How many minimalist runners do we have at BRS?

[NakedSoleNate]

nature runner wrotelus I am

plus I am 38 yrs old, that doesn't help any lol!

So am I, and never felt younger :-D...I've always kinda been an "all or nothing" kind of guy though, and I'm with Matt....don't want to shell out any money when I was born with the best footwear :-D...I do understand why some of you choose to wear shoes though, especially if you have competition with others in mind. Although, I think that eventually, it shouldn't matter either ;-).

 

[Matt]

nature runner

Understandable, after I fully complete my bf transition, I will probably do the same. Right now I am mixing it up til I build my feet muscles and soles to a strong level. My soles are pretty much conditioned, it's just the muscles in the feet that I am not used to working that is taking so long, plus I am 38 yrs old, that doesn't help any lol!

I'm 44, so my feet took awhile to adapt. But 3 years in, I just don't like running in shoes unless it's below freezing.

 

[Matt]

Maybe I'm just not good at running in shoes, but I can't run as fast in shoes as I do barefoot. They feel heavy and awkward. I especially notice the weight in December when I'm finally forced to put on shoes because of the weather.

 

[nature runner]

Matt

Maybe I'm just not good at running in shoes, but I can't run as fast in shoes as I do barefoot. They feel heavy and awkward. I especially notice the weight in December when I'm finally forced to put on shoes because of the weather.

I am mainly wearing the minimal to get over my bofp problem on my right foot. If that wasn't an issue it would be wide open bf all the way. I am afraid of hurting myself til I get stronger.

 

[Matt]

In the past 2 months, there

In the past 2 months, there have been two rocks that made me start thinking about shoes again. But my memory of those rocks faded pretty fast.

 

[NakedSoleNate]

 I'm faster too Matt...but

I'm faster too Matt...but didn't really think my experience to be indicative of normalcy, since I started running seriously recently, and barefoot at the same time ....so I don't really have any "personal records" to compare with....I do know that soon as I took off my shoes (one month into beginning running) my experience was one of not only faster, but longer too....I also feel bogged down by shoes. I had no "transition" to make since I never really ran any other way...and the bones in my feet are strong due to more than a decade of being barefoot in all my other activities and work...

 

[Matt]

NakedSoleNate wrote:I'm

I'm faster too Matt...but didn't really think my experience to be indicative of normalcy, since I started running seriously recently, and barefoot at the same time ....so I don't really have any "personal records" to compare with....I do know that soon as I took off my shoes (one month into beginning running) my experience was one of not only faster, but longer too....I also feel bogged down by shoes. I had no "transition" to make since I never really ran any other way...and the bones in my feet are strong due to more than a decade of being barefoot in all my other activities and work...

That's cool to hear. For some reason, there is a common perception that running barefoot means running slow. I expect that as more people get more experience running barefoot, they will see that this is a false belief.

 

[nature runner]

NakedSoleNate wrote: I'm

I'm faster too Matt...but didn't really think my experience to be indicative of normalcy, since I started running seriously recently, and barefoot at the same time ....so I don't really have any "personal records" to compare with....I do know that soon as I took off my shoes (one month into beginning running) my experience was one of not only faster, but longer too....I also feel bogged down by shoes. I had no "transition" to make since I never really ran any other way...and the bones in my feet are strong due to more than a decade of being barefoot in all my other activities and work...

Going barefoot for me is helping, My form is coming together slowly, I don't feel old by the way, just takes longer to heal out the bumps in the road along the way in my transition. I can't totally go barefoot because of work, but wish I could, feels much better having a connection with the earth. I been mixing up some bf hiking too to try and strengthen my feet more. I think in another month or so I will be all bf on my running hopefully. that is my goal anyway's. Shoes whether minimal or not feel like it cuts the circulation off in my ankles, I don't really like them either.

 

[NakedSoleNate]

 I do know, that the couple

I do know, that the couple of friends I run with (all shod) I am either setting pace, or right next to them...while I don't know what's "fast" for most people, I'm able to maintain conversation with my best buddy at 8.5 min. miles for 6 miles....and I feel like I could still run indefinately (our current route is 6, when we up mileage, we'll have to start earlier ...but that is when we are running flat land . Much slower on trails, but as I also don't wear a watch, and stay out as long as I want to, I have no real knowledge of how fast or slow I am going . considering the whole garmin thing....but there is that money thing again, and I'm not sure if it would work where I run, since there is no cell service either, and the tree cover is heavy this time of year.

 

[Barefoot Gentile]

Running strictly barefoot for

Running strictly barefoot for sometime now, I don't like any type of footwear, even wearing my VFF's I find very uncomfortable.

This kind of stinks for me because we always have a wicked winter. I ran barefoot last winter until december than the temps just got to low for me, and had to resort to VFF's.

My breaking point was anything below 35 degrees.

 

[nature runner]

adam james wrote:Running

Running strictly barefoot for sometime now, I don't like any type of footwear, even wearing my VFF's I find very uncomfortable.

This kind of stinks for me because we always have a wicked winter. I ran barefoot last winter until december than the temps just got to low for me, and had to resort to VFF's.

My breaking point was anything below 35 degrees.

I go barefoot even when I am not running, it's helping, I will eventually get there!

 

[Angie Bee]

 I run barefoot for 90% of

I run barefoot for 90% of the time I would say. The rest I run in either huaraches or my Teva Proton water shoes.

If its too cold or wet and cold I go with the water shoes and wool socks. If I am running hills with a kid in the stroller then I wear the protons. I am still getting used to the huaraches and need to tweak the lacing.

I think that there are times and places that merit footwear. I am finally able to keep a descent form switching between the two.

 

[Kittyk]

 I run mainly on gravel

I run mainly on gravel trails.. so my feet would be completely written off if it wasn't for VFF's. I used to run BF when I used the indoor track, but then I was busted. I also wear some minimalist shoe in the winter as I lose sensitivity in my toes very quickly.

 

[tutaepaki]

I still consider myself more

I still consider myself more of a minimalist runner than barefoot. I'm in transition.

I'm up to 2x5km barefoot a week, but the rest of my runs are all in some kind of minimalist shoe.

Just starting with VFFs.

3 pairs of cheap water shoes in various stages of modification

- professionally resoled

- home resoled

- home coated with a 'false sole' goo



Marc

 

[NakedSoleNate]

 I love gravel, it's like an

I love gravel, it's like an hour of reflexology :-D

 

[Kiki]

I am minimalist with

I am minimalist with VFF sprints and Bikilas. Right now the asphalt road is too hot and the sandy trails on the ranch I live on has grass burrs and goatheads. Ouch!