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I did that too, but it's not for everybody. I got a serious injury (compartment syndrome) and wasn't running for 4 months . My minimal shoes turned out to be th

I did that too, but it's not for everybody. I got a serious injury (compartment syndrome) and wasn't running for 4 months . My minimal shoes turned out to be the culprit, and after switching back to shoes with good support I can now run 5 times a week with no problems.

lojack 15y ago
Did you push yourself too hard when you first started barefoot running? I always heard that its better across the board, but you've got to start slow to prevent injury.
- chriseidhof 15y ago
  No, I really took it slowly. The injury also showed up only after a few months...
alf 15y ago
I fell into this trap too. I got a stress fracture on my shin from a tendon pulling on that area much more than the bone was used to. It took months to heal. The feet are a complex tangle of muscle, bones, tendons, and nerves. They doesn't respond to increases in stress as well a muscle would. Bones and tendons can need months or even years to build up the strength to handle the stress of serious running barefoot. People who try this should ease into it slowly. Like over weeks or preferably, months.
- kemayo 15y ago
  Conveniently, I started wearing the Vibrams just for walking around in (because they're really comfortable), and did that for 6-ish months before I started running. This has resulted in a distinct lack of any health problems. I can see how it would be really easy for someone who was actively running when they got the shoes to just go do their normal routine the first day they wore them and utterly destroy something.
- nasmorn 15y ago
  I wear minimal shoes exclusively for walking also and it took two years for running to be really comfortable. I am also not a serious runner at all. I think if you go into this with good fitness and expect to see your old performance soon it is very dangerous
- ams6110 15y ago
  If you are already a runner I could see this being the case, e.g. you put on a pair of "barefoot" shoes and then do your normal 10 miles run or whatever. I tried to take up running last year. I bought a pair of Vivo Barefoot shoes, and thought they were great. Since I was just starting out I couldn't go more than a few hundred yards without taking breaks to walk. I eventually worked my way up to about 5 miles with a few moderate hills in the route, and never had any trouble with pain or injury. I never grew to enjoy running however, it was always a chore and while I was doing it my mind was always racing with thoughts of other things I could be getting done if I wasn't running. I didn't feel any better, I didn't have more energy during the day, and I didn't sleep any better, so eventually I stopped. I still like and wear the shoes, though.
ronnier 15y ago
The people I know who've worn them are injured also.
- zacharycohn 15y ago
  And I know a lot more people who wear normal shoes and have been injured...
zacharycohn 15y ago
What's more likely is that your running form was the culprit. Shoes simply hide problems with your technique. Barefoot running is less forgiving, but ultimately safer.
- chriseidhof 15y ago
  No, I overpronate. I already landed on my forefoot. My technique shouldn't be the problem.
  - zacharycohn 15y ago
    There are so many ways you can have bad technique while landing on the balls of your feet.
wazoox 15y ago
You bet. This week I switched from Mizuno Wave Fortis to Wave Rider (simply because I couldn't find Fortis in shops for months), and my right foot began to hurt after only 20 km, though they're supposedly nearly identical shoes from the same make. I'll have to very gradually switch, alternating shoes between short runs, or maybe even give up the Rider entirely...

lojack 15y ago

Did you push yourself too hard when you first started barefoot running? I always heard that its better across the board, but you've got to start slow to prevent injury.

chriseidhof 15y ago
No, I really took it slowly. The injury also showed up only after a few months...

alf 15y ago

I fell into this trap too. I got a stress fracture on my shin from a tendon pulling on that area much more than the bone was used to. It took months to heal. The feet are a complex tangle of muscle, bones, tendons, and nerves. They doesn't respond to increases in stress as well a muscle would. Bones and tendons can need months or even years to build up the strength to handle the stress of serious running barefoot. People who try this should ease into it slowly. Like over weeks or preferably, months.

kemayo 15y ago
Conveniently, I started wearing the Vibrams just for walking around in (because they're really comfortable), and did that for 6-ish months before I started running. This has resulted in a distinct lack of any health problems. I can see how it would be really easy for someone who was actively running when they got the shoes to just go do their normal routine the first day they wore them and utterly destroy something.
nasmorn 15y ago
I wear minimal shoes exclusively for walking also and it took two years for running to be really comfortable. I am also not a serious runner at all. I think if you go into this with good fitness and expect to see your old performance soon it is very dangerous
ams6110 15y ago
If you are already a runner I could see this being the case, e.g. you put on a pair of "barefoot" shoes and then do your normal 10 miles run or whatever. I tried to take up running last year. I bought a pair of Vivo Barefoot shoes, and thought they were great. Since I was just starting out I couldn't go more than a few hundred yards without taking breaks to walk. I eventually worked my way up to about 5 miles with a few moderate hills in the route, and never had any trouble with pain or injury. I never grew to enjoy running however, it was always a chore and while I was doing it my mind was always racing with thoughts of other things I could be getting done if I wasn't running. I didn't feel any better, I didn't have more energy during the day, and I didn't sleep any better, so eventually I stopped. I still like and wear the shoes, though.

ronnier 15y ago

The people I know who've worn them are injured also.

zacharycohn 15y ago
And I know a lot more people who wear normal shoes and have been injured...

zacharycohn 15y ago

What's more likely is that your running form was the culprit. Shoes simply hide problems with your technique. Barefoot running is less forgiving, but ultimately safer.

chriseidhof 15y ago
No, I overpronate. I already landed on my forefoot. My technique shouldn't be the problem.
- zacharycohn 15y ago
  There are so many ways you can have bad technique while landing on the balls of your feet.

wazoox 15y ago

You bet. This week I switched from Mizuno Wave Fortis to Wave Rider (simply because I couldn't find Fortis in shops for months), and my right foot began to hurt after only 20 km, though they're supposedly nearly identical shoes from the same make. I'll have to very gradually switch, alternating shoes between short runs, or maybe even give up the Rider entirely...