BFRunning O.K. as Long as You're Not Too Fat, Tall, or Muscular

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May 13, 2010
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#1
#2
Where the hell do they get this "everyone is running barefoot" crap? They keep saying it. They're either blind or they never go outside.
 
#3
*Sigh* You really have to wonder where they come up with their facts sometimes. When you live in an area like I do and you're "The" barefoot guy, not "a", but "The" barefoot guy it makes it hard to imagine that there are these huge packs of runners somewhere clogging the roadways and local podiatrists' offices in their minimalist shoes and bare feet. I'll admit that a few years ago I did see a lot more runners in minimalist shoes at races, but that seems to be a waning trend and what passes for a minimalist shoe these days is so far from what most of us think of as minimalist as to be just another mass market foot coffin. As for truly barefoot runners, I can count on one hand the number that I've come across in the last year.
 
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#4
I understand that at least North Americans weigh more on average these days than did their Paleo ancestors, but does that hold true for runners? Maybe overweight people actually DO need support help for their feet, but why should normal weight runners?
And yeah, I'd love to see a survey of Podiatrist, Orthopedic Surgeons, Chiropractors, Physical Therapists and Physiatrists detailing in raw numbers just how many barefoot runners have ever sought out their services in a given year, or even decade for that matter.
 
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#5
I was having to see my podiatrist every year for PF until I transitioned to barefoot. He thought he'd be seeing more of me after I told him I was trying barefoot running 3+ years ago. I miss him, he's funny!
 
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#6
Longboard said:
I understand that at least North Americans weigh more on average these days than did their Paleo ancestors, but does that hold true for runners? Maybe overweight people actually DO need support help for their feet, but why should normal weight runners?
And yeah, I'd love to see a survey of Podiatrist, Orthopedic Surgeons, Chiropractors, Physical Therapists and Physiatrists detailing in raw numbers just how many barefoot runners have ever sought out their services in a given year, or even decade for that matter.
Click to expand...

Several times I've read that the maximum size of humans was 10,000 to 20,0000 years ago and then when farming got going size dropped for a long while then increased to near full size in the last hundred years...that's not weight but height. There was a huge increase in population during that time but the food amounts just couldn't keep up till recently.
 
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#7
At least during my first glance, I kind of agree with the gist (not the height/weight thing) but that people who are sedentary or injured may go to the "toe shoes" and overdo it without thinking through the commitment required.

My biggest beef with the article though, is the way they caution:
"he believes running barefoot is something that should be discussed with a professional ahead of time and worked into gradually."

Um, no, professionals are by and large NOT knowledgeable about BF running, nor how it should be approached.
I wish I had never believed what the professionals had told me ahead of time.

 
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#8
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#9
BarefootDevilDog said:
*Sigh* You really have to wonder where they come up with their facts sometimes. When you live in an area like I do and you're "The" barefoot guy, not "a", but "The" barefoot guy it makes it hard to imagine that there are these huge packs of runners somewhere clogging the roadways and local podiatrists' offices in their minimalist shoes and bare feet. I'll admit that a few years ago I did see a lot more runners in minimalist shoes at races, but that seems to be a waning trend and what passes for a minimalist shoe these days is so far from what most of us think of as minimalist as to be just another mass market foot coffin. As for truly barefoot runners, I can count on one hand the number that I've come across in the last year.
Click to expand...

Yup - I agree with you Devil - today I walked my dogs with some old boat anchors on (me - not the dogs) - and I got a few comments like - "the barefoot guy is not barefoot today." I have ever only seen one person running barefoot in Bermuda since I started 3 years ago.

However there is one thing I am rather concerned about - in the bit about what injuries you can get barefoot running - frostbite! I guess I gotta be ultra careful this winter! ;>)

By the way in another blog somewhere within the BFRS site some time ago I mentioned about the BDA Podiatry Center lady telling me that there are 10 types of feet and that only one type was good for BF running. I have tried to contact the Podiatry Center but have not had any success in getting any answers. She also trotted out the same gibberish about "having to treat lots of injuries caused by BF running."
 
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#10
yeah.
The podiatrist I saw for my ankle injury a year ago (twisted it running early morning) was basically that I was too old to run much at all, but that I wouldn't listen and push through the "high" mileage (I was under 40, healthy weight, and told him about 30 mpweek, and didn't even broach that I was running bf or in sandals most of the time: he would have had a field day)
Two years before, he told me to wear $400 orthotics for my bunions and that I would probably eventually need surgery, and that there was not much for me to do about the pain (I NEVER feel it anymore, for like 2 yrs, though I can see the bunions still there)
 
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#13
Funny isn't it how all the doctors and podiatrists I saw over the years told me to stop running, back from the time I was 18 with runners knee I was told it was dangerous (like in what Formula 1 car racing, crocodile wrestling).
The last podiatrist said I wouldn't be able to walk in 10 years if I insisted on running, that was 13 years ago and I'm running further now that I have done in 20 years.
Maybe I should dance barefoot ouside his office.
I did an easy 16km run today and look no aches or pains anywhere, funny isn't it?

Neil
 
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#14
Longboard said:
I understand that at least North Americans weigh more on average these days than did their Paleo ancestors, but does that hold true for runners? Maybe overweight people actually DO need support help for their feet, but why should normal weight runners?
Click to expand...

I can speak from experience. :) I'm not exactly a "normal weight runner" (whatever that is) - I'm about 5'11" and pushing 230 lbs. I've also been running and hiking barefoot for almost 14 years. And my feet and knees feel better than they did when I used to run in shoes.
 
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#15
whew...well I am a short bean pole....so I'm safe :happy:
Thanks for the warning board, I was worried that I would have to start running in my moon boots again. :eek:
original.jpg
 
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#19
Mike R said:
I was having to see my podiatrist every year for PF until I transitioned to barefoot. He thought he'd be seeing more of me after I told him I was trying barefoot running 3+ years ago. I miss him, he's funny!
Click to expand...

You should write him a letter telling him how well you're doing. We need to let these doctors know how well we do without them!
 
#20
scedastic said:
(I NEVER feel it anymore, for like 2 yrs, though I can see the bunions still there)
Click to expand...
Did the angle of your bunions improve? This blog post suggests that maybe the bony growth could improve over time. Though, I'm not sure if that process depends on just having better fitting footwear or going barefoot, or if the big toe also needs to be straightened first through exercises.
www.blog.healthyfootcoach.com/2012/11/big-bony-bunion-bump.html

For the past 3 years, I've been using toe separators to straighten out my bunions and also needing progressively wider shoes, as a result. I'm starting to be able to keep the big toes straight without toe separators. I've noticed that biomechanics feel different when walking, now. I can feel my feet rolling through the 1st and 2nd metarsals, and then through the toes. I'm not sure if this is what people without bunions feel when walking. Anyone?

After my big toes strengthen a bit more and feel comfortable in their newly straightened positions, I'm going to start back into some running. I think that my hiatus from running has been helpful, such that I'm not putting too much stress on my feet, while getting the big toes repositioned.
 
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