Barefoot Running

Eight or nine years I ran in a 5K race, which was immediately followed by a running seminar presented by Nike. A team of associates came out to promote their relativity new shoe, Nike Free. Following groundbreaking research, unlike a standard running shoe the Free mimics the actual movement of a human foot. The speaker and sales staff gave a convincing spiel. By the end, I bought a pair of the $90 shoes. I did find that he Free felt as constricting as my normal running shoes, which I had become quite accustomed to wearing. That helped in my decision to give them a try. Later that year I encountered my first bout with plantar fasciitis. I linked the two and gave up on the Free.

After reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, I once again began to feel the desire to give naturalist running another attempt. The book gives a lot of information on running barefoot, in sandals and in the five finger feet gloves. I liken my renewed interest in basic footwear to my evolving conservationist, minimalist, “green” world view. McDougall presented compelling information related to the advantages of barefoot running for flat feet and plantar fasciitis. So I last weekend I purchased a pair of Virbram five finger feet gloves for $85.

The store owner strongly encouraged me gradually work the shoes in to my running schedule. Day one I completed a half mile run on a treadmill followed by thirty minutes on an elliptical trainer. I felt the difference in my calves, ankles and the top of my feet. It's okay. More to follow.

Run naturally.

Tom