Good evening BRS!
After a few months of military training (spent entirely in boots and racing flats, no fun!), I'm back home at my first assignment and very eager to get back into BFR. A little background: I have been minimalist running since Nov '09, and been barefooting since Jul '10. I love barefooting the most, but still find myself running in flats and VFFs on occasion, especially if PTing in uniform. I can barefoot on my own personal time, but can't do so on the base track or while doing PT in uniform, as we are required to wear shoes.
Given the increasing popularity of minimalist footwear around here, and the base's policy of allowing VFFs in the gym (not the case across the entire Air Force), I think it would be very beneficial to establish a "natural" running clinic. I use that term as I would like to cover barefoot technique, benefits, and its use as a training tool, but ultimately I suppose the focus would have to be on minimalist runners and using barefoot training to improve how they run in their preferred footwear.
I regularly get questions from folks when I wear my VFFs to the gym, whether I'm doing strength training or running. A lot of people are interested in the benefits associated with barefoot/minimalist running. I always see new people in VFFs around the gym, and still others I see in other minimalist options. But very rarely do I see the same person running in VFFs more than once. I also see folks trying them out and exhibiting bad form, including heel striking and running up on the toes. I worry that people are trying minimalist running with VFFs and end up hurting themselves due to poor form or doing too much, too soon. I also feel that offering a barefoot/minimalist running clinic would be beneficial to the folks currently experimenting with it, as well as those thinking about giving it a try.
So to the military types (and anyone really, I would love all the feedback I can get), do you think a seminar/clinic of this nature would be something of interest on a base? I'm thinking about pitching this next week after speaking with some of the gym staff and HAWC specialists.
I've looked at some of the other clinic threads here on BRS to get some ideas. Items I would want to cover in the clinic (taking suggestions):
- Introduction/Increasing popularity of barefoot/minimalist running
- Reasons for barefoot/minimalist running
- Benefits: how it can improve running in whatever your footwear choice is/what your running goals are
- Demonstration: I'd like to get them either outside or on the indoor track barefoot, have them do some exercises and get a feel for barefoot mechanics
- Footwear options
- Training regimens, taking it slow
I'd also love to get at least one BFR expert (two would be great) to come in and offer their experiences, especially relating to technique and how barefoot or minimalist running has impacted their running. But whether or not that could happen (and who we could get) might depend on the type of response we expect.
I think there's potential here, but I'm curious to what other BRS members think, particularly the military members and if you guys think something like this would fly on your base. I think it's time for something like this to be offered, since minimalist running is getting more popular in the military community, particularly mine. I think that if people are going to try it anyway, why not embrace it and give them the proper tools and resources to set them up for success?
Thank you everyone!
After a few months of military training (spent entirely in boots and racing flats, no fun!), I'm back home at my first assignment and very eager to get back into BFR. A little background: I have been minimalist running since Nov '09, and been barefooting since Jul '10. I love barefooting the most, but still find myself running in flats and VFFs on occasion, especially if PTing in uniform. I can barefoot on my own personal time, but can't do so on the base track or while doing PT in uniform, as we are required to wear shoes.
Given the increasing popularity of minimalist footwear around here, and the base's policy of allowing VFFs in the gym (not the case across the entire Air Force), I think it would be very beneficial to establish a "natural" running clinic. I use that term as I would like to cover barefoot technique, benefits, and its use as a training tool, but ultimately I suppose the focus would have to be on minimalist runners and using barefoot training to improve how they run in their preferred footwear.
I regularly get questions from folks when I wear my VFFs to the gym, whether I'm doing strength training or running. A lot of people are interested in the benefits associated with barefoot/minimalist running. I always see new people in VFFs around the gym, and still others I see in other minimalist options. But very rarely do I see the same person running in VFFs more than once. I also see folks trying them out and exhibiting bad form, including heel striking and running up on the toes. I worry that people are trying minimalist running with VFFs and end up hurting themselves due to poor form or doing too much, too soon. I also feel that offering a barefoot/minimalist running clinic would be beneficial to the folks currently experimenting with it, as well as those thinking about giving it a try.
So to the military types (and anyone really, I would love all the feedback I can get), do you think a seminar/clinic of this nature would be something of interest on a base? I'm thinking about pitching this next week after speaking with some of the gym staff and HAWC specialists.
I've looked at some of the other clinic threads here on BRS to get some ideas. Items I would want to cover in the clinic (taking suggestions):
- Introduction/Increasing popularity of barefoot/minimalist running
- Reasons for barefoot/minimalist running
- Benefits: how it can improve running in whatever your footwear choice is/what your running goals are
- Demonstration: I'd like to get them either outside or on the indoor track barefoot, have them do some exercises and get a feel for barefoot mechanics
- Footwear options
- Training regimens, taking it slow
I'd also love to get at least one BFR expert (two would be great) to come in and offer their experiences, especially relating to technique and how barefoot or minimalist running has impacted their running. But whether or not that could happen (and who we could get) might depend on the type of response we expect.
I think there's potential here, but I'm curious to what other BRS members think, particularly the military members and if you guys think something like this would fly on your base. I think it's time for something like this to be offered, since minimalist running is getting more popular in the military community, particularly mine. I think that if people are going to try it anyway, why not embrace it and give them the proper tools and resources to set them up for success?
Thank you everyone!
