Can you run a race faster barefoot than with shoes?

There is a cross country/track runner in the college ranks who has proven that they can run faster in bare feet than in shoes.

Former Mesa Community College runner Quin Johnson has competed barefoot on the track the past 2 college seasons (also runs XC meets barefoot where possible). She was running a 5:40 1500 meters as a high school senior in her home state of Arizona while running in spikes. She started running barefooted at Mesa in 2017 because she felt that she was running faster barefoot. I'm her 2 years at Mesa, she cumulatively ran her way down to a sub 5 minute 1500. At her last track meet with Mesa (NJCAA national outdoor meet) recently, she ran a 4:52 1500 meter prelims race. Yes, 4:52! She ran 48 seconds faster in the race than she did in high school! AND ran it BAREFOOTED! She is proof that some people DO run faster in BARE FEET! Quin is taking her barefooted running talents to a Division 1 school (Texas A&M Corpus Christi) beginning this fall for the next 2 years. She has now inspired one of her rival runners in junior college to start training barefooted for possible competition in cross country this fall ( her name is Mary Siml and she runs for Pima CC in Arizona).

 

She is so impressive. And she will no doubt continue to inspire other runners, which will give them the confidence to try it too.

You should interview her for the BRS. We could post it on the home page.

 

Wish I could learn from them!

 

Yes, you can definitely run faster barefoot just remember that speed takes longer to conquer...safely.

 

Thanks Dama and thank you! You run fast barefoot?

 

in my case I'm not able to run as fast without hurting my feet.

I can run say 2 miles as fast, but then my technique is not good enough to keep that pace without problems.

So far I run from 10k to HM about 15/20" slower per km., safely, without risks and enjoying

BUT this is me, ATM I'm limited on my running skills, but I'M SURE based on how I have evolved on all this years that is perfectly possible to run as fast as shod. IMO.