My current weapons of choice! The Vibram V-Alpha Five Fingers.
I am happy to say, that over the last few weeks of lockdown, (in-between home schooling) I have been able to devote some time to The Barefoot Daddy, and consider/ develop what it is or shall become. In that time though I have been fortunate to engage with a few people who have reached out and asked about the style, either because they are interested in barefoot running, trainers of choice or are curious why I run in this style.
In considering the next blog topic to cover, it therefore seemed natural to perhaps tackle my reasons for barefoot running; not to dissuade people from reaching out by any means, more to cover my why’s and wherefores.
Some medals.
As a broad background, I am not, nor ever have been a pro athlete in any measure what so ever. I have always loved running, be that with my father growing up, cross-country or athletic meets at school or more simply, as a leisure pursuit, and whilst I was OK and got into teams, I was never the top jock. The maximum running distance I’ve completed to date is 30 kilometres (18.64 miles), running in the Around the Bay race, a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. I’ve always been fairly proud of the 3hrs 17 mins time I did it in whilst a 20-a-day smoker, but that pretty much sums up my level of sportsmanship.
Other than school athletics on grass tracks where barefoot seemed the best style, I had always been a shod (cushioned) runner. However around the time I did the Around the Bay, (c.2009), I was in the market for a new trainer and asked in a shop where I was living in Toronto, and happened to enquire into a shoe that I liked the look of. That was the New Balance Minimus 10, basically, I gave them a go. I can’t remember whether I ran the Bay Race in them or not, but that was the blood in the water for me. I was not guided into them, I was not medically advised to take them, my gait was OK ish, and didn’t need correction particularly, (I think I was close to neutral or was underpronating), I just thought they were cool, and it would be “edgy” to try them, that was 11 years ago. I have had one falter and bought a shod trail runner that I wore for a couple of months 2 years ago, that have since been confined to lawn mowing trainers, but that is it.
I think now, if you asked me to wear a cushioned trainer I would rather the alternative than wear them. I am not a militant barefoot runner forcing people to follow the same path (not that there are any of those), but for me, I couldn’t think of another style of trainer, and will gladly bestow the virtues to anyone prepared to listen. The more I have run barefooted the more I like it. I get pains and injuries as any runner does, but I feel the benefits far outweigh the negatives, to the point that I now also wear a barefoot casual shoe, and would consider a barefoot smart shoe if I could find a pair that I like. I like the feeling of the style. Yes, it is a pain in the butt when you land on a stone, rock or stick, but you adapt to it, you become almost impervious to it.
From a science perspective (I thought it worth throwing some of that in), a study done for the National Institute of Health in the US concluded: “that at 70% of vVO (2)max pace, barefoot running is more economical than running shod, both overground and on a treadmill.” A nice article written a couple of years ago by a fitness instructor in St Louis called Tom Kelso, summarises some of the study’s (albeit limited ones) and the general perspective is that: “Kinematic and kinetic analyses show that even on hard surfaces, barefoot runners who forefoot strike, generate smaller collision forces than shod rear-foot strikers.” (ie. less injuries - is how I’ve taken that).
I admit, I have drawn out the benefits of the style to make myself feel better, but there isn’t anything I can find, both personally and in studies, that suggest this running style is “dangerous”, typically quite the contrary. Most of what I have read also states, and I would agree, is if you are going to switch, then take it slowly. I have been doing this (listen to me, I sound like an expert), for 11 years, it takes time to retrain the body to this style before gleaning the benefits. I wouldn’t equally get barefoot trainers, or sandals, or even go pure barefoot, and nail a full marathon, but if you are interested, ask around, engage in chat on social media with those that are practitioners, ask your medical professional, and above all, you know your body, if it hurts, or doesn’t suit your style, don’t do it! (It is better though 😜)
There will inevitably be more from me on this subject, but I hope this is a good starter for 10, in case people were interested in my path to the barefoot side. Until next time…
