Barefoot Running

Been having an interesting discussion with training partners on the benefits of barefoot style running shoes eg. the 5 fingers shoes and the nike free's.

Is there a place for it? It's shown that barefoot running will shorten the stride and get you onto the forefoot, but what about the lack of support? can this lead to foot/tendon/lower limb injuries? and the what about lack of cusioning, is this a sure fire way for stress fractures?

I'm a kit whore and like to buy into all the gimmicky things, 650c Wheels, newtons, soft rides!!!

Al Pittman has been talking about it a bit of late after PJ bought him a book on the subject. I have not loooked at it at all but one of the guys is looking at stuff via a few short treadmill runs to start with.

I was watching the squad do run backs a few weeks ago at the pool when I was crook and we were noting the really heavy foot strikes of some of the dudes compared to others. When they all put shoes on it is not anywherre near as noticable but the theory is that the shoes modify the running style over time based on the fit as opposed to the body's natural movement.

To me in my specific case it sounds like something I would be writing a blurb on the injuries I got if I tried it. I would think lighter people would have a better time of it. Seems to have worked for PJ.

A guy who frequently attends my Sat running group only ever wears the Vibrans or some days its just Gods running shoe's. He mainly does trails but told me since loosing the shoes the ITB problem he could never get rid of has all but disappeared. Each to there own I guess.
Just no i'd never try it, I walked from the front door to the road yesterday across my dry brown grass and almost turned back for a pair of thongs.

Merry Xmas

Mick G

It's the Newton movement of forefoot strike.

There's a book that's gone gangbusters in the States called Born to Run (prob the same AP/Jacobs are talking about). Link here http://www.amazon.com/Born-Run-Hidden-Superathletes-Greatest/dp/0307266303

I have no opinion formed but from anecdotal feedback lots of people have been getting injured trying to change their running style to forefoot strike. As mentioned before on the shoe thread, I am very wary of changing sneakers specially when I know what I have has been working for me and keeping me injury free.

If you're a big guy (above 75-80kegs) I'd stay away from this shit. The skinny dudes can get away with pretty much anything including Dunlop Volleys!!

Nathan, I have the book "born to run" if you would like to borrow it. I found it to be a good read.

Peta R wrote:Nathan, I have the book "born to run" if you would like to borrow it. I found it to be a good read.

Sweet, catch you for a coffee at Grind one morning!

The funny thing about these shoes is you pay more for something that does less

Guys as small as Pete Jacobs can probably get away with barefoot running too.

Merry Christmas.

as part of some rehab for a shin injury I was doing a return to run program including some walking/strength exercises, run drills and run thoughs earlier this year. Did most of it barefoot on grass and think it has helped my "feel" for the surface you run on and definitely helps you formulate a stride/contact pattern that minimises "shock" and think about how you impact the ground. I think in small doses on the right surface it is beneficial for anyone.

Matt Mac wrote:Merry Christmas.
I think in small doses on the right surface it is beneficial for anyone.

Yeah thats my thoughts, small dosesare great as part of running devlopment, i would be keen to hear from those people who do all their running in free's or 5 fingers or have at least used them.

As a kid I remember competing at school athletics in barefeet up until I reached high school. That was for any distance that was run on the track, not X Country. We lived out in the country and it was the done thing.

Edit: Our school track was dirt. Man it hurt when we stood on one of those goats head thorns though. Sometimes winning the race was about not striding onto one of those at full stretch