Supporting running in the metro Richmond area
Running Barefoot?
New York Times has a few stories about running barefoot. Has anyone tried it?
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/have-you-run-barefoot/
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/business/30shoe.html?_r=1&em
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/have-you-run-barefoot/
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/business/30shoe.html?_r=1&em
Views: 10
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by SouthSide Devin(Gary) Haskins on -
I cant say I've tried that, but a few years ago while running the Suntrust Marathon around mile 12 there was a guy who passed me running bare foot. I couldnt imagine running without my shoes. I have all the respect in the world for you if you can do it, but I cant
-
Permalink Reply by Doug Fernandez on -
I did when I was a kid growing up in a rural area, that is the reason I got big and wide feet today.
I still like to walk around my yard barefoot. If you've never done it, I don't recommend you start doing it now. The bottom of your feet are just too tender, and people that run barefoot (mostly in third world countries) have the bottom of their feet leathered with very thick and callused skin after years of pounding the ground barefoot. Abebe Bikila, the legendary ethiopian marathoner, who won the olympic marathon in Rome and who started the african dominance in long distance running, did it shoeless.
-
Permalink Reply by Myron Kemp on -
I've read that barefoot running can strengthen your foot (particularly your arch) - that said - the article that I read recommended doing barefoot running in the form of 'striders' on a grass field free of debris - like a soccer field or football field.
If you're going to run barefoot on roads or trails, you should probably look into Vibram FiveFingers to protect the bottoms of your feet.
I'm reading a book now called "Born to Run" and a lot of the book discusses the Tarahumara Indians, and how they run long distances barefoot, or in sandels without injury - it's a very interesting book.
-
Permalink Reply by Negsplits on -
If you can believe it, a woman ran the West Point Twin Bridge 10K in June barefoot! Bad enough running on any road or city street barefoot, but over those concrete bridges with all the wood debris from the trucks going to and from the paper mill there...I was amazed!!
-
Permalink Reply by Run Happy on -
There is a lawyer here in Richmond named Pete that started running barefoot a couple years back. He ran the Cul-de-sac races using the Vibram FiveFingers. I heard someone ran a 50K or 50 miler (rocky West coast Trail race) in the Vibram Fivefingers.
I was passed (a couple of times) at Grandmother's Marathon by a guy running in sandels and a hat with a spinner on top. I think it is pretty cool when I see folks dressed up (or down) or running with "strange" gear running races. You would think they are the "slower" folks but some of them are pretty darn fast.
Run Happy
(w/asics cumulus)
-
Permalink Reply by Nebel on -
Born to Run is a really incredible read to echo Myron's comment. While the book is a great story about the Tarahumara and about several ultra-runners in a quest for the ultimate of races, you also come away with several lessons and debates that researchers and famed runners discuss in the book. I've learned so much about running from reading this book.
Running barefoot (or with sandals or shoes with little cushion) is a huge topic in the book and I could see myself purchasing some FiveFingers after reading about a few of the fascinating runners in this book just to experiment with some short runs in the grass to work on my running form.
I would by no means recommend running barefoot full-time or on training runs until you build your feet up to that strength and who knows how long that takes. I have only seen one guy run barefoot before (North Carolina Marathon) but he was running near a 7:00 pace and I was stunned. It was pretty amazing to watch him jump from the asphalt to grass medians, to front yards, and back onto sidewalks (all this to avoid debris) while maintaining the same pace and leaving all of us in his dust.
-
Permalink Reply by Renee Taylor on -
I'm a rather new runner and recently had a gait analysis performed by a sports medicine doctor. Apparently I have a slight tendency to "heel strike" (I believe I do this more when I'm on the treadmill than on the road). But my doc "prescribed" that I run barefoot for 100yds or so after I complete my normal run. She explained that while barefoot, your body will be in better form because heel striking would be devastating to your legs without shoes to help absorb the shock.
I haven't done it yet because I can't figure out the best place to do this barefoot running. I feel I need shoes....I need all the help I can get!!
-
Permalink Reply by Run Happy on
-
Renee;
I had the same problem when I started. I was told to shorten my stride (often when we try for a longer stride, we end up heel striking, and to work on a mid-foot strike. Believe or not, but a shorter stride can mean a higher turnover and a more efficient stride. I find at the end of long races I tend to "heel" strike. I think it is because I am tired and I am forcing myself...I now pay more attention to my running form at the end to ensure I am not heel striking. Remember if you are heel striking you are actually stopping" yourself, and of course the concussion from the strike is radiating up your shin and knee instead of being absorbed and dispersed appropriately. Thus heel striking may increase your chance for shin splits and knee issues.
Tread(dread)mill - I'm told people are more likely to heel strike on a dreadmill then on the roads. If you are not sure of your foot placement, ask your running mate to keep an eye on your gait while on the dreadmill and/or on the roads.
Run Happy
-
Permalink Reply by Doug Fernandez on
-
As myron said above, try it on nicely cut grass. Go to a football field and do a few laps around the perimeter.
-
Permalink Reply by Pete on -
What about running bare everything else but feet?
http://nuderuns.com/NudeRuns.html
-
Permalink Reply by Myron Kemp on
-
to throw out a Seinfeld reference "There's good naked... and there's bad naked"
© 2012 Created by Richmond Road Runners.
Powered by 
.
