Barefoot running & minimalist racing shoes

[johnd]

I'm sure everyone's heard that barefoot running is supposed to be good for you blah, blah, blah
Well today I kicked off the socks and shoes and gave it a try
Having done 2 laps of some local pitches in the runners, I did 3 barefoot and for the same perceived level of effort (lazy kind of a run) I was running 25 - 30 seconds faster per kilometer. I then put back on the runners and did another 2 laps and my pace dropped back down and my legs felt heavy in comparison.
It got me thinking about movig towards a more minimalist racing shoe for some of my training and racing
I am currently wearing my 3rd pair of Mizuno Wave Inspires and find them grand but this got me thinking

Have any of the rest of ye tried the barefoot running in training? (How'd you get on? Do you still do it?)
Or gone for a lighter shoe with a smaller heel?

Thanks

[Dena]

On a dangerous road to getting injured is my 50cent, this whole barefoot running craze was kicked off by the well known book "Born to run" which refers to the Tarahumara tribes. Western Society biomechanics have evolved so much since then. Being put in shoes form the age of 1 our foots mould and grow around this support structure, to suddenly take this away causes a major realignment to the skeletal and muscular system.

Running specific foot wear has so much research and technology now a days, cushioning and support alone has a major positive in relieving the stress that is forced on the foot. In a typical 10 mile run the foot strikes the ground 15,000 times and a force greater than 3 to 4 times greater then the body weigh. This alone is enough to think how much stress we put our whole body under never mind just the feet.

But hay that's just my view, let me know how you get on if you keep it up!

[johnd]

Thanks for the feedback Dena
I ran about 2.4k today barefoot. If I continue doing something like this once a week, maybe increasing the distance slightly every two or three weeks to a max of say 5k do you (or anyone else?) think would that be beneficial to developing good technique? Or a waste of time?
Not planning on doing lots of barefoot stuff or racing barefoot, but would like to look into using a lighter pair of runners for racing and some training

[BShaugh]

I love running in bare foot and have been doing it for years, no nicer feeling when running. Going from runners to the vibram's over night not a good idea though.

Gerard Haryman of Limerick Physio fame has all his runners doing bare foot running a couple of times a week on grass. I think the secret is exactly what you are doing John, a light bit of running and gradually build it up. I find the same as you, if I'm not feeling great and fling off my runners when doing intervals.

As Dena says we're in shoes since 1 so probaly best not to be doing 100 miles week barefoot! There is definitly a place for it and it will help strengthen all the tendons and muscles in your feet.

Biggest plague is flip flops and backshoes. I use to get terrible pains in my arches which only disappeared when my feet when numb. I was wearing backless shoes in work which makes you curl your toes. Only twigged it fairly recently

[johnd]

Thanks Brian, though after a week of flip flops I think I could get used to them

[BarryB]

i Have bowed to the marketing pressure

feet.JPG (21.06 KiB) Viewed 5237 times

[DavidF]

jaysus i've seen it all now,

are they the cheap chinese ones?

and did someone cut your toes off?

[DavidC]

That Born to Run book is great marketing for those yokes. Great motivation to run too in fairness. I read it once and took part in a couple of 5k races in Ardattin a few months afterwards.

[BarryB]

are they the cheap chinese ones?

Cheaper the better not a lot of expensive technology required to keep stones out of your toes!

[frankb]

We seem to be developing a trend for feet photos!! Firstly "One foot Furlong" and now "Barry the barefoot"