Barefoot Training/Running

As some of you may know, but most probably won’t, I like to do my fair share of running and training with no shoes on. I began this around the start of the year, inspired by Luke Mcguire and the video from Phillip Doyle, and saw it as a great thing to implement into my training.

Recently it has become a larger part of my training, and the source of many discussions between myself and members of Sydney Parkour (who can see the benefits), as well as ignorant school friends who love their new, highly cushioned shoes, and think I am a fool for running barefoot.

I am going to start off with advocating the practise of barefoot training and running, and some of the successes I have had.

Firstly barefoot training/running is a good way of conditioning the foot, ankle, calf, shin and thigh muscles and ligaments – provided the correct technique is used – and I find it helps to sort out many niggling injuries, as well as strengthening the arches of the foot. I used to have a little knee/shin problem, caused mainly by not warming up fully, and from weak shins and calves. After some rest I decided to go running barefoot and train barefoot a bit more, to teach me to really limit the impact. Since then I havent had any problems, and it seems to have sorted itself out.

I have also found recently that when I run with shoes on, my technique is a lot sloppier and less efficient, so I get tired a lot easier – on Friday I only managed 3km before calling it quits. Today I ran 10km barefoot and didnt feel tired at all – the only thing that aches is my calves from running on my forefoot. I ran both times on the same route around my park, on grass. Barefoot running makes you run “properly” on your forefoot, and paw the foot back, unlike shoes which effectively promote heel striking with all the cushioning they provide. It makes sense to run barefoot – our ancestors did, and many tribes in Africa still do.

Recently we had a barefoot training session in Sydney, as a few of my friends also like to train barefoot and can see the benefits. It was a huge success, and it helped promote the need for correct technique and minimising all impact.

Lastly, the other day on the bus ride to school a few of my friends and I got into a discussion about running barefoot vs running with shoes, and proper running technique. It ended with my friends being ignorant to the many points I raised and sources I cited, praising their “extremely comfortable, cushioned shoes”, also saying heel striking has less impact because the foot rolls forward =S. The initial impact is still in the heel, which sends forces through the legs that can’t be absorbed by muscles! These sort of people annoy me, people who can’t open their narrow minds to a “new” concept, and who don’t care about their body.

Basically, all I can say is just get out and try it if you haven’t already – start off with small movements though, and take care! *

I’ll leave you with a few very interesting articles I have read about barefoot running:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/23/fashion/thursdaystyles/23Barefoot.html

http://www.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=You+Walk+Wrong&expire=&urlID=27990802&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnymag.com%2Fhealth%2Ffeatures%2F46213%2F&partnerID=73272

http://discovermagazine.com/2006/may/tramps-like-us

*I wouldn’t recommend barefoot running, and training especially, to less experienced traceurs, who are not as confident in their techniques. Improper technique and landings can lead to injury =]

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