I’m 6’2″ 220lbs. I started training for a marathon last year and as I started doing longer (10+ mile) runs I was getting hurt repeatedly. I had many of the typical ailments: knee pain, shin splints, plantar fasciitis (pain in the tendon along the bottom of your foot). I got newer, more expensive running shoes, and wore various straps and supports to no avail. I kept getting hurt and would have to stop running for days or even weeks at a time. It was so frustrating because I knew I was capable of running these distances, but my feet and legs were getting too beat up.

I then heard about running barefoot and it all made sense to me. I tried it a few times and it felt great. I was able to mimic my natural barefoot stride while wearing shoes and continued training for my marathon. I didn’t have time to get my body ready to run a barefoot marathon, but I did my shorter runs barefoot and my long runs wearing shoes.

I ran my first marathon two months ago, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it if I wasn’t training barefoot.

I’m now doing almost all of my running barefoot and hope to run a barefoot marathon next year. I’ve noticed that a run about one minute per mile faster barefoot than I do while wearing shoes. I’ve had none of the knee and foot injuries that I had while wearing shoes. I did get a few blisters at first, but my feet are getting calloused and my lower legs and feet are getting much stronger.

I suggest that anyone remotely interested in this reads Born to Run as the author explains this all so well.

I live in snowy Utah, so I’ll probably get some Vibram Five Fingers for the winter.

Eventually I came back to the idea of getting some ‘barefoot’ shoes. You do want some shoes for running barefoot – social reasons, so you don’t get kicked out of a building, better hygiene, protection against broken glass etc. Even Masaai people make “shoes” from old tyres – thin and flexible, but sturdy enough to protect from cuts. I remembered Vivo Barefoot from an article, and decided to try them.

It took a couple of weeks to get used to them, but my knee pain gradually faded away. I can barely feel it now, and only at times. Running barefoot is good because it *teaches* you to run properly – or you’ll feel pain. Developing proper muscles and humility helps too. I strike the ground much lighter now. Best thing is, however, these shoes are much more comfortable and I don’t feel a strong urge to take them off after coming home !

Yes I know plural from anecdote is not proof, but the reasoning they use sounds convincing to me. Evolution is a slow thing and feet are really well suited for walking barefoot. Running in shoes is a bit like running with painkillers. Modern (not just western) habits are often wrong, you should be open-minded if you read Neatorama and seldom accept dogmas. Thinking outside the box is good. Did you know Romans used lead for pretty much everything, including wine spices ? How about radium chocolate http://www.neatorama.com/2008/06/25/radioactive-chocolate-yum/ ? Or potatoes – in medieval ages nobles never ate them, thought they make people stupid. Commoners did and were healthier. What about the idea that water spreads germs so you shouldn’t bathe ?

Time and again our civilisation was wrong and overconfident about something.

For more information about going barefoot, wikipedia is a good start: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barefoot_running

Also, I’m a big guy (6’5″ 250) and the change in running style that barefoot running brings did wonders for alleviating arch problems, joint pain, and shin splints. Calves were sore for awhile but using muscle (instead of heel) to absorb the shock of each stride has been a blessing for my big frame.

Only problem? I can’t go anywhere without someone commenting on my shoes

People suffering from knee joints problems are advised to wear shoes with compensated sole, to lower the pressure when the foot hit the ground. However, some medics have shown that walking barefoot or with a very thin sole is in fact better in this case of problem.

The reason is that thick and complicated shoes sole insulate the sole of the foot. This part of the body is in fact heavily full of nerves, like the hand. This nerves give information on our position to help us keeping our balance. When you walk barefoot, you have a better sense of the pressure, so you instinctively hit the soil in a lighter way…and so help your joints.

It’s not a bad news for shoemakers. They just have to adapt to develop shoes that help you “feel” the ground, while providing good protection against dirt and dangers such as rocks or pins. And fashionable, of course.

How come when Nike and others moved their factories to Third World countries the prices of their products never decreased? It is all about more bloated profits for a product no one really needs.

Growing up in the Philippines – we played and ran outside without shoes. I still do it to this day.

Those Nike Free shoes look very similar to jika-tabi.
Nothing is new anymore.

http://tobyspeople.com/anthropik/2007/06/learning-to-walk/

I haven’t tried them for running. I understand it takes several weeks to get used to them. But for walking and lounging around the home/office, they’re the best!

Takes some time to get used to though. Even an experienced runner can’t just jump in. You have to start slowly and gradually build up, strengthening your joints and tendons and building the soles of your feet up.

I have no desire to run barefoot around my neighborhood with all kinds of dangers to my feet.

I will say that I’ve attempted to run in Nike Free shoes which are supposed to come much closer to approximating running barefoot and my knees started hurting almost immediately. I’ll stick with my Asics 2040s for now. My feet and knees have been relatively healthy over my 15 year running “career” and I’m not going to change things now.

Hey, whatever works for you and causes you the least amount of pain is probably the right thing for you.