Barefoot Running – Page 2

Posted on April 4, 2015April 12, 2015 by

GOSHEN Movie Trailer – Watch it here!

As many of you know, Xero Shoes were inspired by the Tarahumara of Mexico. First, we were inspired by their story of running enjoyably and injury-free into their 70s and beyond.

Then we were inspired by the fact that they ran barefoot or in huaraches — sandals they made out of scraps of tire and leather.

The Tarahumara are also facing serious challenges. A long-running drought, problems with local drug cartels, inaccessibility, medical problems.

For all of these reasons, we support the Tarahumara with a percentage of the sales of our custom-made Xero Shoes.

And to further support the Tarahumara, we’re thrilled to share the documentary GOSHEN with you. Filmmakers Dana Richardson and Sarah Zentz’s movie, GOSHEN, reveals how the Tarahumara tribe’s ancient diet and active lifestyle could not only transform your personal health and fitness, but may be the key to preserving Tarahumara culture as well.

Watch the trailer, below.

Own the GOSHEN DVD Today!

Posted on January 26, 2015January 26, 2015 by

Barefoot Lies and Footwear Fallacies

Are shoes killing your feet? Okay, you know the drill by now… the media likes to say “the barefoot running movement is over!” They cite the sudden increase increase in sales of “maximalist shoes” as proof.

But, is it true?

Well, first, I’ll tell you that sales may be lower for “minimalist shoes,” but that’s because fewer companies are making them! So, fewer companies make them, fewer stores can sell them, fewer people can buy them… and then the “news” is that minimalism/barefoot must be dead. Uh, whoa, Nelly… the cart and horse have been reversed.

Secondly, while sales of “maximal” shoes are up, they’re still a SMALL percentage of the industry. More, the numbers are skewed because the prices of those shoes is so high. Selling $1,000,000 worth of a $200 shoe is a lot fewer pairs than selling the same amount of something like, oh, a $49.99 pair of Xero Shoes Amuri Cloud.

More annoying is that reporters like to claim that the seemingly lower sales numbers invalidate the CLAIMS about barefoot running. They like to say that the increase in maximalist shoes, like the Hoka One One (which, by the way is pronounced Oh-nay, Oh-nay), prove that being barefoot cannot be good for you.

The logic is totally missing. That’s like saying the increased sales of Toyota proves that Rolls Royce makes a crappy car.

Many reporters clearly don’t know the meaning of “non sequitur.”

So this brings us to the latest article from New Scientist magazine, called “Barefoot Lies.”

NewScientistCover

Like most articles about barefoot living and running, the implication in the title is exactly what I said previously, that all the claims about the benefits of being barefoot are false.

I must say that I’m happy to report, that the title is merely hyperbolic and designed to grab attention. The actual article is a whole other story. And rather than paraphrase it, you can read it (it’s not long) by clicking here > NewScientist-Barefoot-Lies (or on the photo, below)

Let me know what you think about it in the comments, below.

Posted on October 26, 2014October 27, 2014 by — Leave a comment

How to run an ultramarathon (or 7) in Xero Shoes

I love it when people ask, “Can you really run in those things?” as I run by them in my Xero Shoes. 😉

Well, Jonathan Sinclair and Melissa Gosse, otherwise known as Ultra Mel & Jon — at http://ultramelandjon.com/ — had that experience a LOT of times recently. That’s because they ran the Madagascar Race the Planet ultramarathon stage race, running over 250k in 7 days.

How’d they do it?

Well, check out this video we made where I asked them that, and a whole lot more.

If you’ve ever thought about running marathon+ distances, listen to what this young and talented couple have to say.

Posted on September 24, 2014 by — Leave a comment

National Runner Survey 2014

Calling all RUNNERS!

What motivates you to run? What is your favorite race distance? How often do you run?

You are being invited to participate in Running USA’s National Runner Survey, a comprehensive survey to assess the demographics, lifestyle, attitudes, habits, and product preferences of the running population nationwide.

The National Runner Survey is easy to access and available online. All responses are completely anonymous and confidential.

Don’t miss this opportunity to join other runners nationwide!

To access the survey, click here:

https://www.research.net/s/NRS15_XeroShoes

Select Xero Shoes as the organization that invited you to participate.

The survey is open until December 15, 2014.

Posted on August 16, 2014August 15, 2014 by — Leave a comment

24 Hour Barefoot Running World Record

Andrew Snopes sets a barefoot running world record

If you bump into someone who opines, “You can’t run in bare feet!” show them this.

Andrew Snope ran 131.43 miles, barefoot, in 24 hours!

Yup. Ran for 24 hours (with just a few bathroom breaks). Did it barefoot.

And if that same opinionated person counters with, “Yeah, but the world record is 188.59 miles from a guy wearing shoes,” you can reply with, “But Andrew’s only been a runner for 3 years, and he wasn’t trying to beat the record. Geez!”

We say a big congrats to Andrew and can’t wait to see what he does next!

Posted on August 14, 2014April 7, 2020 by — 20 Comments

Is barefoot running really BS?

Marc Lindsay recently posted what I’m sure he thinks is a scathing critique of barefoot running at Active.com called “Why Barefoot Running is BS.”

Sadly, it’s not the well-researched, well-considered investigation I think he believes it to be. In fact, given that the top of the article clearly says “Sponsored by Brooks,” one has to wonder if this anti-barefoot running article isn’t just a piece of shoe industry propaganda. Continue reading Is barefoot running really BS?

Posted on July 7, 2014 by — Leave a comment

Barefoot Running Q&A – Transitioning, pain, and cold weather

Here’s another Barefoot Running Q&A video, where I take an email I’ve received and give an answer on video.

In this video we look at the relationship between barefoot and minimalist shoes, foot and calf pain during the transition to barefoot, how minimalist shoes fit in with the transition to bare feet, and how to handle the cold.

Some of the links you’ll want to take a look at:

Transitioning to Barefoot Running

Is Calf Pain Necessary

Dealing with “top of foot pain.”

Barefoot running and cold weather

Posted on June 21, 2014April 7, 2020 by

What are the benefits of barefoot walking and running?

I got a message on Facebook from Ben:

I have a pair of your sandals and I really enjoy the freedom, strength and all around sensation I get running free!

My only hurdle has been steeping on rocks on the ball or knuckle of my feet and bruising an irritating the nerves. I have had bouts with mortons neuroma and whenever I land on that spot with a rock or hard object – I am back to my cushy runners. Maybe I am destined to be a shod runner or maybe in time my feet will toughin’ up? Any advice would be helpful!

Thank you!
Ben

Now, I’m not a doctor, and I don’t play on on TV (or anywhere else for that matter), so the best I can do is tell you what I’ve noticed since I ditched my shoes and started walking and running barefoot (in 2009).

I replied to Ben:

My experience has been that 4 things happened over time:

My feet became stronger and more flexible (so they bend around the things that used to be painful). In fact, I was at a clinic for chiropractors not too long ago and the teacher said to his students, “If you have to, pay Steven to let you check out his feet… you’ll be amazed at how strong they are, but really relaxed and flexible.” Sadly, nobody paid me… but a lot of people did check out my feet 😉

My reflexes seem to have improved, so I step off things that might be painful faster, and therefore they don’t hurt.

My gait changed, so that I don’t have my weight on my foot until it’s a bit more flatfooted as I walk — with more surface area, there’s less force/stress on any specific part of my foot.

I pay more attention (effortlessly) to where I’m stepping, so I don’t put my feet on painful things as often. It seems like a combination of using peripheral vision, plus feeling what’s underfoot more quickly.

I hope that’s helpful.

And I hope that’s helpful for you as well.

If you’ve been barefooting, what have you noticed about your walking and running over time?

Leave your comments (and questions) below…

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.

Posted on June 4, 2014 by — Leave a comment

Is running in our DNA?

One reason scientists study mice is, much as we may not want to admit it, we have a lot in common with our rodent relatives.

We share enough DNA and physiology that studying mice often reveals quite a bit about us humans.

So, does this recent study from Leiden University explain why many of us like to run?

In short, neurophysiologist Johanna Meijer set up a running wheel — yes, the kind you would put in a mouse, or rat, or hamster cage — in her backyard and, after enticing animals to come near with the help of some food, watched that they ran on the wheel. Not to get the food. Just to run.

Wild mice would often come back and run as much as caged mice — mice who usually have nothing else to do — would.

As Emily Underwood says of the study,

Rats, shrews, and even frogs found their way to the wheel—more than 200,000 animals over 3 years. The creatures seemed to relish the feeling of running without going anywhere.

Maybe this tells us why we like to run.

Or maybe it just explains treadmill sales 😉

Posted on May 26, 2014May 26, 2014 by — Leave a comment

You won’t believe what the best barefoot running shoes are

Ron Hill ran the 10k in the Mexico City Olympics barefoot.

When asked why, he responded, “They were the lightest shoes I could find.”

At Xero Shoes, we believe the best running shoes are, well, your feet. Bare feet.

You don’t need pronation control. You don’t need a bunch of padding.

You need to be able to move your feet naturally. To flex, to bend, to stretch, to feel the world.

Now, that said, barefoot isn’t always practical or ideal.

Ron Hill was on a track — even, basically smooth, no obstacles or rocks or uneven patches. That’s the best place for his barefoot running shoes — his feet.

But what about you, on a road or a trail.

There are a lot of times where you’ll want some protection, but with as close to a barefoot experience as possible.

That’s why we developed Xero Shoes.

When you’re looking at footwear that simulates being barefoot, please be careful.

Almost all of the shoes sold by big companies that call themselves “barefoot” or “minimalist” are about as close to barefoot as a pair of stilts. I’ve seen shoes with an INCH of padding that still advertise themselves as “just like being barefoot.”

Uh…

The Running Clinic Rates the Best Barefoot Shoes

Canada’s The Running Clinic devised a rating system to evaluate the best barefoot running shoes.

I’m happy to say that Xero Shoes came out on top. The next closest competitors are not shoes that you want to run in, frankly… unless you like replacing your footwear every few miles. And most of those cost way more than a pair of Xero Shoes.

Our 4mm Connect DIY sandal kit is the closest thing you’ll find to barefoot. The Amuri Cloud is next, though with the addition of a tiny bit (3mm) of BareFoam, it feels like even more protection. The 6mm Contact DIY kit and Amuri Venture give a great barefoot feel with a bit more protection.

Check them all out at our online store.

All of our Xero Shoes barefoot running shoes have the best warranty you’ll find: a 5,000 mile one!

Start enjoying your Xero Shoes today… and Feel The World!