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Sh*t Runners Say to Barefoot Runners

Okay, barefoot runners, friends of barefoot runners, people who think running barefoot is silly, and anyone else who has ever seen, heard of, made fun of, or been married to someone who maybe heard of running barefoot or saw a picture of some Vibram FiveFingers (in other words: Hi, everyone!)…

Here’s the follow-up to the viral Sh*t Barefoot Runners Say (over 170,000 views as I write this).

Inspired by, well, all the things I’ve heard runners say as I trotted about town without my shoes, or in my huaraches running sandals, it’s Sh*t Runners Say To Barefoot Runners

Share this on FB, Tweet it, email about it, +1 it… let’s make this one even more successful than the original!

Aaarrrrrrrhhhh!

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Barefoot Sandals – the best minimalist running shoes

Every now and then, someone will smugly say to me:

“Barefoot Sandals is an oxymoron. If you’re barefoot, you’re not wearing sandals, and if you’re wearing sandals, you’re not barefoot!”

Yes, technically, that’s true. Barefoot is barefoot and shod is shod.

And, I’ll admit, I’m normally a stickler for grammar. I hate when people say “very unique” (something can’t be VERY one-of-a-kind), and don’t even get me started on “a whole nother” (“nother” isn’t a word! You mean “another whole”).

But for “barefoot sandals” or barefoot shoes or even bare feet shoes, I’m willing to be a bit more lax, and not just because I’m in the business of making huarache sandals.

It’s simpler than that.

In this case, there’s not really much lost when you remove the “implied word”: -style.

That is, what people would say instead of “barefoot sandals” if they were being more accurate is “barefoot-style sandals,” or “barefoot-style shoes,” the implication being that this type of footwear is similar in some way to being barefoot.

Now the key element to that sentence is “similar in some way,” and I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that many shoes that advertise themselves as barefoot running shoes are about as similar to barefoot as a pair of stilts (I should make a spoof commercial about barefoot stilts!).

Some manufacturers say that their shoes let your foot move as if you’re barefoot, or run with natural form (usually meaning forefoot or midfoot striking). Others say that you can feel the ground as if you’re barefoot.

It won’t come as any surprise that I think Xero Shoes does this better than any other product. After all, what could let your foot move more naturally than having nothing on your foot? And what could give you more ground-feel than just a bit of rubber (oh, I know, LESS rubber… but that’s a story for another post).

One of the first Xero Shoes customers said it best when he came back from his first run, all giddy, “It’s just like being barefoot… if they covered the earth in 4mm of rubber!”

So, cut some slack to those of us who use phrases like “barefoot sandals” or “barefoot shoes.” Let the implied meaning come through. But do demand that those who use the phrase can back it up with a product that lives up to the claim.

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How To Run Barefoot

“How do I start barefoot running?”

“What’s the best book/course/coach for learning to run barefoot?”

“Can you show me what barefoot running form looks like?”

I get these questions a lot. And, frankly, I don’t want to answer them. In fact, I’ve resisted writing this post for, well, months. Continue reading How To Run Barefoot

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Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro Barefoot

Congrats to Ross Tucker and his co-climbers who climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro totally barefoot!

One of the things Ross discusses is how, when he told people that he wanted to make the barefoot attempt, he was met with disbelief, mocking, and all manner of non-support.

Sound familiar, barefoot runners?

I emailed him in advance of his trip to show him my video of shoveling snow barefoot and let him know I was positive he would make it, and have fun doing it. In fact, I was totally jealous and wished I could make the flight to do the trip with him (besides, since I live at 5600′, I thought I’d have an advantage).

Now, Ross and his team didn’t take this mission lightly. They didn’t wake up one morning and think, “Hey, let’s take a hike… barefoot… up the tallest mountain in Africa!”

They did a lot of preparation — Ross did less than the others because he joined later. I argued that they did more than they needed. But the point is that they built up to the task rather than simply pretending they were still wearing shoes. I say this to the runners who think that they can simply take off their shoes and pop a barefoot marathon (I know people who’ve done that without a problem, but they’re the exception, not the rule).

I can’t wait to see what new barefoot adventures people tackle in the future.

Congrats again, Ross and the team!

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Harvard Barefoot Running Studies Support Xero Shoes

What are the benefits of barefoot running?

Well, Harvard’s Dr. Daniel Lieberman has another answer. His studies from 2 years ago showed how barefoot runners who forefoot strike put less force into the ground and, therefore, less force into their joints.

Now he has 2 new studies that have just come out that support how proper barefoot running form and minimalist running shoes can result in fewer injuries and more efficient running.

“Foot Strike and Injury Rates in Endurance Runners: a retrospective study” looked at college cross-country runners and found that those who heel-strike (landing on their heels first) had approximately twice the rate of injury than those who forefoot strike. For those of you who’ve been exploring barefoot running know, proper barefoot form involves landing on the forefoot first.

BTW, that doesn’t mean you “run on your toes” — your heel can naturally drop to the ground after the forefoot meets the ground first. In fact, letting your ankle relax is part of the natural spring mechanism of the leg.

You may also know that the easiest way to help train yourself to forefoot strike is to go barefoot or wear something genuinely minimalist, like Xero Shoes. The more you can feel the ground when you run, the less you’ll want to land on your heel… because IT HURTS!

Be careful, though, many shoes that call themselves “minimalist” still have enough padding and protection between you and the ground that you lose the barefoot feel and can still heel strike. In fact a recent barefoot running study by ACE and some video of barefoot runners made by Pete Larson of runblogger.com showed that a majority of Vibram Fivefinger wearers still heel strike as they run. In my experience, this is probably because the VFFs have enough padding (especially the ones made for running, ironically) that the wearers can’t tell they’re still heel striking.

Dr. Lieberman’s other study, “Effects of Footwear and Strike Type on Running Economy” demonstrated that runners in minimal footwear have increased efficiency than those in traditional running shoes.  Specifically, the study concluded that “Minimally shod runners are modestly but significantly more economical than traditionally shod runners regardless of strike type, after controlling for shoe mass and stride frequency. The likely cause of this difference is more elastic energy storage and release in the lower extremity during minimal shoe running.”

If minimal shoes make you more efficient, that’s good news for us, since Xero Shoes are about the most minimalist running shoe you can find. 🙂

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Barefoot hiking and walking are fun, too!

Barefoot hiking may be the next minimalist/barefoot trend.

While barefoot running is the thing that became popular (thanks in large part to Christopher McDougall’s book, Born to Run), I’ve noticed in the last few months that:

  • Many new barefoot runners haven’t read, or even heard of, Chris’s book
  • A significant percentage of our customers are not runners, but hikers, walkers, gym-goers, yoga practitioners, and CrossFit-ers

And, more and more, I get emails and photos from people showing them at the top of some mountain, either barefoot or in their Xero Shoes. A lot of times their emails will say, “I brought my running sandals with me to use around the campsite or if I was going through water and didn’t want my shoes to get wet. But it was so much more fun to feel the ground as I hiked, that I just put my hiking boots in my pack and wore my huaraches instead.”

I know the feeling. I haven’t worn real shoes for anything like a hike since the Summer of 2009, and the idea of balancing on my stiff hiking boot soles instead of gripping the rocks and roots isn’t at all appealing. And it’s  definitely one of my favorite moments when I come upon a small stream to cross, and see a handful of hikers trying to figure out how to make it without getting their feet wet… and then I just plod through the water without breaking stride 😉

Frankly, I love the idea that minimalism and barefoot and natural movement make it beyond the world of running, beyond the question of performance (e.g. “do you run faster barefoot?” or “is barefoot running better than shod running?”). After you’ve been barefoot for a while, you simply love the way it feels in every circumstance.

Granted, I also think that being barefoot or truly minimalist has other advantages — all those nerves in the bottom of your feet are there for a reason; use ’em or lose ’em. But if the only reason people take off their motion-controlled shoes is for fun, that’s good enough for me! And if they decide to wear Xero Shoes for those times where a little bit of protection or style are needed, I won’t complain 😉

Oh, backing up to the reason I wrote this post: There’s a great story today about a woman who climbed Kilimanjaro barefoot.

 

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4 Reasons NOT to Run Barefoot

[This post is guest-authored by our friend Rob Raux from www.shodless.com]

Being barefoot and running barefoot is a blissful and consciousness-expanding endeavor. The feedback supplied from the ground is powerful enough to force even experienced runners to try it for only a mile or so, if they make it that far. Barefoot running, however wonderful, should not be subscribed to dogmatically.

There are myriad resources available expounding on the benefits of being barefoot. Most of their reasons, methods, and warnings have merit. Unfortunately many of them sway to heavily towards the one-size-fits-all solution.

Experiencing life unshod isn’t always the best option. Putting on a pair of huaraches or other minimalist shoes can serve a number of beneficial purposes:

  1. Technical Trail Running.
    Many people worry that the rocks, twigs, and roots on a trail make barefoot trail running impossible. Not true. First, you use your eyes and avoid what worries you. Second, your feet aren’t rigid and can grab and grip and mold around many “obstacles.”That said, while there’s nothing better than feeling the grass beneath your feet, having your heel land on an embedded rock leaves something to be desired. To be more specific, it could leave behind a bruise that will take at least a week to heal.That doesn’t include the chance of damaging the fatty tissue which protects your heel bone from impacting the ground. If any of this sounds painful, trust me, it’s worse than you’re picturing.A trail has hazards which you may not wish to risk if you’re still an inexperienced barefooter. When a single false step means a week of no running, it’s just not worth it to be ideological about keeping yourself unshod.
  2. Additional mileage
    Your body may be able to take additional mileage, but the bottoms of your feet may not be ready to support it yet barefoot. Now, if you’re looking to become a better barefoot runner, this is good news — when your skin tells you to stop… STOP! Over time it’ll adapt (not callous) and you’ll be able to put in more miles.Until then, there’s nothing wrong with protecting your precious footsies, but only if you know your form is correct. If you are transitioning from shoes to barefoot and have yet to perfect the change from heel strike to mid foot strike or a forefoot strike, don’t ask for trouble by adding more miles in a minimalist shoe. You’ll find yourself injured promptly and thoroughly.If you are comfortable in your stride, you will find that your feet hit a natural point where further barefoot running may only lead to blisters (that usually means your form has broken down and you’re pulling/pushing the ground, instead of placing/lifting). In these cases, adding a protective covering will give you the opportunity to add those additional miles you crave.
  3. Racing
    A foot covering increases your margin for error while running. Proponents of barefoot running tout the pain feedback loop as a beneficial aspect. Any foot covering blocks the pain receptors, which allow you to cause more damage to your body.In a race, this can be a necessary evil. A reduced pain feedback loop allows you to run a longer duration of more intensity. The covering may also absorb some of the mistakes you may have made barefoot (stepping on that rock in your mental fatigue).There’s obviously a very fine line to be ridden here, and one that you can certainly go too far with. Go with the least amount of covering possible and you should be able to dampen and absorb just the minimal amount of error to improve your results.I’d love to say, “If you’re not comfortable running that distance, don’t race that distance.” But I know how some of us… I mean, YOU… can be 😉
  4. The bitter cold
    Mother nature yields to no man. Don’t even think about getting the best of father winter.If you live in a climate that has a true winter, you know what frostbite feels like. Now try running barefoot.Amazingly, there are folks who do it, and enjoy it. And check out Steven shoveling snow in his huaraches. Frankly, I’ve tried it and even I think that’s crazy. Most people are going to need something to keep their feet protected from the elements (wind, snow, slush, etc.). Each person has a different tolerance, which will adapt as they get more comfortable with the colder weather.When dealing with the elements it’s best to be safer than pull up limp 3 miles from your house and walk the rest of the way home.

The content of this post does not constitute and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions or concerns you may have about your health or a medical condition.

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Barefoot in the Cold

Can you run barefoot in the cold?

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, Winter is upon us. And people email me every day asking what to do if they want to be barefoot or minimalist in the cold weather. While I’ve written about running bare foot in the cold before, this is a whole new thing 😉

First let me say: DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. In other words, don’t go out and try to imitate me.

I’ve been barefoot running for over 2 and a half years, and haven’t worn a pair of real shoes for more than a total of 3 days in that time.

Last winter, I thought, “I’ll keep my Xero Shoes on until it seems too cold.” And the next thing I knew, it was Spring!

So, clearly I’ve acclimated. And that’s not too surprising. Humans (and our hominid cousins) lived in cold climates without shoes for a LOOOONG time. So, we’re kinda wired for it, if we give ourself time to adapt.

Here’s the video I just shot, after we got 18″+ of snow in Boulder. It’s about 15 degrees out.

What I did is this:

  • Outside for about 10 minutes
  • Inside to dry off my feet and warm them for 5
  • Outside for another 10
  • Inside to dry and warm for about 3
  • Outside for 30+ minutes… by this time my body temp had gone way up. I was sweating quite a bit. And my feet felt totally warm. Not numb. Warm. When I got inside after finishing the shoveling, they didn’t have to thaw or warm up or anything.

Lena wants me point out that you should check the Wiki about frostbite so you don’t do something stupid and get hurt 😉

The content of this post does not constitute and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions or concerns you may have about your health or a medical condition.

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Xero Shoes Win “Best Huaraches 2011”

Xero Shoes wins Best Huaraches Running Sandal 2011

Christian Peterson, better known as The Maple Grove Barefoot Guy, just announced his first ever Grovie awards for excellence in minimalist footwear.

And we are thrilled to announce that Xero Shoes (formerly Invisible Shoes) won the Best Huarache category.

Here’s what Christian had to say:

2011 was really the year of the huarache.  We saw tons of new sandal companies crop up, all with great new innovative designs.  The big two companies (Invisible Shoes and Luna) also put out some great updates to their original models.  But Xero Shoes took that innovation to the next level.  They went out and got a former Nike shoe designer to make the FeelTrue sole of their Connect and Contact huaraches.  The result is a powerhouse of a sandal that has no real apparent weaknesses.

Christian recently reviewed the Connect and Contact version of our FeelTrue DIY Sandal Kit, so we’re especially honored to have 2 mentions in such a short period of time.

That said, while we’re happy to have won Best Huaraches running sandals, we have LOTS of plans for even more improvements and additional products for 2012. I hope that in next year’s Grovie Awards we win at least two categories, maybe even three! 😉

2011 has been a big year for us: Releasing the only outsoles made specifically for barefoot running (some like to say “bear foot running”) sandals  that were designed with the help of former lead designers from Nike and Reebok, our 2nd Anniversary, and a HUGE upsurge in business.

Between you and me, every time I see Chris McDougall, I practically kiss his feet. If it weren’t for him and the success of “Born To Run,” this whole barefoot running trend may never have taken off.

So, thank you again to MGBG, and to everyone else who has helped us and supported us in 2011.

I can’t wait to hear the comments when we launch all our new barefoot running sandal products in the next year.