I'm a firm believer in running barefoot.

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.

Rogue Black. That's a popular one.

Thanks for the article Jill. I think the Killers are one of the best contemporary bands out there right now. As a suggestion could you do Smashing Pumpkins?

Here's a much bigger (military?) version of it.
http://www.motorcities.com/vehicle/07FRC291706341.html