Greetings Sasquatches (I’m not sure if that’s really a word, however the spell check is not having any issues with it, so I guess it is!)
“Our ancestors moved over the earth...and found their way into nearly every nook and cranny of the planet...with their bare or minimally clad feet. The foot has been the primary vehicle of our success as a species, allowing us to fulfill our desire to explore, discover, achieve and eat. Yet, most people these days have come to see their feet as broken appendages, unfit for the real world, sickly and weak, prone to injury, in need of support and padding, doomed to suffer.” Barefoot Ted
I wanted to give some basic knowledge of bare footing and questions for you:
1. Why do you want to run barefoot? This is very valid question and you should have an idea of why you’re deciding barefoot over the traditional running shoes.
2. If barefoot running is for you, realize this will be a slow transition. You will need to re-train yourself how to run as your feet and legs have had years of being protected and cushioned with the traditional running shoes. All of the padding, support, protections, and shoes with stilts have not let for you to have stronger feet and legs.
a. It took me about a month to get used to running in the Viabram Five Finger Shoes. For example, if
I was going to run 6 miles that day; I would run 5 in my traditional shoes and do the last 1 mile in the
VFF and slowly work my way up to more miles and graduate from the traditional shoes and only run
in the VFF.
i. Wear the VFF for everything; grocery shopping, walking the dog, movies, etc etc. The feet will
need to get used to them and you will also need to get used to them.
3. Your range of motion will also change as you will adapt to running on the ball of your foot rather than mid foot or even a heel. I used to also be a heel striker and thought this was the correct and best way to run. On the contrary my fellow sasquatches. Again from my earlier post, I have shaved 40 minutes of my marathon time and most of it’s due to the change in my running.
4. Vaseline will be your best friend. There are 5-finger socks to wear in the shoes, but if you’re like me that’s going against what I find natural and free; I don’t wear the socks. I put Vaseline between my toes and cover the foot to prevent from blisters. It sounds disgusting, but it works and your feet will thank you later!
5. The goal is for you to run quiet and balanced.
6. Quicken your cadence and shave some time off. Barefoot will allow this naturally. (Again, I’m living proof of it)
7. Stable upright posture. The feeling of being balanced and strong.
8. Embrace your surroundings and have some patience, enjoy your experiment with your body and mind!
