Barefoot Running Benefits

If you are already a runner I could see this being the case, e.g. you put on a pair of "barefoot" shoes and then do your normal 10 miles run or whatever.I tried to take up running last year. I bought a pair of Vivo Barefoot shoes, and thought they were great. Since I was just starting out I couldn't go more than a few hundred yards without taking breaks to walk. I eventually worked my way up to about 5 miles with a few moderate hills in the route, and never had any trouble with pain or inj

People with running shoes tend to heel-strike increasing the amount of force dissipated into your joints. People who run barefoot tend to forefoot-strike, distributing a lot more of the impact into the calf muscle instead. The calf is also naturally springier than the cartilage, which makes it easier to run also -- and calf muscle grows back, cartilage much less so.

+1I am 53 and started running about 5 years ago. I started running using traditional running shoes, but after 3 months I almost gave up, due to my right knee (that had undergone ACL replacement surgery) constantly being sore.Then I switched to Vibram's Five Fingers. I have now been running over 5 years wearing Vibram's and I have no knee pain and no major injuries. If you would like more info on barefoot running, the book "Born to Run" is a good read.Try out a pai

Could you please elaborate on running being damaging?

Maybe you already looked into barefoot running. I found it took the impact off my knees.

I was never taught heel strike yet I use it. It's not that the shoe retailers teach it, it's just the most natural way to run when you're wearing shoes. When you run barefoot you naturally switch to front strike. I'm going to try running barefoot again. The problem I had with it last time is that you can't run fast because when you run fast and you're exhausted you're going to hurt yourself by making small landing mistakes and by stepping on stones and tree branches and cracks in the road...anyo

The danger of impacts from running is unbelievably overstated

I found running style is a major contributor. I got knee pain preparing for a 10K run in my early 20s. When I stopped for a month it would go aways, but when I started again it would instantly come back.I then learned about natural running (forefoot strike, using your joints for suspensions) which made logical sense to me. I could run again, even every day, and even more than a decade later no knee pain when running.It does have the added benefit that you don't even need expensive run

I started running barefoot recently. I have a hip injury that seems to flare up badly when I run with shoes. Running without shoes has me running slower and in turn putting less stress on my hip. I'm not sure if it's a good idea long term but at least in the short term, it helps me get back to running.

I have the same experience, I couldn't even run 2 miles without inflammation flaring up in the knees (I tried to build up distance many times) - but after running with Evo barefoot shoes for about 2 years (which allowed me to run 10k:s without problem), I can now run with any type of shoes - but my technique is completely transformed with much shorter stride length and a high cadence.