Are You Ready to Go Minimal?

Three self-assessment tests to help you decide if your body is ready to take on minimalist running with Jay Dicharry, MPT. (7:11)

• Category

  Sports

[bballben2190]

hahaha oh my goodness.......you know what I don't even know why I'm trying to convince you otherwise - go for it!; I will get a hearty laugh when I see someone running barefoot

[Atrus2225]

the modern running shoes has been around since the 1970's. What were people wearing before? moccasins, thin soled sandals, boots made of flexible leather, and of course, nothing at all. Shoes were more for warmth than protection. We don't need really padded soles we've been without them for 4 million years. Minnimal doesn't nessecarily mean barefoot, it means being able to move the foot the way it evolved to move instead of fixing non-existent problems with its movement

[bballben2190]

you better be moving pretty fukking slow then or you might run into a tree while you're watching where you're stepping. The nail was symbolic for all the nuances found on the ground (you know, the ones that made man think "hmm we should protect our feet somehow. I'm sick of stepping on sh.it")

[Atrus2225]

*sigh* this kind of thinking is stupid... When you're barefoot you actually watch where you're stepping instead of just running over anything. In a way barefoot is safer cause if you don't watch like when in shoes, you're MORE likely to step on a nail. Anyways, shoes don't really help in terms of nails, they're going to pierce the shoe and foot anyway. Also, where the hell are you walking around that has nails sticking upward to step on?

[bballben2190]

lol have fun stepping on nails morons

[USAhealthInsReform]

I agree - the human body is amazing at adapting

[Christopher Johnson]

Time will tell though if she is training and racing, she obviously is using some strategy that works for her. Thanks for responding. I love all runners and wish people would not be getting too hung up on the shoe debate as its dysfunctional running that ultimately lands people in trouble. Hope your training and racing are going well

[USAhealthInsReform]

I believe the female model is a pro triathlete in real life. Can't be that bad haha

[Deborah Carmichael]

Very helpful! I can see I am not ready to do barefoot running or minimal. Balancing on one foot is fairly difficult for me. Also, I can"t lift my right toes while the left big toe is stablilized on the floor. It's like they won't work without the big toe going along with them.

[Christopher Johnson]

Interestingly enough just the opposite has been shown to be true...this is why I love research. Hope your training is going well!

"High medial plantar pressures during barefoot running are associated with increased risk of ankle inversion injury in Royal Marine recruits." This appeared in Gait and Posture 2013 March Issue. I can provide you with the full manuscript if youd like. "It's not what we dont know that defeats us but rather what we know that is not so."