"Barefoot" Running

I'm going to try and approach a somewhat heated subject with objectivity. There are certainly "sides" to this subject, and I aim to tick off neither. This subject is Barefoot Running (you may have guessed already by the title of the post). My goal is to give a little of the background and a few tips on how to start if you're interested.

First off, I titled the post "Barefoot" Running, because, while the ideal is barefoot, in actuality is not always done barefoot. Perhaps "minimalist" would be a better term, but whatever. Certainly some do run barefoot, but others choose to use footwear to get as close to barefoot as possible without sacrificing some basic physical protection. Regardless, I'm sticking with "Barefoot Running."

Barefoot running is part of what might be called a "back to nature" movement. Essentially, the idea is that our feet know what's best, they are designed as they are to do what they do. Modern footwear hinders our feet's natural "gifts" and do more to hinder than to help. The extra cushion, corrective posting, and other features actually hurt our running efficacy and our bodies.*

On the flip side, running as we were meant to run, footloose and fancy free, allows our feet to speak to us more accurately about what's going on through proprioceptive and physical feedback. They say "hey, that hurts!" so we adjust our stride accordingly. The goal is not to run through the pain, but to adjust our running to be painless. The result is an adjusted stride with less heel-strike and more midfoot-strike, a stride that has more natural shock absorption through the leg joints and less jarring. Also, your feet get stronger.

Proponents of barefoot running tout lower injury rates, improved performance, and the disappearing of some chronic pains. And stronger feet.

If you're interested, here are some pointers on starting. Remember the comments about stronger feet? Well, that's important to know. Our feet are not accustomed to running with our supportive footwear, so start slow and start with short distances. We need to allow our feet to play catch-up. Try to keep on grass or trails, as these are easier on the body, they can help ease the transition. Look into the Pose method of running and Chi running. Both of these techniques emphasize a mid-foot strike, which is where you'll naturally end up. Listen to your body. This may be the most important point. If you're body is telling you pain, change what you're doing. This is part of the ideological underpinnings of Barefoot Running, so don't dismiss it.

Lastly, run barefoot! Or in minimalist shoes such as the Vibram FiveFingers. KSOs are a popular model.

The web is full of resources, so give it a browse. Check out The Bare Minimalist, a metro Atlanta barefooting blogger (you know how we love our local outdoor community). And definitely stop by the shop to talk about how your Barefoot Running is progressing!

Have more tips? More ideas? Post them in the comments.

*Obviously, footwear makers disagree with these charges. Hence the "sides" I mentioned at the beginning.