Barefoot Running Shoes

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Barefoot running shoes offer many advantages for barefoot runners, especially if you are just starting out. They can protect your feet from major rough areas, rocks and broken glass, as well as making the transition from shoe running to 'pure' barefoot running a little easier (if that is your plan).
However barefoot running shoes require a very different stride than normal running shoes, and if you don't learn to land on your feet properly you may end up with bad blisters, painful feet or even serious injuries. The stride you want to achieve with barefoot running shoes is just like the stride you will be learning when running totally barefoot; so if you are using barefoot running shoes for a transition shoe, altering your stride now will only help in the future.

Here are the 3 main ways you want to alter your stride when barefoot running or using barefoot running shoes.

1. Don't land on your heels when using barefoot running shoes. Padded and 'high-tech' running shoes are very padded (even having air pockets) on the heels; unfortunately this encourages us to take long strides and land on our heels first. When using barefoot running shoes however you never want to land on your heel first; this will cause even more jarring than if you were wearing regular running shoes, and you won't have the padding underneath. If you find yourself landing 'heel first' while running in barefoot running shoes, STOP. One indication you may be doing this (even if you don't think you are) is a loud slapping sound while you are running. You shouldn't be able to hear your feet slapping or hitting hard at all while barefoot running or wearing barefoot running shoes.
2. Don't land on the ball of your foot when using barefoot running shoes, either. Some people want to go the extreme other way when wearing barefoot running shoes, and to avoid landing on their heels, try to land on the ball of their foot and then either let their foot bounce down to touch the heel and up, or just run purely on their ball of their foot. This is a little better than landing on your heel, but still not that good. It will overwork your foot, and you will probably end up getting crazy blisters from uneven foot wear (if you are wearing barefoot running shoes you may avoid some of the blisters, but your foot will still be strained and wear funny eventually). I have not run like this for long, so I can't say exactly what will happen if you do; I would just suggest that you skip this phase and move on to step 3.

3. DO land on your "mid-foot" while wearing barefoot running shoes (this goes for purely bare feet too). Your mid-foot is essentially that part of your foot between your heel and your ball of your foot. It is in the same general place as your arch, but (important!) is not your arch. Think of it as being the outside edge of your foot, just behind the ball of your foot. Landing here in your barefoot running shoes will allow you to land balanced and light, and allows your foot to use it's arch as a spring without overworking your foot. Land on your mid-foot first, let your foot touch down very lightly down to the heel, then let your foot lift back up from the mid-foot again. Resist the urge to work your foot hard when using barefoot running shoes; you want to let it do it's thing with economy and lightness, not overusing the muscles.
So that's it: don't land on your heel or your ball while using barefoot running shoes, but your mid-foot, and let your arch function as a light spring.
Overall, "easy does it" is the key to using barefoot running shoes without getting foot strain, uneven wear or crazy blisters. So strap on your new barefoot running shoes and go out and try it: I personally love running both barefoot and in barefoot running shoes, and find it lighter and more fun than running in regular running shoes; and with a little attention to getting your stride right, I bet you will too!


Resource Box:

Important! Before you start barefoot running: Whether you are using barefoot running shoes or going "totally bare" there are several other important tips to know including how to find your "perfect barefoot running shoes". Get your complete instructions for barefoot running today at: http://www.howtorunbarefoot.com