Totally BF... Why??

Pigwig

Barefooters
Aug 17, 2013
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77
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Hi there. I'd love to know the reasons why you run totally bf. I switched to Xero/Sockwa 6 months ago after painful shins, heavy legs etc which were a result of bad form in heavy clunkers. I've been amazed and really happy with my progress BUT someone challenged me to run BF ( yes you Paul Beales via Tracy Davenport!!!). So the other day I ran 2.5m totally bf. It was "fine", a little sore from cold ground (it was all pavement) but generally ok. But I was left wondering why run bf when minimalist was working for me? A friend asked me this question and I was stumped for an answer. I find it easy to explain why I run in minimalist shoes but at a loss as to what extra benefits are in bf. Having saus that, it was quite liberating - bit like jumping naked off a boat in the middle of the sea (try it!).
Anyway, what am I missing here? Are there other health benefits? Is it just connecting with the ground, which seems odd if running on man made surfaces!
Thanks for all answers x
 
Bryan, I'm so glad you said that because it was the only thing I could think of but I thought it was weird to say so! I suppose I wanted a "valid" reason that I could give people when they questioned why. Mind you , my non running friends will often ask "why" anyway (why do I run) and my answer is often just because I can! I guess this is no different...it's just a personal choice that's down to me.
 
1] It's fun;
2] feeling the different textures adds to the enjoyment of running outside and experiencing the outdoors on a regular basis;
3] the plantar stimulation is addicting;
4] it's just plain good for you to feel the ground, whether inside, outside, on natural or man-made surfaces;
5] the sensory feedback from all those nerve endings on the bottoms of your feet helps the CNS adjust one's form, balance, landing, cadence, etc.;
6] it's cheaper;
7] it's healthier for your feet if the sweat evaporates instead of being trapped on the skin or in the sock/shoe material;
8] it's a gateway practice to questioning other underlying assumptions about modern living.
 
After years of work, my bunions have improved and my feet are no longer shoe-shaped. Like Bikila, I can't find any shoes that fit.
Shoes are superfluous. Like my ancestors before me, I don't need them to walk or run.
I live in Florida.
I'm not an ultrarunner, and my feet can handle my current mileage perfectly fine.
Shoes impede my proprioception and change my natural form.
When I'm on the trail, the shoddies don't look like they're having nearly as much fun.
Lastly, shoes are for weenies. :p
 
Because minimal shoes is still footwear. I went from traditional running shoes straight to barefoot running by passing the whole "minimal" phase. My number one reason is how incredibly comfortable it is to run without shoes. It makes you run very softly which is great on the joints, especially the knees, and it's fun.

After 5 months of running strictly barefoot i did buy a pair of Vibrams, just because when i was heading into my first winter and I needed a back up. I also have a pair of Luna's and softstar shoes, and to be honest no matter what kind of minimal footwear I'm running in it's still uncomfortable. To me it's still like traditional footwear, plus minimal footwear is a complete rip-off, everyone charges too much.
 
  • It keeps my running form smooth and healthy, without having to remind myself of it.
  • It makes me (a bit) faster in races - at least if they take place on really smooth and clean roads.
  • My plantar skin got thicker and more robust, and it is always "fresh" because BFR on asphalt or concrete provides a kind of peeling.
  • My toes seem to become straighter (I've got s slight hallux valgus) over time, although I wear shoes most of the time when not running or sleeping :) .
 
Most people will not use their best possible form if anything no matter how thin is between their sole and the ground since the brain is not getting full feedback.
Some people run just fine in traditional shoes, others do great when switching to min shoes, but for most only true bare teaches them their lightest possible form.
 
I guess I run barefoot because I enjoy running barefoot. :(

+1 ... I think as long as you are getting outdoors and being active, it really doesn't matter whether you wear footwear or go bare. The trick for me is to have fun. If I enjoy my run I will crave another.
 
If I had smooth, mostly debris free pavement or road to run on, that was warm enough, I would likely pick pure bf most of the time. Yeah, it's more fun. I feel like there is some relaxation factor in my legs additionally, even when compared with the very minimal type sandals/shoes you describe wearing.
However,
Even in the summer, I run mostly in sandals. The roads are rough here (lots of rocks on top of rough pavement or gravel, which i do not want to run bf on), no sidewalks, and my feet burn quickly from hot pavement. So sandals get me everywhere I want to go with a LOT less frustration. Frustration means I don't run. Building up thick plantar skin is never worth the frustration for me.
The weather around here lately is making the tundra seem inviting, so the thought of no shoes right now is not even fun for me to think about.

Anyways, yeah, I think pure bf has advantages, but isn't always pleasant for me, and I have to go out of my way to "treat myself" to situations where it is.
 
I run in bare feet because I like to and want to run in bare feet. I run in Sockwa or VFFs when the ground is too rough or weather too cold. Simples
 
Looking at the mileage for various footwear.
VFF KSO Trek, 20 miles walking, too small now
VFF Bikila, 10 miles running, tripped me up on sidewalk, caused calluses, too small now
VB Evo, 1 mile, too narrow
VB Neo, 1 mile, still too narrow
VB Aqua Lite, 200 miles, heel of soles wearing down (promoted heelstriking!), inside liner wearing out
VB One, too narrow, returned
DIY Cherry Vibram sandals, 100 miles, walking, straps/ropes redone many times to fit ongoing foot development
Bare Feet, 1000+ miles, no signs of wear, perfect fit!
 
If running minimalist works for you,thats ok, I think most people that run completely bf, do it because they enjoy it. This is my case too. Once you're past the first physical hurdles it is great fun and makes the runs much less 'boring'

There is no right or wrong, the important is really that you enjoy yourself out there

I discovered the fun of running, while before (only 2yrs bf, but overall more than 20yrs running) it was almost like a chore (not really, but it was hard to push me to go out, where now I don't need that push)
 
The extra sensory input of running skin-to-ground (overwhelming, at first) becomes addictive once you've gotten used to it. You start craving the feeling of the road texture and the additional information about temperature, wetness, sandiness, etc. You also subtract the noise pollution of your shoes hitting the pavement (slapslapslap, or clompclompclomp, depending on your gait). When I run barefoot, my footfalls are silent, and that lets me enjoy the sounds of the world waking up at sunrise that much more on my morning runs. Alas, in NJ, we've had sub-freezing temps and snow/snowmelt on the roads this past week. I'm not nearly well-adapted enough (yet) to run in bare feet under those conditions, so I've had to suffer with going shod while slipping and sliding in the slush and snow.