16 replies to this topic

[pepski]

Hi all

My apologies if this is already answered somewhere else, if someone can provide me a link I would appreciate it.

Recently while trying to get some knee pain diagnosed I visited a podiatrist who on seeing me barefooted said "wow your feet are pretty bad". I guess I already knew this given I've been wearing orthotics in stability shoes for all of my running life. They have kept me injury free up until now and the pod didn't seem to think that my current injury (possible meniscus, was related to my pronation.

Anyhoo, I've been reading quite a bit of the barefoot threads and have been enjoying reading 'Born to Run'all the while thinking if it would be truly possible for a 39 year old man to re-build his feet and legs and eventually be, if not a barefoot runner, at the very least not need orthotics to help him run.

I would be interested in all views and would be keen to hear from any CR pods, physios etc

I want to stress that I am not in one camp or the other just want your opinion, hopefully backed up by solid reasoning.

Cheers

[maryclaire]

I am still on my way to building BF running into my regular running;I hope it will account for about 25% of my total running.  Therefore, I can't offer too much help.  But I do understand the frustration with orthotics.  I am the oppsoite to you: supinator with high arches.  However every time I would have a Physio or Pod review, they'd put MORE bteween me and the ground, not less; instincitvely I felt that less was better but never quite had the confidence to try it.

Try reading this thread.

[crowash]

Hi Pepski,

I've been running in FiveFingers for over 2 years now. Prior to that I ran in thick soled runners and orthotics. My Pod said I had feet like bananas... Kinda scary when you see a podiatrist wince watching you walk. Even with orthotics I had shin splints and regular injuries especially twisted ankles...
2 years in Fivefingers and I've remained uninjured. Mind you I have had to be very patient... I basically started running all over again, very short distances at first, I'm up to about 20k's now but I don;t limp everywhere like I used too. My condition may be very different to yours but I can certainly vouch for minimalist running as a way to reduce injury and the cost of constantly replacing shoes and orthotics.

Cheers

Ash

[Running Angel]

Hi Pepski
I used to wear stability shoes with orthotics and was forever getting injured.I have fallen arches and pronate quite badly. Switched to Nike Frees six months ago and have had no problems whatsoever. Not quite barefoot but definitely minimal. Not quite gone to the five fingers yet but may well get some for short sprint distances. So yes it is possible. You do need to be very careful and build up slowly though, I wore the frees just casually and for walking for a month or so before attempting to run in them. But 6 months later I completed a 12 hour ultra in them with no problems

[RunBare]

Yes you can, if that's what you want.  I did.  Slowly slowly.

[Goughy]

Doing something similar myself, just using dunlop volleys for now.  Don't think I'll ever be 'barefoot' but minimalist for sure.

[pepski]

I've only been on a few short jogs so far (nothing longer than 5 minutes, but all signs are promising. For the past 4 weeks, I have spent most of my waking hours barefoot, in FF or Trail Gloves for work. This general non-running time in barefoot/minimalism has helped immensely. When it did come time for that first jog, I was nervous but really pleasantly surprised at how natural it felt. I got the expected general soreness in the calves and now it's a matter of listening to the body and building very slowly. Even after only 4 weeks, I can't imagine wearing big bulky trainers anymore.

[Brick]

pepski, on 04 April 2011 - 04:09 PM, said:

Even after only 4 weeks, I can't imagine wearing big bulky trainers anymore.

I have been using either Nike free 3.0 or New Balance MT101s for my runs for I guess the last 3-4 months.
Some times using my New Balance 758s.

Because I have moved into doing Marathon training I decided to start using the 758s more because I was going to use them for the Marathon.
This has been a big mistake, last week my Plantar Faciitis played up in both feet.
So this week I moved back to the my Nike frees and all is good again.

So I will not be moving back to bulkier trainers again.
Shame I have two new pairs of 758s, one pair still in the box.

[ChookLegsMonkeyBoy]

Brick, on 05 April 2011 - 10:00 AM, said:

I have been using either Nike free 3.0 or New Balance MT101s for my runs for I guess the last 3-4 months.
Some times using my New Balance 758s.

Because I have moved into doing Marathon training I decided to start using the 758s more because I was going to use them for the Marathon.
This has been a big mistake, last week my Plantar Faciitis played up in both feet.
So this week I moved back to the my Nike frees and all is good again.

So I will not be moving back to bulkier trainers again.
Shame I have two new pairs of 758s, one pair still in the box.

Similar experience for me. I used to run in Brooks Adrenalines, but over the past 6 months or so have been running up to 20k at a time in Nike Free 3.0's.
Tried running in my old Brooks recently and they now feel heavy and "stiff". Won't be going back to them.
Cheers,
ChookLegs....

[pepski]

Just thought I'd post a progress report. In the midst of a painfully slow transition, I am now at the stage where I can run up to 3 km continuously barefoot. I have had to do this transition a lot slower than I'd hoped, but I can only stress two things for anyone wanting to try. Be patient and listen to your body. Cheers.

[PRunner]

I have just completed 1 year of “real” barefoot running, and celebrated by competing in our local 5km Fun Run. While I was a fair way off my PB from 10 years ago I was equal to my shod times for the last few years at 21:56, which is OK for a 53 year old !

I have been running for over 40 years from fun runs to the occasional marathon. These days I mainly run for general fitness. Over the years I have suffered all the usual runner complaints including bad knees, ITBs and shin splints.

About a year ago I read a newspaper article about barefoot running and then did a bit of internet research. The concept was appealing.

I started very slowly with gentle jogs to the park and a couple of laps, then built slowly up to about 5km and now to a regular 6-10 kms. I have had one calf strain, which may not have been barefoot related and some tenderness in my Achilles. My Achilles tend to be a bit stiff in the morning but quickly loosen up but this may just be a result of old age. I had some foot pad soreness for a while but this is now not an issue. My knees are the best they have been for years and my feet and ankles feel strong.

I run almost exclusively on concrete footpaths and bike paths and smoother bitumen.

At the start of the Fun Run there were a few comments, but when I ran past them and finished just behind the elite group that quietened them down. At the post race recovery a few people asked a few sensible questions, which I hope I answered.

I have only run in shoes once in the last 12 month and now I don’t think that I could go back to shod running. I looked at a new pair of my “usual” Adrenalines last week and could not believe how stiff they were. I have had a look at the minimalist shoes but not sure on those either. Maybe if I decide to increase my distance I may consider some of these………but not yet.

I now consider myself to be a Barefoot Runner.

[Freesoul]

Cool!  

[bornagain]

pepski, on 14 May 2011 - 08:08 PM, said:

Just thought I'd post a progress report. In the midst of a painfully slow transition, I am now at the stage where I can run up to 3 km continuously barefoot. I have had to do this transition a lot slower than I'd hoped, but I can only stress two things for anyone wanting to try. Be patient and listen to your body. Cheers.

Yes you can do it, keep up he good work, I have been running completely on sand, road and bikepath but only a few ks, have successfully come back from achilles and calf problems, But i currently have my work shoes on with orthotis, so im no fanatic, i just love running down the beach in bare feet (they dont fill up with water so easy, so can have a splash and cool down).

The orthotics at work help me when im just standing, helps with my posture & back.

[PhotoNaturally]

My reply is not going to be much of an answer. I pronate a little. I wear orthordics when i wear shoes to work and I run in vibrams. (without orthordics, however my pronation is only slight.
When I run, my heel do not strike ground and I bend my knees slightly

Edited by PhotoNaturally, 16 June 2011 - 10:50 AM.

[pepski]

Just a quick update. I'm now running regularly in VFFs four times a week with a longest run of 10km. So far so good.

[nofootprints]

Brilliant Post!! And RElax Relax Relax ...... to infinity!

pepski, on 14 May 2011 - 08:08 PM, said:

Just thought I'd post a progress report. In the midst of a painfully slow transition, I am now at the stage where I can run up to 3 km continuously barefoot. I have had to do this transition a lot slower than I'd hoped, but I can only stress two things for anyone wanting to try. Be patient and listen to your body. Cheers.

[nofootprints]

Keep the faith PRunner. You can do more distance. Give me a call anytime if you need some tips. Hoefuly less people will look at your strangely.
Keep xperimenting and trying different things. Try running with your knees slightly bent more for a bit! do differnt things... Keep learning .

PRunner, on 15 May 2011 - 05:49 PM, said:

I have just completed 1 year of “real” barefoot running, and celebrated by competing in our local 5km Fun Run. While I was a fair way off my PB from 10 years ago I was equal to my shod times for the last few years at 21:56, which is OK for a 53 year old !

I have been running for over 40 years from fun runs to the occasional marathon. These days I mainly run for general fitness. Over the years I have suffered all the usual runner complaints including bad knees, ITBs and shin splints.

About a year ago I read a newspaper article about barefoot running and then did a bit of internet research. The concept was appealing.

I started very slowly with gentle jogs to the park and a couple of laps, then built slowly up to about 5km and now to a regular 6-10 kms. I have had one calf strain, which may not have been barefoot related and some tenderness in my Achilles. My Achilles tend to be a bit stiff in the morning but quickly loosen up but this may just be a result of old age. I had some foot pad soreness for a while but this is now not an issue. My knees are the best they have been for years and my feet and ankles feel strong.

I run almost exclusively on concrete footpaths and bike paths and smoother bitumen.

At the start of the Fun Run there were a few comments, but when I ran past them and finished just behind the elite group that quietened them down. At the post race recovery a few people asked a few sensible questions, which I hope I answered.

I have only run in shoes once in the last 12 month and now I don’t think that I could go back to shod running. I looked at a new pair of my “usual” Adrenalines last week and could not believe how stiff they were. I have had a look at the minimalist shoes but not sure on those either. Maybe if I decide to increase my distance I may consider some of these………but not yet.

I now consider myself to be a Barefoot Runner.