Barefoot Ted Interview at Mile 52 of Angeles Crest 100

[TheLinkMedic]

@RodrigoZ93 Eventually they will make a stronger runner and improve your form so yes. But don't think you can do your normal distance in them you'll be sore and sore some more.

[sickboi1982]

ted i used to run cross country in high school. Well 12 years later im 280 pounds and out of shape. Im wanting to start running again, because i used to love it so much. And im wanting to do i barefoot. my question for you is should i just start barefoot or work my way to it.

[johnyboyproduction]

Hey ted I started running a little barefot for about a month now what do you think is better vibram five fingers or running shoes with just a little cushioning?

[barefootted]

@johnyboyproduction - Some barefoot, some VFFs, some Luna Sandals. Mix it up.

[dem0nk1d123]

Ted's daughter is mega hot!

[Existentialexplosion]

Hello Ted

I'm wonderfing why you're wearing those Vibram's shoes and not your sandals?

[DCJohnRoss]

Please head Barefoot Ted's advice and EASE INTO IT! I made the mistake of getting caught up in the excitement and feeling of barefoot running, like a kid at Christmas who breaks his toy before he can show his friends, I'm now nursing a stress fracture for the next 6 weeks (hopefully). Give your muscles plenty of time to rest.

[lethalevil83]

thnx for the Video.happy feet- i thought i´ts a movie with pinguins, but now my definition runs up to this one here is shown.vibram is wonderful.went for 50 k yesterday,better than shoes.Great!

[mobius1aic]

Reading Born to Run right now, and that's where I first heard of you Ted. Glad to see some vids! Loving the book and my Vibrams :D

[sharpkeet]

@mobius1aic same story here! excellent stuff - both shoes and book : )

[Mancer6363]

i love running but ended up taking a break because i got into mma fighting and i am only 14. know its weirs mma fighting 14? yea i know but i was up to eight miles but now i started running again and i get dizzy really quick?i dont knowhy could you help me? i make sure to drink plenty water and stay hydrated i also eat healthy and work out daily. im only around 5'4". i have read born to run i luv that book are all thosethings in that book true? about caballo and the tarahumara? please respond!!

[movewithtao]

@Mancer6363

slow down. you're pushing yourself to much. mma training and running are two different entities. Run slow, build up your aerobic ssytem. Then you'll be able to wrestle for the whole day

[zacarter1997]

True but he's on trails. I find the trail less taxing than pavement, but I do know he also ran the LA marathon barefoot. Anyway since that post I've done more barefoot and fivefinger running and am coming away almost pain free. I just needed to be patient and adjust my technique. Now I'm doing something close to pose method.

[zacarter1997]

Update: I just finished the LA Marathon in my kso treks and I had no problems. My time was 4:52, so not fast, but I just wanted to do it. Now I'll work on speed.

[zacarter1997]

I read Born to Run, and I bought the Vibram KSO Treks, and I've run a couple dozen runs in them ranging from 2 to 18 miles. I'm contemplating running the LA Marathon in them but I ran the last 12 miles of it today with my friend, a cushioned-shoe-wearer and I'm just not sure it's a good idea. I got a blister and knee pain and want to blame it on bad form, but the fact is it seems most people do shorter training runs, no long races in them. What do you think?

[bronze5000]

@zacarter1997 i have bikilas. love 'em. i do daily 18-22 miles in them. love 'em. ran a marathon last week with VFF....and love 'em. just work your way up. If your running 2 miles a day with them...you're shorting your feet the other 24. if your doing 18 daily... you're feet should be pretty used to your VFF. if you're getting knee pain, you need to either start rolling your foot from the outside of your heel to the ball, or land just outside the ball

[jaybolt311]

@zacarter1997 Well.. this is a video of Ted running at mile 52 of a 100 mile run in Vibrams. To me 100 miles is a long race...

[jaybolt311]

@zacarter1997 Well.. this is a video of Ted running at mile 52 of a 100 mile run in Vibrams. To me 100 miles is a long race...

[ctbd23]

viva el mono!

[oldpiq]

Very motivating but... I keep getting injured even after switching to vibrams over a year ago. My form is correct but I'm afraid it could be an anatomical glitch because the problems occur ALWAYS in the left leg (shin spleens, knee, hip, ankle, snapping sensation). The right leg works perfectly fine and NEVER gets injured even a bit. The left? I'm actually considering a cosmetic amputation and a prosthetic. Are there any known similar problems among bare foot runners?

[BrutalSleep85]

@oldpiq try a chiropractic adjustment about once a week. i have noticed a different reaction in my left leg since i have been running bare foot.

[oldpiq]

@BrutalSleep85 "A chiropractic adjustment" - the mere sound of it makes me feel better already. Thanks.

[emmak33]

@oldpiq i havent yet switched to vibrams and i cant say that my form is perfect, but I have been suffering from the same problem - always injuries in my left leg. Over many years of physio the most satisfying conclusion was one I received yesterday. In a nutshell: It seems the problem is that during my recovery from my first injury, a hyperextended knee, I was limping around for about 6 months, thereby completely weakening the muscles on my left leg from underuse. Mainly, there is a muscle

[emmak33]

@oldpiq somewhere in the glutes/pelvis area, which is responsible for keeping the hip in its socket. This muscle is meant to do a majority of the propulsion work when you move, but when it cannot work it relies on the calves to do 3-4 times as much work as it usually should. Therefore overworking your calves and achilles, tightening hamstrings, etc. And the muscle connects to the sciatica in your back so can cause pain there too.

In conclusion I urge you to consider this option before...

[emmak33]

@oldpiq surgery because it may be that you just need to strengthen some key muscles and it might set you on your way. I really hope you find a similar solution or just keep going to different specialists until you do because I had given up hope too but I think this just might be the answer for me, so you never know. Also get a scan done to measure your leg lengths, and see an expert in biomechanics before considering an operation. Good luck and all the best.

[oldpiq]

@emmak33 Surgery is not an option. The troubles have not been super painful. I kept off the trails when I felt something coming up, so I was back within a week or two. But you are right. I just recently came to similar realization: the only cause of injuries is simply too much rest weakening the muscles. We are leading sitting lifestyle with occasional running instead of running lifestyle with occasional sitting. It's as simple.

[oldpiq]

@emmak33 Recently I introduced more frequent and slower runs whenever I feel a pinch in my hip or shin. It sounds nuts, but I think it helps me pay attention to my form and realigns my legs somehow. I think it actually kept down an injury I had coming up just now. Slow and short barefoot runs on the t-mill does wonders as well. I would call it resting while running. We don't have to melt the asphalt every time we run, right? Thank you and good luck to you as well.

[JCABRERA5150]

Ted,

9 months ago I was a couch potato father of two. A 3 yr old and one year old. I Had such horrible back pain at 225 lbs at 6'1 34 yes old. I decided to eat right and lost 20 lbs. Back pain was gone. Then got Nike shox and boy were they a shock. Back pain started coming back shin splints galore. Read BTR and enjoyed it cover to cover. Been running in Vibrams since June. Pain free. Normal Bmi 24 per wii fit for the first time. Down to 187 lbs. Now I can keep up with the kids. Thanks f

[maxmosesman]

Do you have any Workshops, or Barefoot/Foot analysis?

[longfellowlettuce]

i like you ted

[Shawnajosephine]

I used to run with music then left the mp3 player at home one day and was amazed at how much more I enjoyed the run. I switched from roads to trails and from music to silence and lost the need to distract myself.

Next step, lose the shoes.....

[thoushallreason]

Dang this sucks, i just bought the book, and just finished it, and before i bought the book i bought a new pair of running shoes that cost me $100, it was The New Rebox Zig Tech Shoes, i thought they were good, but now im so in tuned to running barefoot or buying those vibrams, or even my old Huaraches lol, im Mexican so ofcourse i have a pair of those lol, barefoot running is the way to go, feels great to be running early mourning, just you, your mind, and your barefeet:)

[barefootted]

@RodrigoZ93 Incremental development is key. Orchard growing NOT fast food.

[barefootted]

@verifiabletwinkie No longer listen to music while running...mostly because I am convinced that we need to listen to ourselves, the sound of our movement...particularly internally...silent being the goal.

[barefootted]

@johntaig one foot at a time.

[spagnot]

which prototype vibrams were they?

[barefootted]

@spagnot Those were KSO prototypes...back in the day :)

[rodriguez4632]

Loved the book Ted. How many miles do you get out of those shoes?

[barefootted]

@rodriguez4632 Never had any long enough to find out...always had new to test, but many seem to wear them longer than traditional running shoes...since they don't have padding to wear out.

[duffinsmert]

hey ted i am almost done with the book you our in Born To Run.

I just want to say that amazing running through the hills even while white horse is doubting your barefoot running.amazing

[uemciicmeu]

congratulations! you can really see those endorphins kicking in~

[phonziee]

my pr was 18:15 but my friends pr in highschool was 15:21

[phonziee]

i think landing on your heels and or running too much too soon cause shin problems..u should find out what s comfortable for u whether it is mid foot or balls of your feet but i think you should use them twice a week

[phonziee]

i have the vibram and as 3hr17 marathoner and ultra runner and they will shorten ur stride to a natural one..it teaches to land mid foot and never on your heels(because it hurts) (when u land on ur heels it puts more stress on the knees) but it definatly will make ur feet and legs stronger..start out with 1or 2 miles and build from there

[justmcme]

yes thinking of buying a pair of plimsoles, to see if i can change my form, and fix my knee problems

[LeCatnip]

Hey. you ever consider running in light plimsolls? Iv been wearing them recently as i think vibrams are very overpriced for what they are. my plimsolls are going great and only cost £5.

[sam24jeff]

Love my KSO's Ted, and the book. My calves are killing me. Keep on truckin' !

[whereismymine]

gnarly ted, keep up on your 5 finger shoes

[autumn1231]

Hi Barefoot Ted, May I add myself to your fan club? Tell your friends at Vibram that you sold another pair of "shoes".

[pattywolford]

So happy to see you on film, BFT! And the "fivefingers!"

[barefootted]

I went on to finish this race in 27 hours and 53 seconds, shaving over 5 hours off my time in 2006!

BFT

[kelborn24]

great job! I read about ya in "Born to Run". Keep it up!