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I run 5 miles barefoot every day. It's seriously so much more enjoyable than running with shoes on ever was. In fact, I didn't run at ALL until I went barefoo
by numair 18y ago
I run 5 miles barefoot every day. It's seriously so much more enjoyable than running with shoes on ever was. In fact, I didn't run at ALL until I went barefoot. It is also a very tough, rewarding workout on the right surface - for example, I run on soft sand (which, by the way, is the best way to run if you want to save your knees).
My best friend is a varsity track athlete who swears by his running shoes. We always get into a debate about the merits of shoes - perhaps I have finally won!
- gcheong 18y agoMaybe a shoe could be developed with sand in the soles to give one that "running in sand" feeling for those who don't live near a beach?
- numair 18y agoInteresting idea ... I wonder if it's possible in shoe form. My feet sink quite a bit (half a foot, perhaps more) with each step when running, so perhaps it'd be more of a new form of ultra-high-end treadmill? That'd require quite a bit of mechanics, but I bet it would be a worthy challenge for someone into hacking up physical products. By the way, while we are on this subject - I could never understand why people run on roads. You're getting car exhaust fumes and you're running on hard pavement; seems like a bad deal all around. I drive by people on Pacific Coast Highway who run on pavement, directly parallel to the sand - I guess people follow the patterns they know best...
- gcheong 18y agoThe weight of the shoe might be a problem, so perhaps some kind of treadmill type solution would be more feasible. I find loose sand to be tough to run in and kind of frustrating with the whole running through molasses feeling. In one running book I have (Running for Mortals) it recommends flat, firm sand only but does call it a "treat for most runners". The same running book lists these surfaces as being worst to best for running on in terms of bodily stress: concrete (e.g. sidewalks), asphalt, dirt paths and trails, grass. However, because of convenience, I run on sidewalks almost exclusively and I seem to be able to pull it off so far.
- peregrine 18y agoThe best running shoes by far are the Nike Free.http://www.nike.com/nikefree/ http://www.nike.com/nikefree/ I've been wearing the same pair for at least 3 years now and I will never go back to any different kind. When I do wear new shoes I feel like I've got rubber blocks on my feet, I'm clumsy and awkward and uncomfortable. Feeling every crack, in the side walk and letting your feet do anything they want is extremely rewarding. Prior to switching to Nike Free's I had sever shin splints when I ran track after switching I never had to ice for them again. I seriously cannot suggest them enough for running in our concrete environment.
- numair 18y agoThe thing that concerns me about running on concrete in general is the impact on your knees. Would be interested to know if you / anyone else has done research on this matter; I'm basing my concerns on advice given to me by an orthopedic surgeon a few years ago.
- peregrine 18y agoWell the idea of running barefoot is that you run the correct way so your knees have low impact. When running with regular shoes you slam down on the back cause that's the only place you can, this put alot of impact on your entire leg. But when you run with these your foot is able to fall on the balls of your feet allowing for your foot, ankle, and leg to share the impact. Think of it as a spring. I am not trained as an ortho or anything I've just been researching this a lot, so please take what I say with a grain of salt. The shoe has three levels of padding Higher the number the more the padding. To help you adjust to the new experience.
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- inklesspen 18y agoI'd be frightened of stepping on something sharp and slicing my foot open.