I started this group because I've been getting a lot of questions lately about barefoot running and nearly-barefoot running (i.e. shoes like Vibram FiveFingers). I started running barefoot about 18 months ago and have never felt better. At this point I do about half my miles barefoot and half in FiveFingers. My latest race was a 3:05 at the Baystate Marathon in the FiveFingers. I'm going to race Boston in 2009 and I would love to do it barefoot, but that will depend on whether I manage to keep my soles well-trained through the winter.

One of my buddies did Boston in Vibrams either this year or last year. I went barefoot everywhere as a kid, loved being able to walk on anything. In high school I got away from it, and in college did a fair amount after workouts in the form of striders and games like ultimate frisbee, but no formal barefoot running. A few years ago I was getting back into it, until I ran barefoot at a local park and my feet got so fleabitten that I gave it up for 2 years. This Summer I got a pair of Vibrams that I work in now and again (1 or 2 times per week usually, both trail and road.) I haven't done any actual barefoot running this year other than the last 5 miles of my 20 miler last Saturday (my shoes were wet and my toes weren't liking that since they were my trail shoes that don't drain very well) but I'm planning on incorporating more into next Summer's training.

Ed's report inspired me to run barefoot or stocking-foot on my treadmill last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I was having hip pain, which usually means I need to change sneakers. I only ran 10 minutes (one mile) each time. Friday I ran barefoot. However, the bottoms of my feet ended up with black particles. Also the sound of my bare feet slapping against the treadmill was much louder than with sneakers. My wife described it as sounding like a hammer striking the treadmill. Saturday I ran in stockings to lessen the sound and avoid the particles on my feet. However, at the end of the 10 minutes, I felt blisters forming on my big left toe, and the right side of my heel on my right foot. Sunday I went back to bare feet. The hip pain went away, just as it does when I get a new pair of sneakers. I bought a new pair of sneakers. I worry about running outside in bare feet - glass, rocks, etc, and cannot imagine running barefoot in winter.

hi! I'm just here because I'm interested in this. Of course now it's cold and running outside won't happen, but maybe I can try the treadmill thing - do socks count as barefeet? I look forward to reading about this and hearing about how to incorporate it!

going minimalist, saved me from 2 decades of injuury - achiles/heels, so finaly I can keep some decent program, combining running and racewalking and ultrawalking. starting with Nike Frees, but lately I find them too cusioning and teh feet too high of the ground. In cold weather I use Dunlop Volleys, great shoe, which was good for half the century, so must be good now. About 50% of volume I do in AQUASOCKS - these are teh cheapest possible beach slippers, some of them thinner than 5 fingers, more expensive from surfing shops. 5 fingers I save for special occassions - the cost. Occasionaly I use thin racing flats, prefer Loco Bandidos and old KT26. I was inspired by free ebok by Gordon Pirie

Hey everyone! I ALWAYS went barefoot until I started running. As a runner (this is my 4th year), I've had a lot of foot problems, mostly PF. Seems now I can't even walk on our tile floors without some discomfort. I am a little nervous about trying the barefoot thing since I've become used to running with orthotics and cushioning. Giving it a whirl on the TM first sounds like a great idea! I am fortunate to live near the beach so I can also try some soft sand running to see if that helps.

I joined because I've been interested in this for a while. Probably wait til after the new year before I attempt any barefooting, though.

G’day, I’m glad to find this forum. I took up barefoot running about 14 months back while in Iraq (it was a challenge to find safe places to run) and since returning to Australia have continued training on both track and road. Like most heel-strikers, when I first went barefoot, I suffered a lot of calf pain as the muscles adjusted to the new way of running. It took me a couple of months, but I now comfortably run barefoot. Similarly, when I first started, my technique was poor and it resulted in lots of blood blisters under the balls of the feet. As my technique improved, the blood blisters stopped – my feet didn’t get tougher. It is staggering how much shoes both hide and encourage poor technique. After not wearing spikes at the track for over 12months, I wore a pair last week and found no significant difference in my speed. I must however report that they were hot and sweaty (this is the start of our Summer), and not at all comfortable. I suspect that if the sprints were my main events, the spikes would give me an edge over barefooters, but my focus is on the 1500m/Mile so I think I’ll remain unshod. I recommend road and pavement running rather than grass. The hardness of the surface is not an issue if you run with good technique. The problem with grass is that you can’t see glass, little rocks and sticks very easily. Give me a cement footpath (sidewalk) any day. I am not a total troglodyte, I own a pair of vibram five-fingers, but reserve them for when I run at night or cross-country. The best source of information on running barefoot I have found is http://runningbarefoot.org/ Happy running.