Kalclash Fitness V my only hesitation is the callused feet. But I like the way you stated that you are proud of yours. Now I asked myself, where’s my confidence?
I appreciate your objectivity! In 2009 a mentor of mine coached me through transitioning from heel to mid foot strike (in traditional running shoes). Even back then there was a difference between before and after. Shin splints gone, stronger calves, more gas, and better runs. I transitioned to the nb minimus a few years ago when they were still making them and it wasnt difficult for me. I dont think I'll ever go back to cushioned running shoes. I'll probably never go full barefoot though, I still like to wear pretty sandals every now and again ^_^
I have been running barefoot for sometimes and in summary... it is fun! About calluses - my feet now have tougher skin and muscles but I think it is not calluses. So long as my running form and technique right, I don’t get calluses and blisters. One thing I’d like to share is barefoot running requires patience and lots of fine tuning, which makes me to listen to my body more than usual... which is a good thing...
I transitioned slowly into bare foot shoes, over a period of four years. I run barefoot on indoor tracks, since they are a safe option, ie. no glass, no debris, no dog stuff, enough said. Now, I find that when I put on my older shoes, they feel heavy and clumsy. Since my feet are stronger, I have had no problems with injuries. I should also mention that I am 71 yrs old and my goal is to run into my eighties. I think barefoot running , with a softer footfall, will help me achieve this goal,
That's absolutely awesome!! 71 and still going strong 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 what an inspiration - if I'm lucky enough to make it to your age I also hope to still be running barefoot
From personal experience, the largest benefit is injury prevention and recovery. I used to run in normal trainers, and over the last few years, I have suffered hamstring, Achilles and various knee problems, to such an extent that a consultant has told me not to run. I am now only running in VFF, and have no hamstring or Achilles problems, and my knees are improving all the time.
One thing I oddly really like when running or walking barefoot is the reactions from children. Adults usually don't care or pretend not to, but children will almost always say something like 'mommy, he has no shoes on!' when I'm still just within hearing distance.
Hi, I agree with everything you say regarding running barefoot. Ive been running barefoot for 2 years now. I wear VFF when it's really cold and have zero sandles for when it gets really tough underfoot. But mostly I just carry them now as my feet are really tough and strong. I'd add that running totally barefoot does tend to focus your attention on where you' re placing your foot. Yes, there is nasty and sharp stuff about but you look out for it and avoid it. Running on grass is the most risky as you can't see all that's hidden there. And since taking up barefoot running I've not had any injuries at all. One more thing , I couldn't care less what others thing about me running without shoes, I know I'm doing the right thing. Keep up the great work. Best wishes.
Thanks ms for your comment dude. You're totally right about grass, which is why it really annoys me when heel strikers say barefoot running is only suitable for grass! They don't know what they're on about! Barefoot running for injury prevention all the way!!! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
I love running barefoot in the grass though, if you start doing it more you'll get even more aware of things in the grass. Sure I step on things from time to time, pulled 3 stickers out of the ball of my foot the other day but I just kept on running with minimal discomfort and I'd say I do about a 50/50 split grass to concrete and I probably step on more things that blend in with the concrete than I do hidden in the grass. Also I can run faster in the grass and when something does get in your foot if you step back down on softer grass and dirt its not as bad as a hard surface. Probably depends on the neighborhood though, also I know my routes and what to avoid.
When I began running I wore traditional running shoes. They gave me a false sense of confidence. I felt like I could run high speed for miles on end which caused overuse injuries and stress fractures due to horrible form....I switched to vibrams and wear them as an everyday shoe and run in them...it’s taken months for my feet to adapt. Today I’m faster and my feet stronger than they ever have been. Can’t see myself running in shoes ever again...your channel is what brought about this change. I’m grateful. Keep it up man!! 🚫🐑
It’s so good to have someone still talking about barefoot running. I Live in Guernsey, a small island in the English Channel. I’m a member of a couple of running clubs here and don’t know anyone else going completely BF. I get the strangest reactions. Mainly giggling. I’ve had a lorry driver shouting for me to “put some bloody shoes on”. I’ve replaced my knee, arch and shin split pain with a lovely tingly hum in the pads of my feet after a long run. It’s been about 18 months and I’ve been upping my BF mileage. 33% on grass and and the rest on man made surfaces. I use my Xero’s or traditional trainers only once or maybe twice a week now, just to give my feet time to recover. I can comfortably do 7 miles on tarmac at the moment and have signed up to a 10k fun run which I absolutely intend to do completely BF. Wish me luck. Keep it rolling mate.
Good luck dude, you'll smash that 10k! Keep up the good work. For every punk truck driver there will be someone that sees what you're doing and spark the thought of barefoot running in their minds 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
There are 2 or 3 cons which belongs on this list. 1. The length of time it takes to adapt to barefoot running. It could take months or years depending on how strong your feet and legs are and other factors (being overweight, not having access to suitable areas to run barefoot, not being able to afford minimal shoes, they are cheaper but still generally expensive, etc). 2. The potential for injuries. Unless you've been doing weight training or lots of jump rope, your calf muscles and feet will be pretty weak. Most runners will be pretty impatient to transition so injuries will happen. I've been trying to transition for about 18 months now. I kept injuring my left calf. I've now decided to do barefoot intervals (2 min run, 2 min walk) in my house on tiled floors until my calves and feet are strong enough to run outside. 3. I am yet to find a transitioning training program. Everyone just says "take off your shoes and run. Take it slow." and so on.
I noticed something interesting a few weeks ago. I'm still going through the transitioning phase and one day I decided to run in my heavily cushioned shoes thinking of going heel-striking just to keep my fitness up as my distances is growing slowly as I'm having a hard time getting stronger calf muscles. I couldn't run with a heel-strike. My legs were having none of that. They wanted to mid-foot strike and I just gave up trying to force the issue. So that was the last time I ran in those. I run barefoot indoors or with my Vibrams KS-EVO outside. So far I've done a 5k park run in my KS-EVO and I'm quietly confident of one day getting to do my first marathon. The longest I've run heel-striking (in my twenties) was half-marathon. So if everything goes according to plan I'll be doing the Cape Town Marathon next year in Vibrams :).
I have run many miles both barefoot and in shoes but definitely prefer barefoot running. It's just so much more fun! Your pro/con list is spot on. The main con for me is the somewhat limited routes for barefoot running. Gravel, rocky trails, and hot pavement just aren't practical. However, it's not too limiting and I have run in many different cities San Francisco, DC, Vegas among others without any issues. I have run a sub 1:30 half marathon barefoot and am considering trying a barefoot marathon, but I'm a little concerned about my feet getting sore/sensitive in the final miles. We'll see how the training goes. Great video!
Saw a pair of 5 fingers and did some research. They didnt have my size. Next day I went to the park a just did it with no shoes. It was a high. Now I look forward to running.
Everything you have said, both the pros and cons, is totally correct, although I would add that the freedom that you get from running or walking barefoot or even wearing huaraches sandals or mininalist shoes is an incredibly very good experience. Thanks for the video and take care.
Wore my trail gloves for over two hours walking. Just before I got to my house I went barefoot on some grass. In that short time I managed to find a doggie present. Squelch!
Animal sh1t is last thing I afraid. If im steping in one - couple rubs on moss or grass and its gone. Alot tougher is to remove sh1t from outsoles of shoes. Big concern for me was to standing barefoot on urine pudles at public toilets. Now also its gone, becouse urine is sterile. I dont know, why your con was calluses. If you geting calluses, you not running right - you has too much friction between soles and surface. Minimalist shoes allow friction, barefeets not. Last year i ran 2700 km unshod and my feets hasnt any calluses.
@@EinarsMednis i see he is overstriding even though landing on forefoot and sometimes his heels don't even touch the ground so that creates friction. look at marck cucuzella video and his form is flawless
Thank you for the tips old bean. I’ve been running barefoot for a year now and have no regrets. I’m 53 now and plan to do keep doing this for a good while.
I have been running barefoot going to 2 years now...I enjoyed it... and pros...you will not spend for expensive running shoes, no heat build-up, heat dissipates, unique at least... I was able to run at any road finish whether brick, asphalt, stony, sand, rubberized track . But i got injury during the first 9 months...but , now, no more....I really enjoy Barefoot run......
Awesome video! I couldn't agree more. I am overweight and I occaisonally jog with friends, so I am not a runner and I am not in shape. I aim to provide feedback on the importance of barefoot running as a correction tool for humans to quickly understand how to run. After my first 3.2 mile full barefoot jog, my knees DIDN'T hurt at all. The impact was absorbed by my outside quads and calves AS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO as natural springs. I re-learned how to run correctly right quick when going barefoot. (RE-learned because ALL small children learn how to run naturally) I jogged on a rubber running track. I urge everyone to run barefoot, because you learn how to move properly without damaging your joints. Going barefoot is not enough though, you have to pay attention to the correct form, no heel striking and landing primarily on the forefoot, not running too much on the outside of your soles ("o" legged) not running too much on the inside of your soles ("x" legged), correct length of steps and minimising the vertical bouncing. All these traits are perfectly controled in this video! :)) To be safe I believe its best to run on a flexible soft track. Running barefoot also trains my awareness pretty quick, to be aware of glass, any liquid or dog s#&t. This is only proof that couch-potatoes like myself can also experience the high benefits of barefoot running. (jogging in my case). Dr. Kelly Starret's "Becoming a supple leopard" and "ready to run" books also provide huge amounts of crucial information on correct running. Thanks again for the video, awesome stuff! peace
Today was my first time barefoot running and I was suprised how much different it is. In shoes after 10 km run my knees would hurt alot. But barefoot I only my calfs hurt and I guess that is normal because I have never activated them before when running. Barefoot is the way to go👍
I started the transition to barefoot running about a month a ago and I'm 42. I guess better late than never lol. I'll say this it's an amazing feeling to not be in those coffins as a lot of people call them. I also own minimalist shoes to help with the transition but I'll go to the park and run barefoot. I wish I had started this many years ago. Great video!
About the social shunning, my experience has been it gets a ton of cool reactions from bystanders when running races. I ran the Lincoln Nebraska Good Life Halfsy (Half Marathon) and had a ton of fun watching peoples reactions.
I'm enthusiastic about running barefoot, but I haven't done much yet! I only go barefoot outside in good weather in the summer, and I like to make the most of it when the ground's warm. B-) I know what you mean about social shunning tho; I always make sure no one else is around, and I always go for a cycle track at the far end of town from me which is quite quiet! I don't like the thought of people who know me seeing me running barefoot, or knowing it's something I like to do. It's cool when you mention the calluses on your feet that your proud of! You're very honest about it all :-) it's cool seeing your dirty soles! I don't want the pads of my big toes to get calluses, but I know it will happen if I run barefoot enough! I'm sure it's possible to remove calluses tho. I know a young man who's doing a lot of barefoot walking, and he said if he walks on very wet surfaces, his feet start to soften again, similar to the effect of using a pumice stone! It would be a bit pointless to make a habit of removing calluses I suppose, if I was gonna make a habit of running barefoot! I do exercises to try and lift my arches & strengthen my feet, but I'm not as flat footed as I used to be.
Ran my first half marathon barefoot yesterday And all that you have said I did experience for sure. It was a comfortable run especially after 8 weeks of no practice.
This is my first week of running in barefoot running shoes and its harder than I anticipated. I was able to run comfortably 6-9 miles at an average pace of 8:30 but was getting some knee pain and hip pain along with it. I thought it was my shoes so I bought new ones, still the pain was there. Got my barefoot shoes and the knee and hip pain went away but my feet, ankles and calves now hurt just like you said. I have worked my way up to three miles of running everyday and my times are the same at 8:30 per mile but with less effort and a much more consistent cadence. Thank you for your insight I will continue to watch and am becoming a believer!
I do both running on Merrell VGs and full barefoot. It's quite amazing even the difference between the two. Full barefoot feels even much better. I feel I have much better sense of my gait and landing, also the highest cadence is achieved with no additional weight on the feet. Still transitioning (increasing mileage gradually) there is actually muscle soreness in my feet and inner side of the calves. Also I feel a better activation of the posterior chain (hamstrings, glutes). Speed is still lacking a bit but I guess that will pick up in time.
I remember well when I trainsitioned from traditional running shoes to minimal shoes and forefoot running. My calves hutrt for weeks :-) Once that was over, I never looked back. I haven't tried fully barefoot running because I mostly run in the city, but iI might try it next summer.
To give this real balance, you need to get someone on the other side and invite them onto a video to share their view of pros and cons of running in traditional trainers. Or perhaps both you and they have pros and cons of both styles.
If you’ve walked/ ran barefoot your whole life (excluding cold months, but even then if you wore minimal shoes then it’s not as bad as actual shoes) you would have lots of calluses and would be completely use to running/walking on gravel or other rocky and usually uncomfortable running areas for people who almost never go barefoot
I am running barefoot on my treadmill, in order to get used running forefoot, because my knees are so ruined I dont have any other choice, (being 48yrs old). I wish I would have known earlier about this issue would have saved me from a lot of pain.
How has it gone so far, any pain? Treadmills are horrible and unnatural with the force applied to your legs, try running on grass or sand to soften the impact.
I've been wearing these foam flip-flops for about 7 years now and whenever I do run in them it's with my forefeet. I don't like how heavy shoes can be. I didn't know there were shoes made to help you feel like you're barefoot. I love being able to feel the earth beneath my feet so I'm definitely looking into those types of shoes since rainy days suck with flip-flops. XD
pretty good vid, all points sorted out and stuff. However is, pro 2 will only apply if you're running trails. In fact, running barefoot on stone/tarmac will cause more trauma on knees, witch results in overcompensating your strike. An overcompensating strike can be marked by the heels not touching the ground at all, and can result in weakening of your calfs and therefore overall performance. Good day.
I like running in minimalist shoes or so to say barefoot running. Even running about 195 pounds I lost a lot of pound by changing my shoes and minimal comfort it offered. I don't have a Vibram 5 Fingers or Merrell trail gloves, I mostly conditioned myself with using water shoes. But I love the fact its light weight, cheap, and my recommended workout shoes OTG (on the go). My calf and my quads are becoming toned from running with water shoes.
I run and train with xero genesis sandals. I am a professional cook so being in truly minalmalist footwear is not possible for me all the time. I have 2 different pairs of work shoes with different degrees of support. Before I started training in minimalist sandals, I noticed that switching between these different work shoes everyday helped eliminate pain in my joints, presumably because different leg stabilizers were being targeted every day. I decided to incorporate minimalist footwear on my off days to round it all out and have been happy with the results; for a while I had lost my ability to do a full squat, and since incorporating running with my xero sandals I can now fully squat again without knee pain. I still use conventional shoes for long, muddy hikes, and for my job but even then I believe my posture and over all body awareness have improved
Take it slowly and treat it like trying to learn to run again. I'd even recommend a couch to 5K course just for a first time transition to barefoot running.
If you're calves still hurt from forefoot running, it may be because you're pushing your toes toward the ground instead of letting them point naturally that way via gravity. Try lifting your knees higher to allow more time for your forefoot to fall. It might look/feel strange at first, but this is what running forefoot on training wheels looks like - it's only temporary. Let your feet dangle below the knee. Your feet and calves will naturally tense up to the appropriate level to handle the impact. Pushing your forefoot toward the ground tenses your calves up before your feet hit the ground, which means they tense up even more on impact. That's too much tension. Honestly the best way to train yourself to run on your forefoot without injury is to run barefoot. Go very slow and keep it short, maybe just a quarter mile at a time.
Recently transitioned to minimalist. Tried my first total barefoot run mid run recently. Felt surprisingly comfortable, I must be a forefoot runner naturally, but I’m blowing much quicker. Not sure if that’s because of the lockdown alcohol uptake 🤷♂️.Either way I’m persevering as best I can. Great vids
I run barefoot on treadmill (due to icy weather) but get blisters if over 30 minute run due to friction being completely different. Outside I use football trainers that have barely any heel cushioning, much better than my running shoes.
Mayur Hassija no, but without the heel cushioning it encourages me to land on the balls of my feet instead of the heel. This has helped fix my running form.
I had been running barefoot for almost 7 months not..... and it cchanged everything... I ran faster from 56 minutes down to 50 minutes for 10 km....I can even run on hard surface, sandy, rocky, asphalt surface.. I suffred a lot before having blisters..but all is gone.... no more and most of all, i enjoyed running barefoot.
been barefoot style running shoe running for four years now, I am still developing strength in my lower legs, however I am far stronger in my feet, calves, achilles tendon, knees, and even hips and lower back from running this way. I average about 5-6 miles per day and have to say it has drastically improved the quality of my life. It feels great to be able to knock out six miles per day, every day, on dirt roads and some pavement. I also think this is far better for the back, knees and hips than running in plush cushioned shoes that allow for heel-striking. I would get terrible shin splints in high school from running in cushioned shoes, my forefoot slapping the ground on every stride. terrible. If you watch the biodynamics of elite runners like Eliud Kipshoge, you will see that he is always landing on his forefoot and I believe that has allowed him to have such a long running career. One last thing: diet. I think it is absolutely critical to have the right diet if you are going to attempt the transition because inflammation will be a transitioning runner's greatest woe (and continuing on as a seasoned barefoot-style runner) : get rid of ALL SEED OILS from your diet. This means vegetable oils, canola, grapeseed, soybean, avocado, sunflower, safflower etc etc etc. This is not as easy as it sounds, they are ubiquitous, pretty much all processed food has them, I find that I simply have to cook every meal I make because restaurants use vegetable oils all the time for pretty much everything: they are cheap, highly oxidized (right in the bottle) and once inside your body they wreak all kinds of havoc, from arthritis and other auto-immune issues, to diabetes, cancer, macular degeneration, I believe that most diseases of modern civilization stem from the rampant use of these actually rancid oils. remove them from your life and see the difference! great post, keep it up!
Have started barefoot running n absolutely love the experience though my friends have been saying it causes more knee injury n complete NO No for an flat feet individual
The interesting thing is that all 4 cons are solved by wearing shoes that have very little padding. Not that they're big problems anyway, but yea. And all 4 pros stay in tact too. Or just for extra benefits one could have barefoot locations and then when they go to places that are not so great for bare feet, wear super thin shoes for those occasions.
I ran a rough trail in merrell vapor gloves, a stone went up the ball of my foot and messed all my shit up. It didnt cut but left me swollen and in pain when walking, and it is taking forever to heal. Can't wait to get back out there
I prefer barefoot to Vibrams, but it does take time to build the feet up. Annoyingly a long-term injury robbed my feet of their skin and I'm having to build up again. The only con I'd add is temperature. It's hard to run in wet conditions when it's below freezing and it's hard to run on concrete when it's 30C+. You hit the pros on the head. When building distance and toughening my feet I tend to start out in Vibrams and finish barefoot. Not only do my calves find it more comfortable, but my cadence picks up, my foot fall is softer, my speed increases and my heart rate barely moves.
This video should have mentioned calf muscle strains as a "con." These sudden sharp pains stop me in my tracks, and then I have to hobble home and not run for a while. Otherwise, I love barefoot running, and occasional muscle strains are absolutely the only problem it causes, other than people thinking I am weird.
I ran barefoot on the grass for 50 minutes last night. My heel hurt in the morning. By noon, I'm ready to run again. Tonight or after lunch I run for 1 hour on the grass😊
Been barefoot as much as I can (and running on and off) for 15 years. I also trialled the first generation Vapour Glove too no affiliation). For me, I only get calluses when my feet are not naked. When I barefoot run for long periods of time my feet are as smooth as a babies. My bits of hard skin creep back over Winter when going back to vapour gloves. Calluses are not protection. What the soles of the feet are designed to do is add layers of fat-rich skin when running barefoot. Zero hard skin. And, of course, that new layer is rich new blood and thus, they look like new. Evolution was there way beforehand. . Any barrier - no matter how thin or flexible - between your skin and ground switches off the vital neuro-sensors. These sensors are crucial feedback for the body to function correctly. Anywhere they are not in use, they atrophy...stop getting fed blood...turn to hard skin. For the record, I loathe 5-fingers. By wrapping around the toes they merely increase the amount of barrier.
As a person who has been running barefoot since 2008 without injury up to half marathon distance.. I would argue we did not evolve to run this way, we were designed to run this way. For the last 2000 years at least the west have moved further and further away from natural design of running as we perceive our legs to function. When we now, after around 400 generations immediately go back to barefoot running it works. We don't have this halfway 'devolved' situation where we just cannot do it now because at least 15 generations of grandpappies and grandmammies have worn boots and done nothing but walk.
Well I have been running on bare foot since I was 7 class till now (12 class ) and I have tried so many running shoe but nothing matches the comfort on running on bare foot
M here because m' broke and Don't have money for shoes, but running is what i like from beginning so tomorrow morning m giving it a try, i hope I don't injure myself
I honestly do wonder whats faster barefeet or shoes its hard to say since there isnt a huge sample size of barefeet runners and everyone in the olympics are all wearing shoes and i doubt they will change unless we get a new wr from someone barefoot
Thank you for the video and information. I have _just started_ *barefoot walking* on grass and soil to feel the energy and get the _energy_ from the earth. But does walking / running on concrete sap and _take_ away your energy?
Nice video . I am thinking to do the transition and I have one question. With normal shoes is better to avoid many km at the road and run at the grass or soft areas . With barefoot / minimal is the same ?
Ok I think a con of running barefoot is heat. This is only my first year of doing this but last summer when it was 83 degrees Fahrenheit and above It would be too hot but I started to run at night which was better but Im curious if you see this as a con or if your calluses are way harder then mine or something.
Hey dude. I think this one is subjective. I generally run barefoot when I'm abroad in warmer climates in temperatures upwards of 90 degrees F. It could be the calluses, I'm not sure. I generally find the warm to be pleasant but like I say it could just be subjective
On Vermont dirt road, there are sharp gravels, home improvement stuff (nails, screws, etc), broken beer bottles, sharp tree branches, bone fragments from dead animals, gun shell casings, broken compact disc probably thrown out from a car by angry husband and wife, sections of wire fence, and many other things God knows what. :-) I have no choice but to wear shoes or sandals.
Three times a week; 8 km. All bitumen and concrete. I'll NEVER wear running shoes again! (Oh, and after decades of injury ...no issues at all). Bill Australia
Is bare foot running on man made smooth paved surfaces healthy? Bear foot running seems natural but it would only be so if done on rough irregular surfaces, not on smooth ones. I am not sure it is good for the foot's arch.
Well, I run completely barefoot 2 times a week. 10-11 km. Vibram is expensive, so…… my experience is , you can cut your feet. And I can’t run all place’s. Because where I live most of the places roads are not that smooth. It hurts like hell. So I run completely barefoot in minimum distances where roads I can tolarate. Other 3 days I run with my cheap chines beach shoes. They are super minimal but lumpt that wide like vibram five fingers. But in city’s I can’t do my 21-22-30 km run in completely barefoot. Roads are v full of broken and sharp objects. Even if I run 2 days very clean road 10-11 km still I cut my feet twice. But I can tell barefoot running wroth it. Those two days my feet get a treat….properly they can splay. But often people asking me am I a poor person who can’t afford a shoe!!!!😂. Because traditional shoes are not expensive! I am telling them I want to make my feet tougher, they don’t understand really!!!!
But I have an Achilles tendonopathy that has been persistently aggravating and prevents me from running far before it flares up. I can’t toe strike for that reason. How do I transition?
ClarkyXPH I started running barefoot 35 years ago. At some point, I started getting achilles tendonitis and decided I was just getting too old for barefoot running. (that's what my PT said) Turns out, I was just training wrong for a masters athlete. Once I started doing less miles with more recovery on a 7 day a week schedule, I had the confidence to try barefoot again. Not only could I do it, but it makes my achilles better. Even though you feel like running on your heels when your achilles hurts, it actually makes the problem worse. Getting up on your toes hurts at first, but it makes your calves stronger, and that makes your achilles better. I am so glad, I figured out that, not only can I still run barefoot, but I stay healthier that way. For a while, I thought I had to switch to cycling.
I fell in love with running with my vibrams. However I've been out for a week due to big toe pain. Any advice? I dont want to go back to heel striking in cushioned shoes
Can anyone tell me know long it takes on average its taken them to stop getting stupidly tight calves? I've been doing short barefoot runs for a few weeks, still struggling to walk downstairs the day after. I'm not sure I can keep it up if it doesn't improve soon.
It took me 3 months to transition from standard running shoes to vibrams before the calf tightness eased. I started short distances, about 1/2 mile and gradually built up to about 5 miles fully barefoot. 2 years in I’m now doing 20 miles in vibrams which is about my limit of endurance anyway. Doing body weight calf raises off a step 3 times a week helped (3 sets of 15 reps to start, progressing to 3 sets of 40 over time) can be a bit boring, but I watched tv at the same time. Also foam rolling and yoga, I believe helped. Biggest challenge is the transition from standard shoes to vibrams, I’d suggest almost starting again, so you may lose fitness at first if you’re an established runner, I think this is better than swapping your shoes every other run - but that may work for you. Good luck.
Hi, I am seven weeks into a stress fracture. After looking into causes etc, Bare foot running seems to be the way forward. What do you really think? Better or not?.. Thank you.. Chris x🖤🏃🚶
Hi, I just transitioned into barefoot running in february 2019 and I absolutely love it. I just ran 5 kilometers for the first time. It still hurts when I run on bad asphalt, and I do not see any progression - the skin under my feet is still soft. Any ideas on how long it taskes for the skin to toughen up and form calasses?
Gday mate. Use bare feet everywhere whenever you can. I also helped a mate roll start his 4x4 a few times on the hot bare road. Hurt got a day after but is now healed and harder
I've been running in Fivefingers for a decade, and I've been running barefoot once or twice a week for the past few months. Though I'm still not as fast when barefoot, I can say it's definitely worth the initial discomfort. My gate did change a bit at first, but now I'm starting to take longer strides, and I'm getting faster. I'm not sure if I'll ever stop wearing shoes completely; I still like being reckless on longer runs.
@@AndyNiceDude When running in Fivefingers, I don't really pay attention to where I step. That's not to say I don't occasionally step on a rock and regret it. If you're currently wearing standard foot-wedge running shoes with padding, there will definitely be a transitional period when you first step into Fivefingers in terms of discovering road hazards. But running barefoot is a whole other ballgame. Running barefoot, it's easy to avoid the rocks and twigs you can see... it's the sharp micro pebbles you don't see that cause you to suddenly scream the F-word. However, I'm finding over time that F-word incidents happen far less often and avoiding road hazards becomes totally intuitive. The first mile barefoot is slow and a little tedious, but after that I'm pretty much on autopilot. I even find I can run barefoot after the sun goes down... provided I start the run with some light and let my eyes adjust.
Please leave your thoughts and experiences of barefoot running below. If you haven't subscribed already please hit that like button. Keep it rolling 😀
Kalclash Fitness V my only hesitation is the callused feet. But I like the way you stated that you are proud of yours. Now I asked myself, where’s my confidence?
That's it dude, embrace it and don't worry what other people think 😁
I appreciate your objectivity! In 2009 a mentor of mine coached me through transitioning from heel to mid foot strike (in traditional running shoes). Even back then there was a difference between before and after. Shin splints gone, stronger calves, more gas, and better runs. I transitioned to the nb minimus a few years ago when they were still making them and it wasnt difficult for me. I dont think I'll ever go back to cushioned running shoes. I'll probably never go full barefoot though, I still like to wear pretty sandals every now and again ^_^
I have been running barefoot for sometimes and in summary... it is fun! About calluses - my feet now have tougher skin and muscles but I think it is not calluses. So long as my running form and technique right, I don’t get calluses and blisters. One thing I’d like to share is barefoot running requires patience and lots of fine tuning, which makes me to listen to my body more than usual... which is a good thing...
Would barefoot runners who train barefoot running have a competitive advantage if they run in shoes during a race event?
I transitioned slowly into bare foot shoes, over a period of four years. I run barefoot on indoor tracks, since they are a safe option, ie. no glass, no debris, no dog stuff, enough said. Now, I find that when I put on my older shoes, they feel heavy and clumsy. Since my feet are stronger, I have had no problems with injuries. I should also mention that I am 71 yrs old and my goal is to run into my eighties. I think barefoot running , with a softer footfall, will help me achieve this goal,
That's absolutely awesome!! 71 and still going strong 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 what an inspiration - if I'm lucky enough to make it to your age I also hope to still be running barefoot
Im surprised that they let you run inside on tracks barefoot...
Im happy to not be in a wheelchair if im reaching your age. Keep going man.
From personal experience, the largest benefit is injury prevention and recovery. I used to run in normal trainers, and over the last few years, I have suffered hamstring, Achilles and various knee problems, to such an extent that a consultant has told me not to run. I am now only running in VFF, and have no hamstring or Achilles problems, and my knees are improving all the time.
Wow that's amazing!
Don't let people police you, run barefoot :) went for my first barefoot stroll today, loved it.. Thanks mate great stuff
Epic games!
In my city impossible.
One thing I oddly really like when running or walking barefoot is the reactions from children. Adults usually don't care or pretend not to, but children will almost always say something like 'mommy, he has no shoes on!' when I'm still just within hearing distance.
Started 4 months ago and Ive lost count of the times Ive heard this in the neighborhood, still makes me smile everytime.
To me, it seems like they are asking their parents "Why do I have to wear shoes if he doesn't?"
Yeah that's amazing. Makes me feel like a proper badass when children alert their parents of me.
Hi, I agree with everything you say regarding running barefoot. Ive been running barefoot for 2 years now. I wear VFF when it's really cold and have zero sandles for when it gets really tough underfoot. But mostly I just carry them now as my feet are really tough and strong. I'd add that running totally barefoot does tend to focus your attention on where you' re placing your foot. Yes, there is nasty and sharp stuff about but you look out for it and avoid it. Running on grass is the most risky as you can't see all that's hidden there. And since taking up barefoot running I've not had any injuries at all. One more thing , I couldn't care less what others thing about me running without shoes, I know I'm doing the right thing. Keep up the great work. Best wishes.
Thanks ms for your comment dude. You're totally right about grass, which is why it really annoys me when heel strikers say barefoot running is only suitable for grass! They don't know what they're on about! Barefoot running for injury prevention all the way!!! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
I totally agree.
I love running barefoot in the grass though, if you start doing it more you'll get even more aware of things in the grass. Sure I step on things from time to time, pulled 3 stickers out of the ball of my foot the other day but I just kept on running with minimal discomfort and I'd say I do about a 50/50 split grass to concrete and I probably step on more things that blend in with the concrete than I do hidden in the grass. Also I can run faster in the grass and when something does get in your foot if you step back down on softer grass and dirt its not as bad as a hard surface. Probably depends on the neighborhood though, also I know my routes and what to avoid.
When I began running I wore traditional running shoes. They gave me a false sense of confidence. I felt like I could run high speed for miles on end which caused overuse injuries and stress fractures due to horrible form....I switched to vibrams and wear them as an everyday shoe and run in them...it’s taken months for my feet to adapt.
Today I’m faster and my feet stronger than they ever have been.
Can’t see myself running in shoes ever again...your channel is what brought about this change.
I’m grateful. Keep it up man!!
🚫🐑
It’s so good to have someone still talking about barefoot running. I Live in Guernsey, a small island in the English Channel. I’m a member of a couple of running clubs here and don’t know anyone else going completely BF. I get the strangest reactions. Mainly giggling. I’ve had a lorry driver shouting for me to “put some bloody shoes on”. I’ve replaced my knee, arch and shin split pain with a lovely tingly hum in the pads of my feet after a long run. It’s been about 18 months and I’ve been upping my BF mileage. 33% on grass and and the rest on man made surfaces. I use my Xero’s or traditional trainers only once or maybe twice a week now, just to give my feet time to recover. I can comfortably do 7 miles on tarmac at the moment and have signed up to a 10k fun run which I absolutely intend to do completely BF. Wish me luck. Keep it rolling mate.
Good luck dude, you'll smash that 10k! Keep up the good work. For every punk truck driver there will be someone that sees what you're doing and spark the thought of barefoot running in their minds 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
There are 2 or 3 cons which belongs on this list. 1. The length of time it takes to adapt to barefoot running. It could take months or years depending on how strong your feet and legs are and other factors (being overweight, not having access to suitable areas to run barefoot, not being able to afford minimal shoes, they are cheaper but still generally expensive, etc). 2. The potential for injuries. Unless you've been doing weight training or lots of jump rope, your calf muscles and feet will be pretty weak. Most runners will be pretty impatient to transition so injuries will happen. I've been trying to transition for about 18 months now. I kept injuring my left calf. I've now decided to do barefoot intervals (2 min run, 2 min walk) in my house on tiled floors until my calves and feet are strong enough to run outside. 3. I am yet to find a transitioning training program. Everyone just says "take off your shoes and run. Take it slow." and so on.
I noticed something interesting a few weeks ago. I'm still going through the transitioning phase and one day I decided to run in my heavily cushioned shoes thinking of going heel-striking just to keep my fitness up as my distances is growing slowly as I'm having a hard time getting stronger calf muscles. I couldn't run with a heel-strike. My legs were having none of that. They wanted to mid-foot strike and I just gave up trying to force the issue. So that was the last time I ran in those. I run barefoot indoors or with my Vibrams KS-EVO outside. So far I've done a 5k park run in my KS-EVO and I'm quietly confident of one day getting to do my first marathon. The longest I've run heel-striking (in my twenties) was half-marathon. So if everything goes according to plan I'll be doing the Cape Town Marathon next year in Vibrams :).
I have run many miles both barefoot and in shoes but definitely prefer barefoot running. It's just so much more fun! Your pro/con list is spot on. The main con for me is the somewhat limited routes for barefoot running. Gravel, rocky trails, and hot pavement just aren't practical. However, it's not too limiting and I have run in many different cities San Francisco, DC, Vegas among others without any issues. I have run a sub 1:30 half marathon barefoot and am considering trying a barefoot marathon, but I'm a little concerned about my feet getting sore/sensitive in the final miles. We'll see how the training goes. Great video!
Saw a pair of 5 fingers and did some research. They didnt have my size. Next day I went to the park a just did it with no shoes. It was a high. Now I look forward to running.
I've been barefoot for seven years now. Ran three miles a couple days ago. First time I've ran more than a mile in a single set since I was 13.
Everything you have said, both the pros and cons, is totally correct, although I would add that the freedom that you get from running or walking barefoot or even wearing huaraches sandals or mininalist shoes is an incredibly very good experience. Thanks for the video and take care.
Shoes and socks make my feet feel like they're suffocating.
David Benjamin agreed, first thing I do when I get in the house is rip my socks off and let my feet breath
Wore my trail gloves for over two hours walking. Just before I got to my house I went barefoot on some grass. In that short time I managed to find a doggie present. Squelch!
Ah mate!! Total shocker!! This is literally my worst nightmare!! 😂😂😂
Animal sh1t is last thing I afraid. If im steping in one - couple rubs on moss or grass and its gone. Alot tougher is to remove sh1t from outsoles of shoes.
Big concern for me was to standing barefoot on urine pudles at public toilets. Now also its gone, becouse urine is sterile.
I dont know, why your con was calluses. If you geting calluses, you not running right - you has too much friction between soles and surface. Minimalist shoes allow friction, barefeets not. Last year i ran 2700 km unshod and my feets hasnt any calluses.
@@EinarsMednis Can attest to everything you said, except that urine is sterile, which is a myth.
Is high mileage on concrete bad for the human body? Considering concrete is a recent invention.
@@EinarsMednis i see he is overstriding even though landing on forefoot and sometimes his heels don't even touch the ground so that creates friction. look at marck cucuzella video and his form is flawless
Thank you for the tips old bean. I’ve been running barefoot for a year now and have no regrets.
I’m 53 now and plan to do keep doing this for a good while.
I have been running barefoot going to 2 years now...I enjoyed it... and pros...you will not spend for expensive running shoes, no heat build-up, heat dissipates, unique at least... I was able to run at any road finish whether brick, asphalt, stony, sand, rubberized track . But i got injury during the first 9 months...but , now, no more....I really enjoy Barefoot run......
I taught myself to run properly in vibram five fingers about 10 years ago. I’m so thankful I started that way and not with thick “running” shoes.
Awesome video! I couldn't agree more. I am overweight and I occaisonally jog with friends, so I am not a runner and I am not in shape. I aim to provide feedback on the importance of barefoot running as a correction tool for humans to quickly understand how to run. After my first 3.2 mile full barefoot jog, my knees DIDN'T hurt at all. The impact was absorbed by my outside quads and calves AS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO as natural springs. I re-learned how to run correctly right quick when going barefoot. (RE-learned because ALL small children learn how to run naturally) I jogged on a rubber running track. I urge everyone to run barefoot, because you learn how to move properly without damaging your joints. Going barefoot is not enough though, you have to pay attention to the correct form, no heel striking and landing primarily on the forefoot, not running too much on the outside of your soles ("o" legged) not running too much on the inside of your soles ("x" legged), correct length of steps and minimising the vertical bouncing. All these traits are perfectly controled in this video! :)) To be safe I believe its best to run on a flexible soft track. Running barefoot also trains my awareness pretty quick, to be aware of glass, any liquid or dog s#&t. This is only proof that couch-potatoes like myself can also experience the high benefits of barefoot running. (jogging in my case). Dr. Kelly Starret's "Becoming a supple leopard" and "ready to run" books also provide huge amounts of crucial information on correct running. Thanks again for the video, awesome stuff! peace
Today was my first time barefoot running and I was suprised how much different it is. In shoes after 10 km run my knees would hurt alot.
But barefoot I only my calfs hurt and I guess that is normal because I have never activated them before when running.
Barefoot is the way to go👍
I started the transition to barefoot running about a month a ago and I'm 42. I guess better late than never lol. I'll say this it's an amazing feeling to not be in those coffins as a lot of people call them. I also own minimalist shoes to help with the transition but I'll go to the park and run barefoot. I wish I had started this many years ago. Great video!
Barefoot.....the ONLY way to run 👍👣🌱
The Raw Earth Under My Bare Feet absolutely brother you know it! 💪🏻
About the social shunning, my experience has been it gets a ton of cool reactions from bystanders when running races. I ran the Lincoln Nebraska Good Life Halfsy (Half Marathon) and had a ton of fun watching peoples reactions.
I'm enthusiastic about running barefoot, but I haven't done much yet! I only go barefoot outside in good weather in the summer, and I like to make the most of it when the ground's warm. B-) I know what you mean about social shunning tho; I always make sure no one else is around, and I always go for a cycle track at the far end of town from me which is quite quiet! I don't like the thought of people who know me seeing me running barefoot, or knowing it's something I like to do. It's cool when you mention the calluses on your feet that your proud of! You're very honest about it all :-) it's cool seeing your dirty soles! I don't want the pads of my big toes to get calluses, but I know it will happen if I run barefoot enough! I'm sure it's possible to remove calluses tho. I know a young man who's doing a lot of barefoot walking, and he said if he walks on very wet surfaces, his feet start to soften again, similar to the effect of using a pumice stone! It would be a bit pointless to make a habit of removing calluses I suppose, if I was gonna make a habit of running barefoot! I do exercises to try and lift my arches & strengthen my feet, but I'm not as flat footed as I used to be.
Ran my first half marathon barefoot yesterday
And all that you have said I did experience for sure.
It was a comfortable run especially after 8 weeks of no practice.
I must be lucky because I always run as if I'm already barefoot. Excited to try my new minimalist running shoes.
This is my first week of running in barefoot running shoes and its harder than I anticipated. I was able to run comfortably 6-9 miles at an average pace of 8:30 but was getting some knee pain and hip pain along with it. I thought it was my shoes so I bought new ones, still the pain was there. Got my barefoot shoes and the knee and hip pain went away but my feet, ankles and calves now hurt just like you said. I have worked my way up to three miles of running everyday and my times are the same at 8:30 per mile but with less effort and a much more consistent cadence. Thank you for your insight I will continue to watch and am becoming a believer!
I do both running on Merrell VGs and full barefoot. It's quite amazing even the difference between the two. Full barefoot feels even much better. I feel I have much better sense of my gait and landing, also the highest cadence is achieved with no additional weight on the feet. Still transitioning (increasing mileage gradually) there is actually muscle soreness in my feet and inner side of the calves. Also I feel a better activation of the posterior chain (hamstrings, glutes). Speed is still lacking a bit but I guess that will pick up in time.
I remember well when I trainsitioned from traditional running shoes to minimal shoes and forefoot running. My calves hutrt for weeks :-) Once that was over, I never looked back. I haven't tried fully barefoot running because I mostly run in the city, but iI might try it next summer.
To give this real balance, you need to get someone on the other side and invite them onto a video to share their view of pros and cons of running in traditional trainers. Or perhaps both you and they have pros and cons of both styles.
i grew up playing football barefoot on the street in 42 degrees weather
If you’ve walked/ ran barefoot your whole life (excluding cold months, but even then if you wore minimal shoes then it’s not as bad as actual shoes) you would have lots of calluses and would be completely use to running/walking on gravel or other rocky and usually uncomfortable running areas for people who almost never go barefoot
I am running barefoot on my treadmill, in order to get used running forefoot, because my knees are so ruined I dont have any other choice, (being 48yrs old). I wish I would have known earlier about this issue would have saved me from a lot of pain.
How has it gone so far, any pain? Treadmills are horrible and unnatural with the force applied to your legs, try running on grass or sand to soften the impact.
I've been wearing these foam flip-flops for about 7 years now and whenever I do run in them it's with my forefeet. I don't like how heavy shoes can be. I didn't know there were shoes made to help you feel like you're barefoot. I love being able to feel the earth beneath my feet so I'm definitely looking into those types of shoes since rainy days suck with flip-flops. XD
I transitioned about a year ago and it's the best thing i ever did.
I went for my first run with barefoot shoes yesterday. My calfs and glutes are killing 😁. In the good DOMs way.
Barefoot golf is my game
Lol, just don't bash your toe with the club!
I do about 800m of naked foot running on grass. I don't get tired as fast, but I feel that my knees are bending too much
Done it. Love it. I feel like I'm flying...but i decided barefoot running shoes would be just as effective and it works, for me
I don't get calloused feet, been running barefoot running shoes for a couple months now.
@Just Dwyne I'm back to wearin shoes cause my metatarsels started suffering
pretty good vid, all points sorted out and stuff.
However is, pro 2 will only apply if you're running trails. In fact, running barefoot on stone/tarmac will cause more trauma on knees, witch results in overcompensating your strike. An overcompensating strike can be marked by the heels not touching the ground at all, and can result in weakening of your calfs and therefore overall performance.
Good day.
I have been doing barefoot light jogging on ceramin tiles for close to 3 months daily. Feels great and will continue to do so.
I like running in minimalist shoes or so to say barefoot running. Even running about 195 pounds I lost a lot of pound by changing my shoes and minimal comfort it offered. I don't have a Vibram 5 Fingers or Merrell trail gloves, I mostly conditioned myself with using water shoes. But I love the fact its light weight, cheap, and my recommended workout shoes OTG (on the go). My calf and my quads are becoming toned from running with water shoes.
I run and train with xero genesis sandals. I am a professional cook so being in truly minalmalist footwear is not possible for me all the time. I have 2 different pairs of work shoes with different degrees of support. Before I started training in minimalist sandals, I noticed that switching between these different work shoes everyday helped eliminate pain in my joints, presumably because different leg stabilizers were being targeted every day. I decided to incorporate minimalist footwear on my off days to round it all out and have been happy with the results; for a while I had lost my ability to do a full squat, and since incorporating running with my xero sandals I can now fully squat again without knee pain. I still use conventional shoes for long, muddy hikes, and for my job but even then I believe my posture and over all body awareness have improved
My calves hurt after forefoot running, but they are getting stronger. Not getting foot injury is great.
R Su Run midfoot, engage your glutes 👍
Take it slowly and treat it like trying to learn to run again. I'd even recommend a couch to 5K course just for a first time transition to barefoot running.
If you're calves still hurt from forefoot running, it may be because you're pushing your toes toward the ground instead of letting them point naturally that way via gravity. Try lifting your knees higher to allow more time for your forefoot to fall. It might look/feel strange at first, but this is what running forefoot on training wheels looks like - it's only temporary. Let your feet dangle below the knee. Your feet and calves will naturally tense up to the appropriate level to handle the impact. Pushing your forefoot toward the ground tenses your calves up before your feet hit the ground, which means they tense up even more on impact. That's too much tension. Honestly the best way to train yourself to run on your forefoot without injury is to run barefoot. Go very slow and keep it short, maybe just a quarter mile at a time.
Recently transitioned to minimalist. Tried my first total barefoot run mid run recently. Felt surprisingly comfortable, I must be a forefoot runner naturally, but I’m blowing much quicker. Not sure if that’s because of the lockdown alcohol uptake 🤷♂️.Either way I’m persevering as best I can. Great vids
I run barefoot on treadmill (due to icy weather) but get blisters if over 30 minute run due to friction being completely different.
Outside I use football trainers that have barely any heel cushioning, much better than my running shoes.
is heel cushioning bad for the feet?
Mayur Hassija no, but without the heel cushioning it encourages me to land on the balls of my feet instead of the heel. This has helped fix my running form.
I had been running barefoot for almost 7 months not..... and it cchanged everything... I ran faster from 56 minutes down to 50 minutes for 10 km....I can even run on hard surface, sandy, rocky, asphalt surface.. I suffred a lot before having blisters..but all is gone.... no more and most of all, i enjoyed running barefoot.
Good job on the video. The pros outweigh the cons if you ask me.
been barefoot style running shoe running for four years now, I am still developing strength in my lower legs, however I am far stronger in my feet, calves, achilles tendon, knees, and even hips and lower back from running this way. I average about 5-6 miles per day and have to say it has drastically improved the quality of my life. It feels great to be able to knock out six miles per day, every day, on dirt roads and some pavement. I also think this is far better for the back, knees and hips than running in plush cushioned shoes that allow for heel-striking. I would get terrible shin splints in high school from running in cushioned shoes, my forefoot slapping the ground on every stride. terrible. If you watch the biodynamics of elite runners like Eliud Kipshoge, you will see that he is always landing on his forefoot and I believe that has allowed him to have such a long running career. One last thing: diet. I think it is absolutely critical to have the right diet if you are going to attempt the transition because inflammation will be a transitioning runner's greatest woe (and continuing on as a seasoned barefoot-style runner) : get rid of ALL SEED OILS from your diet. This means vegetable oils, canola, grapeseed, soybean, avocado, sunflower, safflower etc etc etc. This is not as easy as it sounds, they are ubiquitous, pretty much all processed food has them, I find that I simply have to cook every meal I make because restaurants use vegetable oils all the time for pretty much everything: they are cheap, highly oxidized (right in the bottle) and once inside your body they wreak all kinds of havoc, from arthritis and other auto-immune issues, to diabetes, cancer, macular degeneration, I believe that most diseases of modern civilization stem from the rampant use of these actually rancid oils. remove them from your life and see the difference! great post, keep it up!
Have started barefoot running n absolutely love the experience though my friends have been saying it causes more knee injury n complete NO No for an flat feet individual
I'm flat footed. How has your barefoot experience been so far?
The interesting thing is that all 4 cons are solved by wearing shoes that have very little padding. Not that they're big problems anyway, but yea.
And all 4 pros stay in tact too. Or just for extra benefits one could have barefoot locations and then when they go to places that are not so great for bare feet, wear super thin shoes for those occasions.
Awesome video !
Thanks mate !
I ran a rough trail in merrell vapor gloves, a stone went up the ball of my foot and messed all my shit up. It didnt cut but left me swollen and in pain when walking, and it is taking forever to heal. Can't wait to get back out there
happy national running day!
Everyday should be national running day 😁😁😁
I prefer barefoot to Vibrams, but it does take time to build the feet up. Annoyingly a long-term injury robbed my feet of their skin and I'm having to build up again.
The only con I'd add is temperature. It's hard to run in wet conditions when it's below freezing and it's hard to run on concrete when it's 30C+.
You hit the pros on the head. When building distance and toughening my feet I tend to start out in Vibrams and finish barefoot. Not only do my calves find it more comfortable, but my cadence picks up, my foot fall is softer, my speed increases and my heart rate barely moves.
Ah mate that injury sounds nasty!!
This video should have mentioned calf muscle strains as a "con." These sudden sharp pains stop me in my tracks, and then I have to hobble home and not run for a while. Otherwise, I love barefoot running, and occasional muscle strains are absolutely the only problem it causes, other than people thinking I am weird.
I ran barefoot on the grass for 50 minutes last night. My heel hurt in the morning. By noon, I'm ready to run again. Tonight or after lunch I run for 1 hour on the grass😊
Been barefoot as much as I can (and running on and off) for 15 years. I also trialled the first generation Vapour Glove too no affiliation). For me, I only get calluses when my feet are not naked. When I barefoot run for long periods of time my feet are as smooth as a babies. My bits of hard skin creep back over Winter when going back to vapour gloves. Calluses are not protection. What the soles of the feet are designed to do is add layers of fat-rich skin when running barefoot. Zero hard skin. And, of course, that new layer is rich new blood and thus, they look like new. Evolution was there way beforehand. . Any barrier - no matter how thin or flexible - between your skin and ground switches off the vital neuro-sensors. These sensors are crucial feedback for the body to function correctly. Anywhere they are not in use, they atrophy...stop getting fed blood...turn to hard skin. For the record, I loathe 5-fingers. By wrapping around the toes they merely increase the amount of barrier.
Starting first day ever running going to stretch out and give it a shot
Very inspiring my bro 🦶
As a person who has been running barefoot since 2008 without injury up to half marathon distance.. I would argue we did not evolve to run this way, we were designed to run this way. For the last 2000 years at least the west have moved further and further away from natural design of running as we perceive our legs to function. When we now, after around 400 generations immediately go back to barefoot running it works. We don't have this halfway 'devolved' situation where we just cannot do it now because at least 15 generations of grandpappies and grandmammies have worn boots and done nothing but walk.
Extra respect for you not wearing flip flops
Someone who's done it? You got my attention.
Barefoot shoes are great. You get to avoid pointy and sharp things.
I run barefoot on grass, but haven’t done other surfaces successfully. Haven’t manage the transition. It’s tough.
Just watching your intro landing toe first is key
Like nr.600 from me !! Fully deserved. Keep it rollin' ;)
Well I have been running on bare foot since I was 7 class till now (12 class ) and I have tried so many running shoe but nothing matches the comfort on running on bare foot
M here because m' broke and Don't have money for shoes, but running is what i like from beginning so tomorrow morning m giving it a try, i hope I don't injure myself
I am worried of sticking very sharp objects such as glass and needles. Has anyone got any suggestions?
I honestly do wonder whats faster barefeet or shoes its hard to say since there isnt a huge sample size of barefeet runners and everyone in the olympics are all wearing shoes and i doubt they will change unless we get a new wr from someone barefoot
Another "con" is that you can not correct a possible leg length discrepancy when you are barefoot. You can not use an inlay or adapted shoe.
Thank you for the video and information. I have _just started_ *barefoot walking* on grass and soil to feel the energy and get the _energy_ from the earth.
But does walking / running on concrete sap and _take_ away your energy?
Would using socks prevent the calluses feet. That’s the only downside for me
Nice video . I am thinking to do the transition and I have one question. With normal shoes is better to avoid many km at the road and run at the grass or soft areas . With barefoot / minimal is the same ?
Barefoot running makes sense to me, but if it makes you faster why wouldn’t all top professional distance runners be running unshod or minimalist?
how do you cope with the cold. my feet become like bricks after 3 mins of running / walking barefoot in all seasons barring summer
What do barefoot runners do when there is snow and ice on the ground and it's 10F outside in the wintertime?
Rejoice, because the cooling allows faster speeds.
Second question is if I have to wear a safety steel toe boots for the first half of the week is there a way to compensate?
Ok I think a con of running barefoot is heat. This is only my first year of doing this but last summer when it was 83 degrees Fahrenheit and above It would be too hot but I started to run at night which was better but Im curious if you see this as a con or if your calluses are way harder then mine or something.
Hey dude. I think this one is subjective. I generally run barefoot when I'm abroad in warmer climates in temperatures upwards of 90 degrees F. It could be the calluses, I'm not sure. I generally find the warm to be pleasant but like I say it could just be subjective
Ok Thanks, Great Videos! Thanks for answering my questions and Im eager to dig into your content more!
On Vermont dirt road, there are sharp gravels, home improvement stuff (nails, screws, etc), broken beer bottles, sharp tree branches, bone fragments from dead animals, gun shell casings, broken compact disc probably thrown out from a car by angry husband and wife, sections of wire fence, and many other things God knows what. :-) I have no choice but to wear shoes or sandals.
My ass with plantar fasciitis & a shock-reactive spinal condition:
*Are you sure about that?*
Three times a week; 8 km. All bitumen and concrete. I'll NEVER wear running shoes again! (Oh, and after decades of injury ...no issues at all).
Bill
Australia
Is bare foot running on man made smooth paved surfaces healthy? Bear foot running seems natural but it would only be so if done on rough irregular surfaces, not on smooth ones. I am not sure it is good for the foot's arch.
Well, I run completely barefoot 2 times a week. 10-11 km. Vibram is expensive, so…… my experience is , you can cut your feet. And I can’t run all place’s. Because where I live most of the places roads are not that smooth. It hurts like hell. So I run completely barefoot in minimum distances where roads I can tolarate. Other 3 days I run with my cheap chines beach shoes. They are super minimal but lumpt that wide like vibram five fingers. But in city’s I can’t do my 21-22-30 km run in completely barefoot. Roads are v full of broken and sharp objects. Even if I run 2 days very clean road 10-11 km still I cut my feet twice. But I can tell barefoot running wroth it. Those two days my feet get a treat….properly they can splay. But often people asking me am I a poor person who can’t afford a shoe!!!!😂. Because traditional shoes are not expensive! I am telling them I want to make my feet tougher, they don’t understand really!!!!
I've run in gravel go try it and tell me how you feel
How do you get accustomed to blazing hot concrete touching your feet?
I wish there was a community of barefoot runners to run with. Am a lonely barefoot runner.
But I have an Achilles tendonopathy that has been persistently aggravating and prevents me from running far before it flares up. I can’t toe strike for that reason. How do I transition?
ClarkyXPH I started running barefoot 35 years ago. At some point, I started getting achilles tendonitis and decided I was just getting too old for barefoot running. (that's what my PT said) Turns out, I was just training wrong for a masters athlete. Once I started doing less miles with more recovery on a 7 day a week schedule, I had the confidence to try barefoot again. Not only could I do it, but it makes my achilles better. Even though you feel like running on your heels when your achilles hurts, it actually makes the problem worse. Getting up on your toes hurts at first, but it makes your calves stronger, and that makes your achilles better. I am so glad, I figured out that, not only can I still run barefoot, but I stay healthier that way. For a while, I thought I had to switch to cycling.
I get why less is better, but why do your toes have little shoes two?
Yes I run bare foot.... I love it too...
I fell in love with running with my vibrams. However I've been out for a week due to big toe pain. Any advice? I dont want to go back to heel striking in cushioned shoes
Born to run
Can anyone tell me know long it takes on average its taken them to stop getting stupidly tight calves? I've been doing short barefoot runs for a few weeks, still struggling to walk downstairs the day after. I'm not sure I can keep it up if it doesn't improve soon.
It took me 3 months to transition from standard running shoes to vibrams before the calf tightness eased. I started short distances, about 1/2 mile and gradually built up to about 5 miles fully barefoot. 2 years in I’m now doing 20 miles in vibrams which is about my limit of endurance anyway. Doing body weight calf raises off a step 3 times a week helped (3 sets of 15 reps to start, progressing to 3 sets of 40 over time) can be a bit boring, but I watched tv at the same time. Also foam rolling and yoga, I believe helped. Biggest challenge is the transition from standard shoes to vibrams, I’d suggest almost starting again, so you may lose fitness at first if you’re an established runner, I think this is better than swapping your shoes every other run - but that may work for you. Good luck.
Hi, I am seven weeks into a stress fracture. After looking into causes etc, Bare foot running seems to be the way forward. What do you really think? Better or not?.. Thank you.. Chris x🖤🏃🚶
Hi, I just transitioned into barefoot running in february 2019 and I absolutely love it. I just ran 5 kilometers for the first time. It still hurts when I run on bad asphalt, and I do not see any progression - the skin under my feet is still soft. Any ideas on how long it taskes for the skin to toughen up and form calasses?
Gday mate. Use bare feet everywhere whenever you can. I also helped a mate roll start his 4x4 a few times on the hot bare road. Hurt got a day after but is now healed and harder
I've been running in Fivefingers for a decade, and I've been running barefoot once or twice a week for the past few months. Though I'm still not as fast when barefoot, I can say it's definitely worth the initial discomfort. My gate did change a bit at first, but now I'm starting to take longer strides, and I'm getting faster. I'm not sure if I'll ever stop wearing shoes completely; I still like being reckless on longer runs.
That's it, the recklessness you get while wearing shoes is something that you can't really achieve with fully barefoot running
What would you say from your experience the difference between running barefoot vs vibrams?
@@AndyNiceDude When running in Fivefingers, I don't really pay attention to where I step. That's not to say I don't occasionally step on a rock and regret it. If you're currently wearing standard foot-wedge running shoes with padding, there will definitely be a transitional period when you first step into Fivefingers in terms of discovering road hazards. But running barefoot is a whole other ballgame. Running barefoot, it's easy to avoid the rocks and twigs you can see... it's the sharp micro pebbles you don't see that cause you to suddenly scream the F-word. However, I'm finding over time that F-word incidents happen far less often and avoiding road hazards becomes totally intuitive. The first mile barefoot is slow and a little tedious, but after that I'm pretty much on autopilot. I even find I can run barefoot after the sun goes down... provided I start the run with some light and let my eyes adjust.
More then a runner I go barefoot on the streets