I was a bit slow to jump on the barefoot running craze. Mostly because the term “craze” has been attached to it, which is an instant turnoff for me. Afterall, the Thighmaster, parachute pants, and the grapefruit diet were all crazes that I am glad passed me by. But over the last several months I have found myself drawn to the topic. I read every article, talked to every runner, and of course, read Born to Run. I started to remember how I used to run barefoot occasionally, but would always feel weird like I was doing something wrong. I also remembered how I used to be horribly jealous of my cousin, Tammy, who could run across the sharpest gravel while I hobbled along behind her. It may sound like a strange thing for a young girl to envy, but alas, I have always wanted strong feet! Once I saw some recent videos and analyses showing the lower loads barefoot runners joints are subjected to in comparison to shod runners, I finally decided to give it a shot and bravely bought a pair of Vibram FiveFingers. I knew to take it slow, but no one really said what that meant. I overdid it. Running even a mile every other day was too much and one day, after a run, I could barely walk. Fortunately, I recovered quickly and was able to restart, even slower this time, and I have love, love, loved it ever since!
Me after my first trail run in my Vibrams. Don't I look happy?
About a month ago, I was able to attend a barefoot running talk given by Michael Sandler and Jessica Lee of Run Bare. I was so excited to go and hear from experienced barefoot runners, I was like a kid on Christmas Eve. One of the most surprising things I learned from Michael was his suggestion that a newbie start truly running barefoot, NOT in a minimalist shoe, that way your tender skin can be your guide of when you have run enough. Oops. Well, at least it was a good motivator to start running truly barefoot, which I have increasingly been doing and am still love, love, loving it!
After the talk I spoke with Michael for a long time (I may have been one of those obnoxious people who selfishly monopolizes the speakers time) especially about children and barefoot running. I think all of us parents remember reading when our kids were babies and just learning to walk that they should be barefoot or at the least have very soft-souled shoes because their feet are still developing. But what happens after they are a couple years old? For some reason, I started insisting West wear shoes outside. Why? His feet were still developing, so why did I think it was ok to insist on shoes now? I guess I just didn’t want to hear the cries from stickers and stubbed toes. I bought Sandler and Lee’s book Barefoot Running, and went home and read the chapter on children’s feet first. I was dismayed to find many studies cited that find shoes start deforming kids feet by the age of 3. So of course, now I feel like a horrible mom! Since learning more about this, I’ve begun encouraging West to be outside barefoot much more often. Although he was at first rebuffing my encouragement, he has slowly started to go shoeless more often. I hope his feet start getting stronger and stronger as I feel mine are. Barefoot Running also contains several foot games you can play with your kids to strengthen their feet, which I hope to feature in a few upcoming blog posts.
So should you and your kids be running around barefoot more often? I definitely think you should consider it. Get informed by reading Born to Run and Running Barefoot, talk to people who are doing it, google it. Then take it sloooooow.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
great piece Luann – very “sole-ful”, get it? I’ve been scratching my head on this one for awhile, you may have provided the tipping point. I was blown away by the guy, we ran together most of the salmon run 10k, he in soul-less barefoot ’shoes’.
I must have been at the REI talk with you! I got their book also. I’ve been incrementally adding distance in completely bare feet. Up until this week my hurdle was my achilles. This week the achilles let me go almost half a mile. When I got home it was the sole of my foot that hurt. Knowing me I probably pushed it too far. The best part is, though, that my joints are feeling GREAT! I can deal with muscle, tendon, and skin soreness. Those get stronger and go away. Joint pain is a different story. And that’s not an issue for me barefoot!
Welcometo the club, Luann. Barefoot running is great, and I totally agree with the idea of running truly barefoot as a natural limitation to when you’ve had enough as a beginner.
Great thoughts on letting your kids play barefoot outside. I do it now, without thinking about it. But next time my wife says he needs shoes, I’ll send her to this article.