable resource for me. I give the members a huge amount of credit for helping me achieve my goals. (Really, not just saying this to get "likes")

No $10 Starbucks gift card for doing this? Come on....

stjohnthegambler said:

No $10 Starbucks gift card for doing this? Come on....

Click to expand...

Would they let you in barefoot?

DNEchris said:

Would they let you in barefoot?

Click to expand...

Starbucks has drive throughs!

Yeah but my cousin's best friend's sister's mother in law got a ticket for driving barefoot. I swear it' s true!

1. What personally got you into barefoot/minimalist running?

Karate training in Japan, 20 years ago, and then Daniel Lieberman's YouTube video in 2010. The Barefoot Runners Society has been a big part of my continued motivation since then.

I've been a casual barefooter for most of my adult life, and have enjoyed running recreationally in the past, so when I saw Lieberman's video, at about the same time that I was getting back into running again, it just made sense to do it barefoot. In Japan I ran barefoot as cardio work for my karate training, but because everything is done barefoot in karate, I didn’t realize I had been “barefoot running,” or that “barefoot running” could be done recreationally, until I saw the Lieberman video.

2. What brand of minimalist running shoes do you wear?

I only run shod when it's really cold out. Two winters ago I relied on Soft Star’s Moc3s when it was too cold to run barefoot. Then last winter I switched to Merrell's Vapor Gloves, because I prefer the snugger fit. I still use the Moc3s as back-up sometimes however, taking them along when conditions for running barefoot are iffy, because they’re easy to slip on. Last winter I also began using Vivobarefoot's Neo Trails for snowy conditions. Their big lugs provide superior traction, although the lugs are terrible on dry surfaces. I haven't run shod yet this winter, but I may experiment with Nick's Vivobarefoot Neos in icy conditions or on compacted snow. I tried Merrell's Bare Access, but the soles are way too thick at 12-13 mm stack height, and shouldn’t really be considered true minimalist shoes.

3. What has your experience with these shoes and barefoot running been like?

Barefoot running: Fantastic! I can run longer and more effortlessly barefoot than I ever could shod. And like Kozz says, most reactions to it are approving. I tend to prefer a naturalistic approach to most things, and barefoot running is an extension of that ethos.

Minimalist shoes: so-so. I've found that any sole more than 3-4mm begins to affect my form/gait, so minimalist shoes must be truly minimal to function properly. Even then I prefer barefoot whenever possible, and am willing to put up with annoyances like little rocks, rougher surfaces, and some numbness in cold conditions in order to keep my feet footloose and fancy-free.

4. What are the benefits of barefoot running? What are the detriments?

Benefits: Barefoot running forces one to adopt better form and landing, and it affords a sensuous pleasure and tactile stimulation that is impossible when running shod, even minimalistically. One becomes much more aware of one's surfaces and weather conditions, which makes running a more holistic experience. Further, barefoot running strengthens the foot and lower leg, leading to greater overall fitness. Finally, unlike shoes, bare feet are always a good fit, don’t stink, and never wear out.

There are no detriments to barefoot running, just mental hurdles for the uninitiated.

5. Have you experienced any injuries from barefoot running?

Just tendon soreness in my feet due to being unaware of the importance of massaging/rolling/stretching the lower leg muscles. I’ve also stubbed my toes a few times when fatigued, and got frostnip while running in snow. I won’t run in snow again, and now when I get fatigued I sometimes up my cadence to avoid stubbing my toes, so all of these minor injuries are easily preventable.

6. Would you recommend barefoot/minimalist running shoes to a friend?

Yes, first I would recommend true barefoot running, and if for whatever reason the person is unable or unwilling to try it, I would recommend minimalist shoes. Unfortunately, few are willing to listen to either recommendation. The importance of foot health and proper mechanics hasn’t entered mainstream consciousness yet.

7. Full name, age, occupation, and state you currently live in (This is for ID purposes in the article only)

Bare Lee, Middle-aged, Asphalt Technician, MN.

8. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Don’t listen to what most podiatrists have to say about barefoot running. They’re just making stuff up. Also, don’t start on grass, go straight for the hard stuff. Finally, only use minimalist shoes once you’ve given barefoot running a fair chance, and have allowed for several months of gradual adaptation.

Thanks!

You're welcome! I hope you try barefoot running.

Sid said:

Starbucks has drive throughs!

Click to expand...

I live in NYC - what's driving?

1. What personally got you into barefoot/minimalist running?
Started running in Vibram 5 fingers and pulled a calve muscle within 3 days. Stopped, searched the internet, and found the best way to transition to a natural style of running was to go barefoot. Barefoot also appeals to my sense of connection to nature. I run to experience the journey rather than worry about the finish line.

2. What brand of minimalist running shoes do you wear?
Most BRs have an assortment of footwear. I have Luna and Zero Shoes huaraches, Kigo and Walmart water shoes, Merrell Trail Glove, homemade leather sandals, and a pair of socks coated in plasti-dip.

3. What has your experience with these shoes and barefoot running been like?
I enjoy running and always have. I've been running barefoot since 2010. Footwear becomes a tool when conditions or etiquette dictate. I recently went back to running in traditional running shoes. I ended up with more blisters in 3 weeks than I'd had in the last 3 years. The shoes got chucked into the closet. I find that I really have to concentrate on running form, when wearing shoes; otherwise, I end up over striding. Barefoot sets me free. I become focused on meeting my old friend ... Mother Earth.

4. What are the benefits of barefoot running? What are the detriments?
Running barefoot teaches you to be more aware of your body and surroundings. Not only do I feel subtle temperature, moisture, textural changes but I become more aware of my body. I can feel muscle tension build and modify my form to compensate. Barefoot running also has a social element to it. BRS provides a forum where like minded people can share experiences and laughter. Outside of BRS it becomes an ice breaker to people curious about what and why you're doing it.

5. Have you experienced any injuries from barefoot running?
I've gotten a minor case of frostnip after running 5k on snow, the occasional blister, and minor bruising. All of which were preventable, as injuries are caused not by what is on your feet but rather what is in your head ... ego. I would encounter injuries even if I ran with fluffy feather pillows on.

6. Would you recommend barefoot/minimalist running shoes to a friend?
I have and continue to do so. A handful have tried it. My wife even ran with minimalist shoes and found she really enjoyed it

7. Full name, age, occupation, and state you currently live in (This is for ID purposes in the article only)
Rod Begg, 52, software tester, ON Canada

8. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I'd encourage everyone to try barefoot running/hiking/walking. You'll feel mud squish between your toes. You can splash through the puddles. You'll get yelled at by strangers. It will make you feel like a kid again.