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hey ive been reading about the benefits of running and walking shoeless online for about a year now. Research is showing that shoes change the natural way we were meant to run. The extra padding on shoes just make us hit the ground harder, hurting our knees. Ive just started "relearing" how to walk and run without shoes and i can totally see it. Anyone else wanna try?

Shoes designed specifically for Running are great for that. They're cushioned and rounded at the toe to allow you to roll off a stride to the next footfall.

When I first enlisted in the Army we ran in our combat boots, for many miles. My knees were a mess from that.
I had to buy new boots every four or five months.

In the early eighties the Army allowed us to start using running shoes and it was fantastic.

Running barefoot on a paved hard surface is probably injurious and you never know what debris you may have to run through. I suggest you wear running shoes.

Running on the sand at the beach is a good workout. Makes you really concentrate on your balancing.

I love running barefoot on a beach - any chance I get - running in sand is a great workout!

I couldn't run the beach any other way! To me it feels like it's a better workout than just regular running.

I go barefooted as often as I can, including when I run and play soccer. Some caveats:

To run barefooted, one needs the right surface, as other posts to this thread have indicated, such as meadows, fields, and unpaved trails. A few hundred yards from my door, I can lace a network of these into a five-mile run, including alongside a stream in which I sometimes cool off mid-run. It's awesome.

I play soccer barefooted only when those with whom I'm playing are also doing so, for obvious reasons. Barefoot soccer involves a different way of ball handling, but not way different.

Living in the third world, though I see you don't, can be great in this regard. I lived in Papua New Guinea for two years, and went shoeless whenever I could, which was almost always, including while running and playing soccer and rugby. It's wonderfully sensual!

And if it's warm enough to run bare-footed, it's warm enough to run bare-chested! Here's to the Bohemian in you!

Thanks for raising the subject, and best of luck in your barefooted pursuits!

Kevin

Two stories for anyone interested

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4600773

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89300445

runnning barefoot on hard surfaces is completely natural, our ancestors did it way before shoes were invented. Shoes just get in the way of how our feet naturally move.

Long live the revolution.

I was organizing a 5K run for a charity and had one runner go barefoot, and he won! The race was on an uneven, asphalt track through wooded areas, and he said his feet were fine - he had been training barefoot for awhile, though it was the first race he had done barefoot.

I did a little research online, and could see the logic behind it (provided you aren't running on concrete and give yourself some time to adjust to the different muscles being used and the toughening of your soles).

I tried it out on the beach and on asphalt tracks last summer and loved it. If you are starting out take it easy at first - you will be using muscles you don't normally use while running and they will be sore! Of course, it is a warm weather only type of thing depending on where you live.

Here's the link I found most useful (crappy design, but a lot of information):
http://runningbarefoot.org/

thanks, god that website kills me though.

dammit!!!! huge blisters on both feet!

well I'm quite happy with shoes.... but that said there is a guy near my work that does 4-5 miles every day over lunch barefoot... and he runs on the sidewalk...

Must work for him.

You might want to try these "FiveFingers" um...shoes?

I saw someone wearing them last week and I thought 'What the hell is that!? That must be painful...why would anyone do that to themselves?' Then I came across this post and looked them up. They look kinda funny, but might help to prevent blisters and protect the feet; while still giving a close 'barefoot' feeling.

Here's the link to the website:

http://vibramfivefingers.com/

I'll probably get a pair just to try them.

those have been around for a while and i would like to try them but they aren't hardcore enough. Nike is realeasing a line of shoes that are supposed to mimic barefooting. And i know theres a company who makes shoes whose bottoms are just Kevlar.

also the vibram shoes require you to buy these really expensive socks lol.

Training barefoot is great for you. People's bodies are jacked up because of shoes. It takes a while to get used to it to prevent injury and to condition the soles of the feet.

My tri coach has me do barefoot drills (striders) because it helps you get a good feel for your foot plant. You should land on the ball of your foot and running barefoot really helps you get used to planting ideally to improve your form (and prevent injury).

this is how the newton running was developed, bare foot running
www.newtonrunning.com

also the nike free running shoes.

chirunning.com

for mid/long distance running, it is proven, a mid foot strike is best. ball foot strike is great for 3k and shorter.

going barefoot when ever possible is good for your feet. short strides on grass, etc.

birkenstocks are also good to wear.