Barefoot Running Shoes - Week One

[GIG4NTOR]

yeah cause we all run with our fingers

[0102106kls]

this shoe would be good for bjj or wrestling

[GShoe32]

You should be a voice actor, your voice is epic

[mojomatt176]

there's something oxymoronic about "barefoot running shoes"...

[rbvid]

@mojomatt176 Good point. Minimal, Sole Pad, Protection Only, or something like that running shoes would probably be more appropriate.

[RobbyEL]

You shouldn't be up on your toes - you'll damage your metatarsals. You land on the ball of the foot, the heel dips down so that the foot is flat, then you pull your foot straight up towards your buttocks. Pilates is an excellent way of re-establishing your correct, natural posture. Most of us spend our days seated, our stabiliser muscles switch off and we lose natural alignment. Be aware of VFF - I quite like mine, but they can force your feet into unnatural positions causing tension

[dgk3188]

do you have to kind of run on tiptoes?

[rbvid]

@dgk3188 Not exactly, but I like the description. :-) It's more of a forefoot landing instead of heel. Forefoot is natural when barefoot, while heal becomes natural when using highly structured shoes... supportive, anti-pronation, etc..

[MaryEmerson80]

excellent. I would like to learn more about this interesting trend. I love being barefoot in summer so why not?! cool!

[RobbyEL]

rbvid: Looking at your form, there's a good reason you're in pain... You're chasing your head. Your head is in front of your hips so to keep you balanced, your feet need to land underneath your head. Lift your chest, keep head pointed at horizon so that you've a straight line from head through hips, and your feet will land under your hips - your whole body then acts as a shock absorber, nicely balanced, and your pains should eventually disappear. Think less about feet, more about posture.

[rbvid]

@RobbyEL Thanks for feedback. I've been more conscious of posture since your post. After 30+ years of running, and getting injuries, and getting older, and finding bad habits, I can always use a helpful hint. Speed seems to be coming around again... training or posture, I know it all adds up (or down on the clock). I havent' been able to get back to barefoot running, but I try to emulate it more and depend less on anti-pronation shoes... el naturel.

[Reynard13Fuchs]

I'm a Service member that recently went on Inactive reserve status, during my tour overseas, I finally bought a pair of Vibram Five fingers and before then trained up to running in the five fingers by running ball-heel instead of heel-toe.

After getting the shoes, I have fallen in love with the concept of trying to be barefoot or as close to barefoot as possible. The feeling simply felt natural, and the sensation that I felt with my feet was outstanding.

[rbvid]

@Reynard13Fuchs It is a good feeling. I've had many issues with running over the years and never had a good solution that came from supportive shoes or inserts. I wouldn't say that corrective shoes for over-pronation, and other issues are bad, but I wonder if running mechanics are over diagnosed when the body has natural mechanics to provide support and absorbing shock.

[mustachegirl13]

@Reynard13Fuchs

your supposed to run mid foot because heel toe and toe heel make you pause but mid foot makes you go forward

[jk98765432]

From what I've read online, those articles on barefoot running that make it sound like you can just take off your shoes and run a marathon are extremely irresponsible and could lead to a huge backlash on barefoot running's image. The older longer you've been running in shoes, the slower you need to be in transitioning to BF running It seems, due to people's feet being somewhat atrophied by running shoes. This causes them to be susceptible to stress fractures and other permanent damage.

[rbvid]

@jk98765432 I'm not sure if it's atrophy, technique, or bio-mechanics but making the transition from structured shoes to barefoot should be slow and calculated. I have yet to make the transition - I'm in older longer category - and after a year I'm still cautious. I still find new aches and pains from trying to be a forefoot runner (barefoot like) after years of heal striking, and have heard horror stories of people trying to make fast transition (too many miles to quickly). Bones will crack.

[YoChr1s09]

quite the green screen there

[fourpointohh]

Im kind of on the fat side and i do not run at all... ever. Think these would be good just for hiking?

[Bardock992]

@fourpointohh I've thought about it myself, but the problem with using Five Fingers for hiking is they have no ankle support like you would have with most decent hiking boots or shoes. That's pretty important, because it's normally a long crawl back to your car after twisting your ankle on a bad root or rock. Now, if you hike paved paths, then it won't be as big an issue. But these things would be a bad idea for hiking a rough trail.

[fourpointohh]

@Bardock992 hey, good call on the ankle support. when I was on sky line drive I saw a person that was hiking the app. trail from start to finish and he was wearing leather ones. He was in good shape tho looked like he could run up a cliff face haha

[LivetoRun100]

Good review. I have been running barefoot and in minimalist shoes for about 8 months now - I have tried everything but keep coming back to the Vibrams. While you can't beat barefoot for learning how to run properly, the Vibrams (and their cheaper rip off cousins) are by far the best if you want to run injury free.

I ran the Melbourne Marathon in them and was very happy with my time and the fact that I got no blister or hot spots.

[TheRCat]

make sure to lift your foot off the ground after each stride instead of pushing off. i haven't been running barefoot for too long but using this technique i can fly down asphalt w/ no shoes and no pain

[joeclapper]

you should try terra plana vivo barefoot they are barefoot running shoes but they look like normal shoes hope this helps someone

[jjlanotte]

@joeclapper Totally agree, i tried the vibram bikilas and loved them however my toe anatomy made them uncomfortable. I then went after some evo's and they have been amazing!!!!! I bought them, took out the insole, and could feel everything.

[ckent1984]

You have to get into barefoot running gradually. I started ruuning BF 2 months ago and am only up to 1/2 mile for safety. Remember, your BF muscles are atrophied, just because you run marathons with sneakers doesn't mean you can do the same running BF immediately.

[TheVerySpecialThommy]

good video and good running style

[rbvid]

Update... I evolved to hard heel running over many years. After using these for a bit more I got pains in metatarsal bone area and had to quit. A friend had similar situation and ended up in cast from stress fracture of metatarsal - he was forefoot runner. Running on asphalt is way different than treadmill as I noted in video, but I have since gotten back to at least mid-foot landing, and using non-stabilized shoes. I still like concept and may try again, but content now with running flats.

[ramtron1775]

@rbvid

good vid/info. sorry about your freind that must suck. this comment just saved me a hassle. I need ne running shoes but can only affort to buy 1. Im currently usin under armor running shoes an they have been the 2nd best ive ever used.

[Robanos]

good video.

i just got a pair. love em.

barefoot is really the way to go.

i mean, you built foot strength, leg, core. . . better all round.

and lets face it, all through history people have run barefoot or close to. . .

why have we decided to wear shoes with all this padding and run on the heel?

[1975Dazzer]

@Robanos . You must read 'Born to Run' by Christopher McDougall.

[tinywookie]

Im thinking about getting a pair for mountain biking.

[1975Dazzer]

to brandonworldwide and florida12341000 - you are a pair of morons...

[florida12341000]

@1975Dazzer and the funny thing is a gay guy at school came with a pair on and all the girls made fun of the fag lol the shoes are gay just wear regular shoes

[arcticwolfx8]

but do they protect your feet from things like shards of glass and rocks?

[florida12341000]

i wouldn't be caught dead with those gay shoes on :)

[ckent1984]

@florida12341000 there are many minimalist shoes that don't look that weird

[brandonworldwide]

This guys a douche.

[inxs13]

well done

[MotorRotor13]

nice vid.

[dudewarp]

that's pretty interesting, thanks for sharing.

[genkiada]

Thanks for the video and information!

[ashegam]

nice video editing and presentation.