I see a lot of people pointing out that running in minimalist shoes isn't barefoot running. I'm not going to argue the point. I'm just going to say howI feel.
Last year, I ran on the treadmill barefoot but used VFFs on the roads. I felt like a poser claiming to be a barefoot runner when I was not actually running barefoot. So, I made a pact with myself that I would be barefoot by the end of the summer. I did it a lot quicker than I thought I would.
VFFs are pretty good. But, I had a surprising revelation once I went totally bare. Everything about my foot strike got better and smoother. I even noticed that when I ran in my VFFs (when necessary) that everything about my stride was better. I don't feel confident enough to tell you why or how but I agree that in learning how to go barefoot, there is nothing better than actually being barefoot.
This year, I still need to build up some tolerance for roughness. My efforts over the winter to maintain my tolerance didn't work. I'm only about33% barefooter but I'm heading to 100% again.
Last year, I ran on the treadmill barefoot but used VFFs on the roads. I felt like a poser claiming to be a barefoot runner when I was not actually running barefoot. So, I made a pact with myself that I would be barefoot by the end of the summer. I did it a lot quicker than I thought I would.
VFFs are pretty good. But, I had a surprising revelation once I went totally bare. Everything about my foot strike got better and smoother. I even noticed that when I ran in my VFFs (when necessary) that everything about my stride was better. I don't feel confident enough to tell you why or how but I agree that in learning how to go barefoot, there is nothing better than actually being barefoot.
This year, I still need to build up some tolerance for roughness. My efforts over the winter to maintain my tolerance didn't work. I'm only about33% barefooter but I'm heading to 100% again.