Running bare foot

[Casca]

My understanding is this helps build up your feet.

I am getting back into running. At my peak, I use to run between 5 to 10 miles a day, most days. Problems I had were shin splints. I'd get bulges on my shins that hurt like hell and made it near impossible for me to point my toes. I always noticed that this usually happened after I went a day without running. Seemed if I ran everyday, I had no problems.

I was looking at shoes just now and came across the Nike Free Air 5.0 and although they look ugly as hell, reading about it perked my interest:

With all the current buzz about the benefits of barefoot running for strengthening the feet and legs, preventing injuries, and improving balance, stride, and posture, Nike has created a lightweight, highly flexible shoe to simulate the effects of barefoot running called the Nike Free 5.0. This new shoe not only protects the feet from some of the hazards of barefoot running in the city, but also distributes the landing pressure over a larger area to reduce stress on the legs, knees, and back.

Now what I found interesting is I read some reviews from people using this who side they normally get shin splints, but after training with these shoes, they no longer have shin splints.

Anyone have experience with this?

[teriyakisaki]

no i have not, but the adidas a3 gigaride and other a3's are very similar to that shoe. EXTREMELY light and their venting makes it feel like your feet are barefoot in some spots. i tried them on and would have bought them if i had the money.

http://www.eastbay.com/catalog/produ...452085&sport=0

[Brutarian]

If you were meant to run barefoot, you'd be born that way.

What kind of surface are you hitting Casca?

[youm0nt]

yes. i totally believe in barefoot running/training in flats. i think shoes with alot of cushioning and stability just weaken your feet.i used to be a heavy heel striker but now i am a midfoot lander. the nike frees are OK shoes. it still has a big heel which doesnt help with running naturally(landing on balls of feet) if you get the frees,dont run too much too soon or you may get hurt.you have to build up in them.it should come with a guide that tells you all about this. if you want a shoe that is is slightly cheaper,fashionable,made by Puma,more minimal than the free,and lighter get these shoes
http://www.zappos.com/n/bs?q=h.+street id recommend getting the mesh ones,not the leather.i do some light running in them so i dont know how durable it is when it comes to getting holes in the upper.ive heard about durability issues with the free.my friend has the nike free trails(more traction for trails than the regular frees) and he has some holes in it.since converting,i havent had much shins problems since running barefoot/training in minimal shoes uses your calves,achilles, and shins more.

[m dot holla]

i run alot faster without shoes on..

[Rolling]

Yeah running barefoot has many awesome advantages strengthening all parts of your foot and legs. I got a pair of the Nike Frees about 3 weeks ago and have been using them for track practice. They're incredibly comfortable and light. You can "feel" everything beneath you, it's pretty much running barefoot except without the risk of stepping on something damaging your foot. You might want to give them a try.

[Casca]

Originally Posted by Brutarian

If you were meant to run barefoot, you'd be born that way.

What kind of surface are you hitting Casca?

I run nearly 100% on treadmill right now. Once I get to 180, it will be around 70% treadmill for distance, track for milers and when I move to Hawaii where there are actually mountains, I will be running up mountains as well.

Orderd a pair of the free's, found some more reviews on it and many people are claiming that they normally suffer from foot, shin and other leg pains, but training with these shoes have eliminated the pains. Even when they go back to shoes with more stability, they no longer suffer from shin splints. thats big news to me, the only thing that really use to limit my distance is leg pains..well, if I kept pace around 7.5 to 8mph anyway.

i think shoes with alot of cushioning and stability just weaken your feet.

I agree. Some shoes really feel clunky to me. I mean, if you are landing right, if you balance your torso right, if you aren't hopping while running, then any stability and cushioning they build into the shoes can only throw all that out and do more damage then good.

I use to love Nike Air Pegasus. At the time, they were the most minimal running shoes I could find. I seemed to have less shin probelms with those. Right now I use Nike Air zooms and those shoes are very minimal. I have spent tons of money on running shoes and generally, i always found nike's to be the ones that gave me less trouble. Those Puma's you linked probably compare well to the Air zooms , but I think the free's are a different animal altogether.

The soles on the Free's: are very sectional. It's not just the top of the shoe that makes it feel like running barefoot, if the sole of it still feels like a plateform (which most shoes do, even if they weigh next to nothing), then you might as well have gotten running sandels. The soles on the free's are unlike any shoe I have seen so far. I read people actually changed how thier feet land (for the better) training with these shoes. Should have em by tuesday.