Baring It All: The Barefoot Running Trend

Baring It All: The Barefoot Running Trend


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Have you seen the alien shoes
spotted on celebrities recently? Matthew McConaughey and girlfriend
Camila Alves wear them to work out, actor Channing Tatum runs in
them, and Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George sports them for beach
football.

Just what are these funky, rubber glove toe socks? They’re Vibram
FiveFingers—shoes that are meant to mimic the experience of running
without shoes, yet protect your feet from dirt and debris. Why
would people want to run without their cushy trainers? Running
without shoes can strengthen your feet, ankles, and lower legs and
improve balance. Some say modern running shoes are to blame for
injuries. And one man wrote an immensely popular book that
concluded as much.


The 10 laws of injury prevention

Vibram started making the five-toed shoes in 2006, but the trend
really picked up steam last year, following the publication of
Christopher McDougall's book “Born to Run.” The book
describes how Mexico’s Tarahumara Indians have become some of the
greatest long-distance runners in the world despite running
barefoot or in sandals fashioned from tire rubber. McDougall
chronicles an ultramarathon race in Mexico’s Copper Canyons
attended by a group of Americans including “Barefoot Ted” McDonald,
who either ran sans shoes or in FiveFingers, in case of sharp
rocks. The author argues that we’d be better off without the
souped-up shoes marketed to us by giants like Nike and Adidas,
which he says have done nothing to prevent injuries. The book made
“The New York Times” bestseller list, and now TMZ is photographing
celebrities in their very own lizard shoes.

According to CNN, the FiveFingers have become so popular that the
company is having a hard time keeping them in stock—and stopping
counterfeiters from selling knock-offs online.


Your
ultimate guide to fall running shoes



Some barefoot devotees simply like the sensation of
feeling the surface they’re running on while others swear up and
down that ditching traditional running shoes has helped them
prevent injuries. While there’s no scientific evidence to support
the latter claim, we do know that running barefoot or in
barefoot-style shoes like the FiveFingers or Nike Free changes
one’s running mechanics. When runners aren’t wearing shoes with
built-up soles, they tend to land in the middle or toward the front
of their feet rather than on their heel and researchers believe
that such midfoot or forefoot striking results in less impact on
the body. But as Susan Paul, M.S., exercise physiologist and
program director for the Orlando Track Shack Foundation says, “To
date, there are no studies indicating that running shoes contribute
to injury or, conversely, that barefoot running reduces injury or
makes you run faster.”

The mechanics of barefoot running
If you’re thinking about shedding your shoes, consider
these guidelines:

1. Barefoot training is not for people who are just starting
   to run or returning from a long layoff—it’s something to slowly
   incorporate into an existing running regimen.
   
2. If you have persistent or serious foot problems, consult your
   podiatrist first.
   
3. Ease in slowly. Paul advises starting with a few minutes on a
   flat, relatively forgiving surface once a week. Grassy fields,
   smooth roads, and soft trails qualify. Running on sand might be
   tempting, but barefooting newbies should stick to wet sand at first
   as the unstable soft stuff puts a lot of torque on your joints and
   is much harder to run on.
   
4. Listen to your body. “Barefoot Ken Bob” Saxton, founder of
   runningbarefoot.org and finisher of more than 70 barefoot
   marathons, says, “Luckily, your feet are sensitive, which is a good
   thing. Listen to them and they'll keep you from doing something
   stupid.”
   

Has anyone run barefoot or in minimalist shoes like Vibrams?
What did you think? If not, would you ever try it? Why or why
not?



A head-to-heel guide to running
Susan Rinkunas is an associate editor at
Runner’s World, a magazine (and website) that informs, advises,
and motivates runners of all ages and abilities—and we mean
it. Her blog on Yahoo! Shine offers tips on running technique,
nutrition and weight loss, shoes and apparel, and balancing fitness
and life.
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