Barefoot Running

My coach has us run in flats befause it's less cushioning. the foot adapsts to this which makes your feet and legs stronger. It makwes sense to me. though i don't think going from clunky running shoes to barefoot is the best idea.

I run barefoot, but I also believe if it ain't broke don't fix it. I do believe "some" barefoot running can help most runners. Myself, while running in shoes I had a series of injuries, especially knee problems, since switching to barefoot my PF and knee problems have disappeared. Like religion it works for me but it may not be right for you.

So many different points of view on this. I mean okay, on one hand human beings are not designed to run in shoes, they foul up your natural mechanics, make certain areas weaker as they shore up areas that are meant to do more work than a shoe allows them to, thus creating even more possibility of injury, they reduce your proprioception (feedback from your nerves regarding what limb etc. should be placed where, and at what time), in short, shoes aren't natural, we're not meant to be in them, we'd be better off running shoeless since day one. Unquestionably I think that barefoot running is best. But I don't do it, maybe I should. I don't know. Once you've been running in shoes for years and years, how on earth do you adapt away from them? Then take for instance the case of someone who's got a completely flat, overpronated foot, barefoot running won't solve their problems. Or someone who routinely gets stress fractures? So yay or nay for shoes...seriously WTF.

papa roach wrote:

I run barefoot, but I also believe if it ain't broke don't fix it. I do believe "some" barefoot running can help most runners. Myself, while running in shoes I had a series of injuries, especially knee problems, since switching to barefoot my PF and knee problems have disappeared. Like religion it works for me but it may not be right for you.

BINGO..im with you brother...same exact thing

My coach highly recommends some barefoot running every week along with foot drills and for good reason! One of the problems with our modern running shoes is that they give so much protection to our feet that we do not develope any ankle strength! Running fast starts with a powerful push off with your feet.

Back when I was young before I had to rescue my daughter from a house fire and couldn't run for 13 years (lungs) I was pretty fast. Not super fast. But decent fast (18:40 5K, 3:20 marathon etc)I didn't know much about ankle strength but I did do a lot of barefoot running along the Southern California beaches. Now I have recently discovered just how weak my muscles are and how badly it was screwing up my running! The ankle strengthening exercise which barefoot running plays a key in has all by itself increaded my race times by over a minute per mile!

Of course I still suck but at 56 I'm actually starting to suck a little less! Of course being a wimp, I only run barefoot in soft, springy grass! (which makes for even more ankle strength!) Huggs Becky