Comments on: 7 Barefoot Running Myths http://shodless.com/barefoot-running-myths/barefoot/ Understanding barefoot and minimalist running Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:41:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Hank Dean http://shodless.com/barefoot-running-myths/barefoot/comment-page-1/#comment-657 Hank Dean Sat, 28 May 2011 12:29:02 +0000 http://shodless.com/?p=91#comment-657 It's amazing that in the year 2011, barefoot running is in it's infancy (again :) The ignorance & misconceptions about the human foot, as it pertains to running?.. Predicatable. Everybody knows... If you challenge your muscles by weight lifting, you get bigger & stronger... Everyone knows a 400lb bench presser and a 600lb squatter. If your challenge you knuckles with makiwara, a small girl can learn to break boards... Kick truck tires 4 hours a day & you too can break Louisville sluggers across your shin! If you challenge your heart; run/swim/cycle, you can eventually run marathons... Everyone knows a marathon runner/ triathlete. If you challenge your spine and legs by stretching you can eventually kiss your own butt! Who among us has not experienced an amazing stretch at one point in their lives? Woman have learned to walk in shoes, with their heals up to 5 inches off the floor... all the while destroying their feet, in the name of fashion or vanity. You can become a human pin cushion, stretch your neck 5 inches, have 2 inch earlobes... You can stretch your lips to look like a duck over time... It is now common knowledge that a typical man can permanently increase his "size" by 30%... by employing thousand year old exercises! The average man, woman or child that takes 10 minutes a day to walk their dog gently in bare feet will not be able to deny the amazing transformation of their soles over just a brief a 2 week period. I'm a newbie to barefoot running. I run/walk the dogs at night barefoot. I wear Vibrams during the business day (no shoes, no shirt, no service, right?) And I will tell you that after only 3 weeks I am truly beginning to cure a year-long case of Plantar Fasciitis that I acquired by running "forefoot style" in shoes with orthotics. I'll be starting a blog at barefoothank.com shortly, documenting "timeline" style my barefoot experiences. I will be Key West Hash House Harriers first full-time barefoot hasher. Thank you Caballo Blanco, Chris "Oso" MacDougall, Barefoot Ted and to the guru himself "Barefoot Ken Bob Saxton". It’s amazing that in the year 2011, barefoot running is in it’s infancy (again :)
The ignorance & misconceptions about the human foot, as it pertains to running?.. Predicatable.

Everybody knows…

If you challenge your muscles by weight lifting, you get bigger & stronger…
Everyone knows a 400lb bench presser and a 600lb squatter.

If your challenge you knuckles with makiwara, a small girl can learn to break boards…
Kick truck tires 4 hours a day & you too can break Louisville sluggers across your shin!

If you challenge your heart; run/swim/cycle, you can eventually run marathons…
Everyone knows a marathon runner/ triathlete.

If you challenge your spine and legs by stretching you can eventually kiss your own butt!
Who among us has not experienced an amazing stretch at one point in their lives?

Woman have learned to walk in shoes, with their heals up to 5 inches off the floor…
all the while destroying their feet, in the name of fashion or vanity.

You can become a human pin cushion, stretch your neck 5 inches, have 2 inch earlobes…
You can stretch your lips to look like a duck over time…
It is now common knowledge that a typical man can permanently increase his “size” by 30%…
by employing thousand year old exercises!

The average man, woman or child that takes 10 minutes a day to walk their dog gently in bare feet will not be able to deny the amazing transformation of their soles over just a brief a 2 week period.

I’m a newbie to barefoot running.
I run/walk the dogs at night barefoot.
I wear Vibrams during the business day (no shoes, no shirt, no service, right?)
And I will tell you that after only 3 weeks I am truly beginning to cure a year-long case of Plantar Fasciitis that I acquired by running “forefoot style” in shoes with orthotics.

I’ll be starting a blog at barefoothank.com shortly, documenting “timeline” style my barefoot experiences.
I will be Key West Hash House Harriers first full-time barefoot hasher.

Thank you Caballo Blanco, Chris “Oso” MacDougall, Barefoot Ted and to the guru himself “Barefoot Ken Bob Saxton”.

]]> By: Papa2Hapa http://shodless.com/barefoot-running-myths/barefoot/comment-page-1/#comment-647 Papa2Hapa Sun, 10 Apr 2011 18:38:30 +0000 http://shodless.com/?p=91#comment-647 I always wonder why people equate VFF to barefoot running. The VFF simulate the experience, but it still isn't "barefoot." I do think it's necessary for people to try barefoot running on soft surfaces and with very short distances first (I make my athletes do barefoot striders on the football field at the end of practice). Once they get used to the feeling and the proper foot strike, then they can start doing more. I now have athletes going barefoot to do their entire mile warm up on the grass, plus their 800 warm down with striders on the grass. They enjoy the feeling before and after. But, again, not for everyone and some athletes are more advanced than others with the foot strength. Some athletes who are very flat footed complain excessively about running barefoot on the grass. However, they almost always feel more pain when their running fully shod on the track. Thanks for a good blog post (even though I'm coming to this one very late). I always wonder why people equate VFF to barefoot running. The VFF simulate the experience, but it still isn’t “barefoot.” I do think it’s necessary for people to try barefoot running on soft surfaces and with very short distances first (I make my athletes do barefoot striders on the football field at the end of practice). Once they get used to the feeling and the proper foot strike, then they can start doing more. I now have athletes going barefoot to do their entire mile warm up on the grass, plus their 800 warm down with striders on the grass. They enjoy the feeling before and after. But, again, not for everyone and some athletes are more advanced than others with the foot strength. Some athletes who are very flat footed complain excessively about running barefoot on the grass. However, they almost always feel more pain when their running fully shod on the track. Thanks for a good blog post (even though I’m coming to this one very late).

]]> By: Kāpēc man sāp kāja? | VSK Noskrien http://shodless.com/barefoot-running-myths/barefoot/comment-page-1/#comment-616 Kāpēc man sāp kāja? | VSK Noskrien Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:29:47 +0000 http://shodless.com/?p=91#comment-616 [...] P.S. Ja nu kāds pēc šī visa vēl nejūtas pārliecināts, atļauts izlasīt 10 mītus par baso skriešanu šajā tīmekļa rakstā “7 basās skriešanas mīti“.. [...] [...] P.S. Ja nu kāds pēc šī visa vēl nejūtas pārliecināts, atļauts izlasīt 10 mītus par baso skriešanu šajā tīmekļa rakstā “7 basās skriešanas mīti“.. [...]

]]> By: Kāpēc man sāp kāja? « Baskāju rūdas vīra neironu uzplaiksnījumi! http://shodless.com/barefoot-running-myths/barefoot/comment-page-1/#comment-615 Kāpēc man sāp kāja? « Baskāju rūdas vīra neironu uzplaiksnījumi! Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:26:30 +0000 http://shodless.com/?p=91#comment-615 [...] P.S. Ja nu kāds pēc šī visa vēl nejūtas pārliecināts, atļauts izlasīt 10 mītus par baso skriešanu šajā tīmekļa rakstā “7 basās skriešanas mīti“.. [...] [...] P.S. Ja nu kāds pēc šī visa vēl nejūtas pārliecināts, atļauts izlasīt 10 mītus par baso skriešanu šajā tīmekļa rakstā “7 basās skriešanas mīti“.. [...]

]]> By: Colin Edmondson http://shodless.com/barefoot-running-myths/barefoot/comment-page-1/#comment-614 Colin Edmondson Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:35:24 +0000 http://shodless.com/?p=91#comment-614 I have been running barefoot for at leat 30 years, I land on my toes without any jarring of my legs and my calves have strengthened to cope. I have learned to look where I am going, and in soft ground I leave very little trace of my passing, on earthy woodland tracks I often surprise foxes and badgers who have not heard my quiet approach. My feet are tough enough to cope with practically any surface, but still soft enough to appreciate the feeling of dewy grass, soft earth and snow. I still wear shoes when people expect it, but there are very few occasions when I actually need them, I have been up and down Snowdon barefoot without any problems except trembling calves towards the end of the descent, simply due to being out of practice. If the temperature is only just below zero and I keep hands and head warm enough I can do 10 miles or more barefoot in snow quite easily and my feet retain enough feeling to really enjoy the experience, but I tend to stick to quiet paths to save answering the same question again and again, no they really are not cold! This winter has offered the chance to do a lot barefoot in the snow, and I have made the most of it, you would be surprised what you are capable of. My advice? start as soon as you can, build up gently and add the sense of touch to the running experience, you are missing out! I have been running barefoot for at leat 30 years, I land on my toes without any jarring of my legs and my calves have strengthened to cope. I have learned to look where I am going, and in soft ground I leave very little trace of my passing, on earthy woodland tracks I often surprise foxes and badgers who have not heard my quiet approach. My feet are tough enough to cope with practically any surface, but still soft enough to appreciate the feeling of dewy grass, soft earth and snow. I still wear shoes when people expect it, but there are very few occasions when I actually need them, I have been up and down Snowdon barefoot without any problems except trembling calves towards the end of the descent, simply due to being out of practice. If the temperature is only just below zero and I keep hands and head warm enough I can do 10 miles or more barefoot in snow quite easily and my feet retain enough feeling to really enjoy the experience, but I tend to stick to quiet paths to save answering the same question again and again, no they really are not cold! This winter has offered the chance to do a lot barefoot in the snow, and I have made the most of it, you would be surprised what you are capable of.
My advice? start as soon as you can, build up gently and add the sense of touch to the running experience, you are missing out!

]]> By: Rob http://shodless.com/barefoot-running-myths/barefoot/comment-page-1/#comment-604 Rob Fri, 24 Dec 2010 20:21:45 +0000 http://shodless.com/?p=91#comment-604 The entire purpose of the fat deposits, especially in the heel area is to act as natural padding to bone impact. If you're landing on your heel, then you should definitely keep wearing shoes, or plan to transition to a midfoot stride. If you have a midfoot/forefoot stride, then the small amount of impact on your heel/fat is exactly its purpose. I had had the experience of damaging some of the fat there (thinning it out) from some trail running and my heel landing on a rock. Apparently this is a type of injury that other athletes get from time to time. I looked up the best way to tape it on the internet, so that the fat is forced back of the heel temporarily and was back on my way. The injury itself was minor and took about a week to heel. The entire purpose of the fat deposits, especially in the heel area is to act as natural padding to bone impact. If you’re landing on your heel, then you should definitely keep wearing shoes, or plan to transition to a midfoot stride. If you have a midfoot/forefoot stride, then the small amount of impact on your heel/fat is exactly its purpose.

I had had the experience of damaging some of the fat there (thinning it out) from some trail running and my heel landing on a rock. Apparently this is a type of injury that other athletes get from time to time. I looked up the best way to tape it on the internet, so that the fat is forced back of the heel temporarily and was back on my way. The injury itself was minor and took about a week to heel.

]]> By: Eric http://shodless.com/barefoot-running-myths/barefoot/comment-page-1/#comment-603 Eric Fri, 24 Dec 2010 01:22:26 +0000 http://shodless.com/?p=91#comment-603 I've been told that if I run barefoot then I will lose the fat on the soles of my feet and start hitting bone, and that's why we need to wear shoes. What is a good counter to this argument? I’ve been told that if I run barefoot then I will lose the fat on the soles of my feet and start hitting bone, and that’s why we need to wear shoes. What is a good counter to this argument?

]]> By: abdulkarim abbas http://shodless.com/barefoot-running-myths/barefoot/comment-page-1/#comment-587 abdulkarim abbas Sat, 27 Nov 2010 06:33:27 +0000 http://shodless.com/?p=91#comment-587 abebe is and will remain the number one runner in the world!!!!!!!!! no one can take that away from him. abebe is and will remain the number one runner in the world!!!!!!!!! no one can take that away from him.

]]> By: Dannyboy http://shodless.com/barefoot-running-myths/barefoot/comment-page-1/#comment-583 Dannyboy Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:55:48 +0000 http://shodless.com/?p=91#comment-583 Hey Rob, thanks for the post. I started suffering from shin splints, knee pain, and hip pain a couple years ago. I would get through a few runs but would usually have to take it easy for a couple weeks to recover and wait for the pain to subside before I could run again. In short, I was getting nowhere fast. I'd heard about people running barefoot and started doing some research on the subject. It made me realize my heel strike form, which I always thought was the correct way to run, may have been causing many of my problems. Anyways, I decided to bypass the minimalist footwear altogether and go straight barefoot. Over the last two months I've gotten up to 33 minutes barefoot. I've experienced soreness in my ankles (which goes away), but mostly in my calves. My calves obviously needed alot of strengthening. However, I'm getting comfortable with the mid-forefoot form, and the whole experience has been amazing. You really don't need the minimalist footwear, I recommend that people go unshod unless its really cold or whatever. I'm hooked, and I currently don't have a pair of running shoes :) Hey Rob, thanks for the post. I started suffering from shin splints, knee pain, and hip pain a couple years ago. I would get through a few runs but would usually have to take it easy for a couple weeks to recover and wait for the pain to subside before I could run again. In short, I was getting nowhere fast. I’d heard about people running barefoot and started doing some research on the subject. It made me realize my heel strike form, which I always thought was the correct way to run, may have been causing many of my problems. Anyways, I decided to bypass the minimalist footwear altogether and go straight barefoot. Over the last two months I’ve gotten up to 33 minutes barefoot. I’ve experienced soreness in my ankles (which goes away), but mostly in my calves. My calves obviously needed alot of strengthening. However, I’m getting comfortable with the mid-forefoot form, and the whole experience has been amazing. You really don’t need the minimalist footwear, I recommend that people go unshod unless its really cold or whatever. I’m hooked, and I currently don’t have a pair of running shoes :)

]]> By: Thursday, November 18, 2010 | Viking Crossfit http://shodless.com/barefoot-running-myths/barefoot/comment-page-1/#comment-556 Thursday, November 18, 2010 | Viking Crossfit Thu, 18 Nov 2010 04:03:13 +0000 http://shodless.com/?p=91#comment-556 [...] Barefoot Running [...] [...] Barefoot Running [...]

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