As the weather here in Mn starts doing it's usual thing this time of year and making even the mercury in the thermometers head south to warmer climates, I'd like to find a barefoot compatible fitness club so I can keep running through the winter, rather than risk frostbite...
Does anyone know of any of clubs that are "officially" barefoot compatible (i.e. - not requiring a medical document requiring a lack of shoes during exercise/running...) that I could look into?
Most I've checked with so far have claimed "Insurance reasons" for not allowing people to be barefoot outside of the locker rooms/showers/pool areas...
And - before anyone asks - due to my *extremely* wide feet (US 9 EEEE...), I'm extroadinarily limited on my available footwear choices to begin with and even running in my 5 Fingers takes away too much of my ground feel for me to maintain good form (I tend to push off when I get tired and/or my form gets sloppy...), and I'd rather run through the winter on a treadmill maintaining decent form and put up with the stares, comments and harassment than to develop bad habits that I'd only have to break in the spring...
Does anyone know of any of clubs that are "officially" barefoot compatible (i.e. - not requiring a medical document requiring a lack of shoes during exercise/running...) that I could look into?
Most I've checked with so far have claimed "Insurance reasons" for not allowing people to be barefoot outside of the locker rooms/showers/pool areas...
And - before anyone asks - due to my *extremely* wide feet (US 9 EEEE...), I'm extroadinarily limited on my available footwear choices to begin with and even running in my 5 Fingers takes away too much of my ground feel for me to maintain good form (I tend to push off when I get tired and/or my form gets sloppy...), and I'd rather run through the winter on a treadmill maintaining decent form and put up with the stares, comments and harassment than to develop bad habits that I'd only have to break in the spring...