The weather is getting nice and I feel like its about time to start running again. Last year after about 2 months of running my knees were really hurting me. They were so sore that I couldn’t even cross my legs or walk up and down stairs without severe pain. To remedy the pain I went to Marathon Sports and bought a pair of shoes that were designed for flat arches. After a few days of wearing the shoes my knees felt much better.
Over the last few months, of not running, I’ve been reading a lot about barefoot running. Study after study is claiming that the foot is designed for running and that most modern running shoes actually get in the way of the foot and cause most of the damage. So I’ve been considering running barefoot this year. In fact many anthropologists believe that primate man used to hunt by running. Meaning they would simply chase a game animal until the animal fainted from exhaustion. If this doesn’t sound plausible to you, there are still bushman who hunt this way today.
Running barefoot isn’t practical for me right now as I don’t have mega foot callouses nor do I want to develop them I would be wearing these.
These are Vibram 5 finger shoes. I’m sure that most of you have seen them before as they have gotten quite popular over the last few years.
I’ve read many testimonials about them on the web with people claiming the shoes are fixing all sorts of problems from arch problems to knee pain to job dissatisfaction.
I’m strongly considering buying them but I’m a little hesitant as I don’t know anybody that has run in these shoes. Do any of you have these shoes? Have any of you run barefoot? What should I consider before I get these shoes?
Leslie Ann
/ March 15, 2010I totally believe in barefoot running, to a point. I know a lot of people that have gotten rind of a lot of chronic running injuries in their hips and knees by wearing the “barefoot” shoe. HOWEVER, if you currently have shoes that work for you dont change what isnt broken. You may be running correctly already. I would say use the shoes you have until they have too many miles on them and then look into the ‘barefoot’ shoe
rundadrun
/ March 15, 2010I think one thing to consider before going with the Vibrams is the fact that the shoes you got from Marathon Sports helped you run pain free. I am not a big believer in drastic changes, which I would consider “barefoot” running to be. I am not saying it doesn’t work for some people. I would give the shoes that worked last season a try and see if they continue to work for you. Good luck with whatever you choose.
Happy running,
Rundad
eunice
/ March 16, 2010The bushmen in the video wear 80s-style all-black grandpa reeboks, so clearly those are the best shoes for running.
Steve
/ March 16, 2010Hey Stuart! I’ve tried running barefoot and I hated it. It just didn’t work for me. It very well may be that I have the running form of a lummox but I found a pair of shoes that work for me and I’ve run with it.
Hey, I look forward to running with you again on MV. We just need something productive to run after… Any ideas?
Bridget
/ March 16, 2010My only experience with barefoot running was on a beach in Hawaii. It was actually an amazing experience. I ran for miles and miles and my feet felt wonderful with the cushion of sand beneath them. However as I don’t have sandy, beautiful beaches with me everywhere I go, that was very short lived.
Anyway, I would echo what everyone else has said. If what you have works then keep it up, and if you still have problems then thy something new.
Have you read “Born to Run”?
Dan Hyde
/ March 22, 2010Stuart: Do you have a reference to the article that claims we evolved to hunt/run barefoot over long distances (at least how I’ve heard it stated before)? Someone else was telling me about this the other day. I buy the part that our body might have evolved to run barefoot, but I have a hard time believing that we evolved to run super long distances (like marathon or half marathon). Let me know if you have the reference.
slayton
/ March 22, 2010Here is a link to a Nature Review from 2004, below I’ve included the abstract.