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I have been running for about twenty years and always found the logic behind barefoot running quite compelling. After becoming a father my running slipped to about four months of running a year leading to a big July 4th 10K in Atlanta, GA (The Peachtree Road Race), followed by eight months off. A few years ago I decided to give barefoot running a try during ...

I think that inherently there's nothing bad about minimal shoes, but as the saying goes: "if the shoe fits, wear it". The shoes aren't for everyone, so while it may be great for some, they can be harmful to others. A shoe like the Nike Free was designed to be used together with regular running shoes, to mimic barefoot walking on a grass field, as an ...

Yes. Obviously any environmental hazards like glass and debris could cause a problem but I'm assuming you are asking about the impact on your foot and leg and lack of cushioning. Many barefoot runners run on concrete and asphalt, including during road races. All of the benefits of barefoot running hold true on hard surfaces. This articles points out ...

The odor is standard (although possibly more acute) bacterial foot odor. Spraying them with Lysol after use will make them go longer without needing washed, as will putting them in a (very) mild bleach/water mixture. Basically anything to kill the odor-causing bacteria (laundry detergent is typically not anti-bacterial), washing them in the sink with an ...

I have an old problem with my knee from mountain biking and I am also terribly bad at running. As a result, running never really worked out for me. My knee would hurt making the whole experience sour. This also applied for treadmills. When I did various martial arts I would run barefoot in the gym during the workouts and I was surprised to see that my knee ...

I was not always a minimalist/BF evangelist... I ran NCAA xc and track for Florida State for 5 years, so we were sponsored by Nike, so I had a large bias towards all Nike everything (who doesn't when you're getting free gear in exchange for working your tail off 4-6 hours a day in the weightroom, at morning practice, and at evening practice). With that ...

If you really go heavy, one of the most import things to do in a squat or dead lift is to keep your weight on your heels. Running shoes tend to have a thick sole and thin toe which in effect pitches you forward. Bare feet keep you the most connected to the ground, and gives you the best base to control your position.

If you could go below all the fascia and muscle in that picture, you could see the ligaments that connect the bones: The anterior talofibular ligament lies in the area you point to in your image. According to Wikipedia this is "the most commonly sprained ligament," so there's a good chance that's your problem. This article can give you more info about the ...

The Nike Free 5.0 was one of the first running shoes designed to simulate barefoot running. The "5.0" was supposed to indicate that it was half way between running with a traditional shoe (10.0) and running barefoot (0.0). You might find the 3.0 to be good for regular running. There are lots of minimalist running shoes you just need to decide what it is ...

Flat, non-compressible soles work best for weight-lifting. Chuck Taylors are better than any running shoe. If that isn't trendy enough for you, something like the Vibram FiveFingers or other "free" running shoe will work. As for what the other people in the gym are doing, that's a terrible gauge for proper behavior. It'd be like learning to drive by ...

I would highly recommend checking out "The Definitive Guide to Cleaning Vibram Five Fingers" on birthdayshoes.com I can personally attest to the success of daily wiping of the feet with tea tree oil, and soaking the shoes in a basin with a few antibacterial denture tablets (2 in each shoe for a small basin, more for something larger). For really nasty ...

Whilst there are surely other downsides, I have to say one of the biggest downsides I have found with my Vibrams is the smell... They stink! Using the washing machine did not solve anything. I would like to know how to fix this issue but that is another question for another time!

I'll write about barefoot training and my college career. I'm a few years out of college now and planning on getting back into shape, but my college training makes a nice, compact case study. Note: The barefoot/shod dichotomy is mixed up with hard/soft surfaces one in my training history. I once ran just two miles barefoot on the roads. Shortly after ...

For a majority of your life, like many people, you've probably worn shoes, especially when doing anything that involves physical exertion or significant use of the feet. You say you've only been barefoot running for a month. So the most likely scenario is that you've unwittingly overdone it. From Naturally Engineered - Pain and Swelling in Foot From Running ...

If you've been wearing shoes all your life you're in for a real sore time if you leave your shoes at home next time you run a marathon. You need to develop callouses on your feet in order to safely run barefoot. To avoid having to take time away from running, I would suggest working your way up to it. Take your shoes, but don't wear them for the first ...

http://barefootrunningshoes.org/ has a pretty comprehensive database. My suggestion due to the irregular toe length issue would be the Vivo as it has the widest toe box.

I would advise to train as you are going to race. If you are running a trail race, do most of your training on trails. Similarly, if you plan on racing in supportive trainers, practice mostly in supportive trainers. It is great to use vibrams / minimalist shoes as they (positively) change your stride, cadence and foot strike BUT I would try to take a long, ...

All weightlifting shoes have one thing in common: an incompressible sole. The more inexpensive shoes use a hard plastic, and the more expensive shoes use wood. At one point in time there were power lifting shoes that had a flat sole. I haven't been able to find any of these lately, and almost all have a heel. Whether a heel helps or not depends on the ...

what are some potential downsides of running in minimalist shoes? Bloody toes, sharp rocks, and cooked feet from molten blacktop are a few problems with minimalist shoes. Wearing VFF KSOs running on a cinder path that I have run on many times before. I heard a sound and looked up into a tree. Next thing I knew I was cringing in pain as I kicked a man ...

I recently purchased a pair of Merrell True Glove minimalist shoes. Can't say enough about how much I like them. Note, as a runner I've always had a mostly forefoot strike, since I was a sprinter in high school and did all of my training in my track spikes. This continued through my time in the Army, and even though I had a running hiatus of practically 5 ...

If you were already an avid runner before you started the barefoot thing, you have to remember that barefoot running is completely different. If you run 5 miles a day in tennis shoes, you will most likely get injured if you all of the sudden start running in vibrams. You have trained your feet to work with a standard support system your entire life, and ...

Stretch, ice, heat, massage, ibuprofen & light activity There is no real cure for Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) and some of these suggestions are unproven (while some have been proven not to work) there is some science and lots of anecdotal evidence that these things will help. Stretching after your workout is a common practice which has many ...

Short answer: barefoot is better than running shoes. Long Answer: Running shoes are designed for providing a cushion to your feet. In essence, they absorb the impact of your foot hitting the ground by compressing the sole and springing back. This is not the behavior you want when you have more than a couple hundred pounds on your back. With that much ...

Most weightlifting shoes were designed for OLYMPIC weightlifting - the Clean and Jerk and the Snatch. You can read all about it on the web including the history and evolution of the shoes. Basically you absolutely need the heel to perform Olympic lifts with any real weight on the bar. With that said, I do not believe in wearing shoes for power lifting - no ...

My response is strictly personal experience. I have never been a runner. I was a swimmer with awful knees and every time I tried to begin a running program I would purchase the best shoes I could at the local running store and start on a walk-run program. Inevitably the knees would prevent me from progressing. One year ago this summer I bought my first ...

I've never had similar problems in my Vibrams, but then I wash them after almost every use (if I did something like running to get sweaty - I also love them for weightlifting which doesn't cause me to sweat nearly as much). Think of it this way: you're wearing them directly against your skin and they'll be in contact with any sweat or dampness. Would you ...

I am heavy (190lb) and have very flat arches. I used to run high mileage with heavily padded shoes that were marketed as being appropriate for someone like me. A couple years ago I switched to VFFs and barefoot running. At first I did barefoot sprint workouts on grass twice in two weeks, then upgraded to two mile barefoot runs on pavement barefoot. The ...

The RunAmocs from Soft Star Shoes are nice. I have a pair which I've reviewed here. Actually my review talks more about the transition to minimalist shoe running than the shoes themselves, but you can get the idea. They are very lightweight shoes with a Vibram 2mm rubber sole. When I first put them on they didn't seem to fit very snug like I'm used to. ...

Your improvement makes complete sense. By switching to the Vibrams, you probably changed from a heel striker to a mid-foot striker. You've also traded the stability, cushioning, and restriction provided by the shoes for strength in your feet and legs. You are now stronger and have better form. If the shoes are the only variable you've changed and your ...