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Post by jeanette on Oct 26, 2012 8:51:50 GMT
So, anyone else dabbling in this then? I thought it would be useful if we could have a thread where people could just dip in and out and share their experiences. (If anyone thinks barefoot running is the devils work and/or wants to start a heated debate, please start another thread As per the above this thread is intended for those actually doing it or genuinely interested in trying. ) My experience so far as follows: I was a bit sceptical at first, particularly as I wear off the shelf orthotics which helped enormously with a knee problem I was having a few years back, but thought it sounded like fun so earlier this year went to a kind of taster session at a local running shop. I am now hooked! For practical reasons I don't do a great deal of actual barefoot running but try to incorporate a small amount (10 minutes or so)in at least one run a week. I'm now doing nearing 50% of my runs in barefoot shoes (Vivobarefoot Evos and their trail version) and no longer wear orthotics. All of these changes have been introduced really gradually and I've also been aiming to improve my technique generally - I've found it so much easier to get a feel of what I should be doing by running with no shoes on. I feel as though I'm running a lot better as a result - evidenced by the fact that I did a 10K a while back in the quickest time I've done since 2007 - I was gobsmacked! (So far and touch wood and fingers crossed no recurrence of the knee problem.) Anyone else care to share anything?
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Post by carlos on Oct 26, 2012 9:42:20 GMT
I train at boxing barefoot and occasionally, I work barefoot in the gym - deadlift/squat/standing press.
I think I've got stronger ankles and calfs as a result.
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Post by rottenrhon on Oct 26, 2012 9:46:47 GMT
I do kettlebells barefoot as for some reason it helps me engage the correct muscles and postures correctly.
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Post by carlos on Oct 26, 2012 10:02:17 GMT
Do people look at you with any kind of shock/horror when you train barefoot?
I'm thinking of getting some minimalist shoes for my gym-work.
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Post by jeanette on Oct 26, 2012 10:15:17 GMT
Do people look at you with any kind of shock/horror when you train barefoot? . Not really but I am a bit self conscious so I normally try and find somewhere where (I hope) not too many people will be about! There's a field that I run in early Saturday mornings and I usually see a few dog walkers- there's one dog that sometimes comes up to me to say hello - I think he wants me to throw one of my shoes for him! ;D
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Post by hxpete on Oct 27, 2012 12:41:59 GMT
It's good to hear that you have had no returning problems with the knee, since trying your new footwear. Many runnners seem to turn to midfoot striking when trying to overcome injury and minimalist footware generally seems to encourage a mid foot strike.
I have only ever tried on a pair of vibrams and jogged around the shop to see what I thought. I didn't get on with them and was quite disappointed that I didn't.
I am now running in shoes that do encourage midfoot striking though so haven't given up hope of eventually giving barefoot running ago, once I have adapted to the midfoot striking I may well give it a go.
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Post by Wino on Oct 27, 2012 18:46:33 GMT
I have run barefoot but that was back in 2006 on a loverly beach in Cuba for 13 days whilst everyone else went off for breakfast, I went off for a 30 minute run and a cool down in the sea, happy days it was then not like the shite thats been happening since
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Post by jeanette on Oct 29, 2012 9:03:40 GMT
It's good to hear that you have had no returning problems with the knee, since trying your new footwear. Many runnners seem to turn to midfoot striking when trying to overcome injury and minimalist footware generally seems to encourage a mid foot strike. I have only ever tried on a pair of vibrams and jogged around the shop to see what I thought. I didn't get on with them and was quite disappointed that I didn't. I am now running in shoes that do encourage midfoot striking though so haven't given up hope of eventually giving barefoot running ago, once I have adapted to the midfoot striking I may well give it a go. Have you tried running in bare feet? - that's the one thing I think really helped me sort my technique out. Even though I had an idea as to what I was doing wrong before (overstriding and landing almost on tip toe) I just couldn't seem to correct it in shoes. Running in bare feet, however, I seemed to correct it almost instinctively and once I'd got the feel of what I was supposed to be doing it then seemed so much easier to do it in shoes
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Post by jeanette on Oct 29, 2012 9:06:09 GMT
I have run barefoot but that was back in 2006 on a loverly beach in Cuba for 13 days whilst everyone else went off for breakfast, I went off for a 30 minute run and a cool down in the sea, happy days it was then not like the shite thats been happening since I've yet to try running on sand - it does sound lovely in some ways but I think I'd always be a bit worried about what might be lurking beneath the surface . (I'm a bit of a wuss really. )
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Post by lunarlucy on Oct 29, 2012 23:10:25 GMT
I find I enjoy the feeling of barefoot running, it's just finding the place to do it. I run on my own grass, and on the beach when the tide is out, but never fancy it when it's cold. I have thought about getting barefoot shoes, but the terrain is so rough here I'm scared it would be a waste of money.
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Post by jeanette on Oct 30, 2012 9:02:11 GMT
I have thought about getting barefoot shoes, but the terrain is so rough here I'm scared it would be a waste of money. Supposedly if you get the technique right you can run on quite rough terrain in no shoes at all - I have noticed this to an extent - I've been running back from work on the Camel Trail in my barefoot shoes which is nearly 6 miles and, for a lot of the way, quite rough and stony. My shoes (Evos) have very thin soles and no cushioning at all, so very close to actually being barefoot, and I can feel every stone but not in a painful way. Having said that I don't think I'd want to go much further on the trail in them (on a smooth surface they're fine). Some barefoot shoes have thicker soles though - the trail ones I've just bought offer a bit more protection and, although I haven't tried them myself I think the Merrell Glove range are thicker . Go on you know you want to! ;D
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Post by jeanette on Oct 31, 2012 9:13:07 GMT
My normal shoes are almost redundant! I wore my barefoot ones for the first time on a Tuesday run last night - I've been wearing normal shoes for this run until now partly just as I'm introducing the barefoot ones gradually and partly as Tuesday's run is with other people so sometimes its a bit fast and furious and the distance is a bit unpredictable, but last night I thought what the hell! So 5.5 miles done including some speedy bits and all is well. I only run 4 times a week and already wear my barefoot shoes on 2 of my three other runs. This just leaves my LSR. I might try one in barefoot shoes but otherwise think I'll just wear my normal ones for this run until they wear out. I never really envisaged getting on with this so well - at the most I thought I'd probably just do the odd short run in barefoot shoes now it looks like I'm heading for 100% barefoot shoes (or no shoes at all)
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Post by gruffeddie on Oct 31, 2012 9:50:02 GMT
I run on big squishy cloud like running shoes, and never had many problems. Barefoot isn't for me at the moment. If I start having problems, I might have a go though. Never say never
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Post by jeanette on Oct 31, 2012 10:12:16 GMT
I Barefoot isn't for me at the moment. That's exactly what I thought, then I got curious and thought 'hmm well maybe'. Now it seems to have spiralled out of all control! ;D
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Post by lunarlucy on Oct 31, 2012 19:49:17 GMT
I have thought about getting barefoot shoes, but the terrain is so rough here I'm scared it would be a waste of money. Supposedly if you get the technique right you can run on quite rough terrain in no shoes at all - I have noticed this to an extent - I've been running back from work on the Camel Trail in my barefoot shoes which is nearly 6 miles and, for a lot of the way, quite rough and stony. My shoes (Evos) have very thin soles and no cushioning at all, so very close to actually being barefoot, and I can feel every stone but not in a painful way. Having said that I don't think I'd want to go much further on the trail in them (on a smooth surface they're fine). Some barefoot shoes have thicker soles though - the trail ones I've just bought offer a bit more protection and, although I haven't tried them myself I think the Merrell Glove range are thicker . Go on you know you want to! ;D I'm thinking of getting some barefoot ones (will need to save up!), but will just use them on grass to save my feet freezing. The main area I run on has sections of sharp hardcore, rather like a pebble beach in places, and it hurts even in normal shoes, however, I'd rather run in different places than give up on the idea entirely. It's like Peter Kay says, 'How fast could you run in your slippers when you were a kid??' I feel so much lighter and faster without shoes on
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