Barefoot running?

[big brown horse]

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/diet_and_fitness/article6160557.ece

OK you serious runners out there, what do you think?

My sister is sending me this book. I find the topic fascinating! (My three horses go barefoot, why not me?)

HOW SELF SUFFICIENT!!!!

 

[Bettacreek]

Ha! I've been barefoot most of my life, only wearing them in extreme weather and into the stores. Even now, in PA, coming close to December, I'm barefoot when I go outside. I am much more comfortable in my bare feet, and can cross most terrain in bare feet (but, I must admit, chestnut casings get me!) Granted, there's no way that my tubby butt is going to do a 100 mile marathon. Hunting and everyday chores is enough excersize for this one.

 

[me&thegals]

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/diet_and_fitness/article6160557.ece

OK you serious runners out there, what do you think?

My sister is sending me this book. I find the topic fascinating! (My three horses go barefoot, why not me?)

HOW SELF SUFFICIENT!!!!

I think OUCH!! I'm not a serious runner, but I run a 10K most years and got halfway through training for a half marathon last winter (canceled due to foster training coming up), and I depende on great shoes. I used to be a completely barefoot gal, including hiking the bluffs in my college town. These days, I'm in pain if I'm not wearing something during the day. Sandals are my footwear of choice, but they have great support.

 

[big brown horse]

Yeah, I spent my first 15 years barefoot. (Dad always screamed, "You are going to get hookworm!")

Makes sense to me! Think I'll give it a whirl the next time I go to the track.

Running barefoot changes your stride and the way you land on your feet.

 

[big brown horse]

The results indicate that an increased stride length will increase the probability of a tibial stress fracture. Ive briefly looked over the full article and the authors fail to mention what could be causing runners to have a large stride length to begin with?!

This is simple. Shod runners have a large stride length because their no feedback from the periphery telling shod runners that they are landing wrongly (mainly extending their stride so far in front of them that theyre pounding the heel of the foot into the ground). While barefoot runners have a shorter stride length and faster cadence when compared to shod runners.

In general stress fractures are common in runners. This is mainly due to neglecting the progressive overload principal of training - in other words too much training, too soon.

It seems that shod runners commonly suffer from tibial stress fractures, while amateur and new barefoot runners are at high risk for metatarsal stress fractures (according to the testimonials of this website).

According to the National Strength and Conditioning Association it takes 6 to 12 months to improve bone density via a weight bearing training stimulus. So those of you, who are new barefoot runners, take it slow.

 

[FarmerDenise]

Makes me want to start running again.

Since I was a kid I have hated wearing shoes. I spent my summers wearing shoes only to go into stores. I went barefoot all my life as much as possible. I even went barefoot in the snow as often as possible. Unfortunately about 3 years ago we started having some kind of critter in our soil (chiggers?) that have caused me to stop going barefoot. I started getting itchy feet and it wouldn't go away.

People used to be amazed that I would go barefoot on gravel and on hot pavement. My feet got used to it and I walk/run differently when I am barefoot. I can climb trees better in bare feet.

I am going to try and go barefoot again this coming summer and get my feet back in shape. It just feels so much better being barefoot. I feel it is the way we were meant to walk or run, instead of binding our feet in shoes.

 

[big brown horse]

http://runningbarefoot.org/ this is where I got the quote I mentioned above.

 

[miss_thenorth]

I despise running, and am in extreme pain if barefoot for too long, so I definately thnk it's not for me. Give me a long walk with my pooches and a good pair of shoes with my arch supports, and I'm good to go.

 

[big brown horse]

Makes me want to start running again.

Since I was a kid I have hated wearing shoes. I spent my summers wearing shoes only to go into stores. I went barefoot all my life as much as possible. I even went barefoot in the snow as often as possible. Unfortunately about 3 years ago we started having some kind of critter in our soil (chiggers?) that have caused me to stop going barefoot. I started getting itchy feet and it wouldn't go away.

People used to be amazed that I would go barefoot on gravel and on hot pavement. My feet got used to it and I walk/run differently when I am barefoot. I can climb trees better in bare feet.

I am going to try and go barefoot again this coming summer and get my feet back in shape. It just feels so much better being barefoot. I feel it is the way we were meant to walk or run, instead of binding our feet in shoes.

I hear ya! I've been suffering with aching arches for 6 months now and I wonder if it has to do with shoes.

 

[FarmerDenise]

I despise running, and am in extreme pain if barefoot for too long, so I definately thnk it's not for me. Give me a long walk with my pooches and a good pair of shoes with my arch supports, and I'm good to go.

My DD cannot go barefoot. She has an extra bone in her foot and needs to have the support of good shoes and she cannot run.
You won't believe the problems this caused in High School, when PE teachers insisted she run, even though we had a doctor's note stating that she was not to run under any circumstances.!! I finally had to take her out of PE all together