I think you're absolutely right that it is a bit "radical". I've not read born to run, but the thesis, that we're evolved to run, sounds good to me – it's very compelling anyway! However, we're also evolved to be very good at adapting to our physical environment, and most of us have spent many years (35 in my case) adapting to wearing shoes. I think this probably moulds our bodies in profound ways. It seems like it's not something that is beyond change, but you don't want to expect you're going to to throw your shoes and start dancing over the desert
Oh – I wash my vibrams in the wash, and that works okay, but it doesn't really totally help the pong! I think the washing machine isn't able to do much to the shoe's lining fabric because just tumbling it about doesn't agitate it in the same way that tumbling clothes would
You really should read it Benjohn, its a fascinating read! After scouting around the web - I am veering towards the New Balance Minimus range - in fact they look just like the shoes I ran the 56 k Two Oceans race in Cape Town in '80 and '81! After many billions of dollars spent on running shoe technology (and marketing) in the last 30 years we have come a full circle. Despite all this fabulous shoe technology, 70 to 80% of runners can still expect running injuries in the course of a year. Apparently the more expensive the shoe, the higher the injury rate!
Hey guys. I'm new to all this and I got up to W4D2 but unfortunatly I injured my knee really bad. Went to the chiropractor and its on the mend:) Whilst I was resting my knee I got looking on the internet for new trainers as mine were pretty worn out(Thought that might of caused the knee injury) and I came across the barefoot running Forum. Long story short I bought a pair of the New Balance minimus. I've never been a runner and I love walking around barefooted when I can ( I live in Canada and the cold winters aren't really appealing for going barefoot all year round, lol) so I thought I'd give this a try. Hopefully the easing of the program into running will also ease me in to the barefoot running technique too. Kill 2 birds with one stone. I'm gonna try and continue the program this monday and hopefully my injuries will be less. So far I've been loving the program and was so dissapointed when I got injured but thats ok I'd rather take the time to heal and I dont care if it takes me a bit longer to complete the program as I'd prefere to get to the end slowly and in one piece rather than fast and hurting.
Hey Loonytunes and all - I just recently started running in New Balance MTE101s - they are minimal running shoes and I love them! I Want to buy up lost of pairs in case i cant get them in years to come!!! lol I think the sole is much stronger than the vibrams of course but maybe they are part way to barefoot! I seriously have never had such comfortable shoes, and I am big - so advised to have a bit more cushioning....i have had no pains or aches since i started wearing them.
Let us know how you get on with the NB Minimuses Looneytunes. I live in France and the Minimus range are not available here yet. I contacted NB and they said the would be here "in the fall". I am a big fan of NB and ran many marathons and 2 ultras in them in the late 70s. However, my knee started to play up. As running shoes became more "technically advanced"?? So it's back to basics again for me too. Beautiful morning in France and have just run 5ks around a small lake - Beaujolais region, an hour NW of Lyon.
Hi, lovely people. I'm preparing myself to start the Get Running program sometime this year, because I would love to become a regular runner. I'm actually going to wear VivoBarefoot shoes right from the outset: I have bought a pair. I'm going to start the way I'd like to go on; and I hope that my minimal-shoe running style will develop naturally alongside my progress in running, unhampered by the habit of running in padded shoes. That's the idea. I'll let you know how I get on, if there's any interest. Thanks for being so inspiring, everyone!
Oh, I should add: what is promising is that I've tried out the shoes, briefly, and found that it feels absolutely natural (even, childlike and joyful) to land on the front of the foot.
I have been looking at barefoot running too - reading lots. I have to say I was really trying to be conscious of what part of my foot was hitting the ground today. As i mentioned above I wear minimalist trainers and love them - I think i hit the ground with the front of my foot sometimes and heel others! I run on trails and off road, does anyone know how they fair and how do your feet manage? I have been reading about bruising and stuff.... any thoughts?
Awesome! Go for it! Take it very gradually. Your calves are going to love it Stretch them like a fiend and do extra stretches when you get a chance (you know, waiting in a queue for a coffee, stuck in a dull meeting, etc). I'd also suggest getting out and walking in the shoes before you begin running in them.
Yeah, I can see that the calf muscles would have to work pretty hard with a frontal footfall. I'm putting together a gentle stretchy post-run yoga session, and I'll pay, as you suggest, attention to the calfs (and I'm sure they'll let me know of their existence!). The only thing now, is: When are you going to just get out there and start?
“Suddenly, I was part of something. I was part of the running community. The more open I was about my running, the more open others were about theirs. I found out that runners love to talk about running.”
