Comments on: Barefoot vs Shod Running http://www.wvmtr.org/2010/02/03/barefoot-vs-shod-running/ ..........a mountain state of running Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:27:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Paula http://www.wvmtr.org/2010/02/03/barefoot-vs-shod-running/comment-page-1/#comment-971 Paula Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:53:41 +0000 http://www.wvmtr.org/?p=3399#comment-971 So, do you find that you are landing more on the front of your foot than the back of your foot? I am having a lot of problems with the heel of my left foot. I have what feels like a terrible stone bruise, that just will not go away. It doesn't hurt so bad when I am running, but as soon as I stop running, it hurts terribly, and I was wondering if this was not plantar fasciitis. Thanks for any thoughts. So, do you find that you are landing more on the front of your foot than the back of your foot?

I am having a lot of problems with the heel of my left foot. I have what feels like a terrible stone bruise, that just will not go away. It doesn’t hurt so bad when I am running, but as soon as I stop running, it hurts terribly, and I was wondering if this was not plantar fasciitis.

Thanks for any thoughts.

]]> By: Brian Masney http://www.wvmtr.org/2010/02/03/barefoot-vs-shod-running/comment-page-1/#comment-963 Brian Masney Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:19:28 +0000 http://www.wvmtr.org/?p=3399#comment-963 I've been running pain free in my Vibram shoes since September and I am completely sold on running barefoot and in minimalistic shoes. This fixed the plantar fasciitis that lingered in my left foot for a year and a half. I ran 94 miles exclusively in my Vibram shoes during the month of January 2010. I am happy with that number given that I had to start my running over from scratch in September 2009. I wanted to run more, but I wouldn't run if I was sore from a previous run. I am still working on slowly building up my mileage. If anyone reading this decides to start running barefoot or in the Vibram shoes, then you need to make sure that you don't overdo it at first, or will most likely get hurt. Here are a few things to look out for: 1) You will most likely experience sore and tight calves at first since your calves will absorb most of the impact from running. No matter how much you run right now, go out for no more than a half mile barefoot at first. I found that the soreness in my calves would come on later in the evening. Run past a building where you can see your reflection in the window and you will see your calves acting like giant springs, absorbing the impact. 2) Take a break from running if you experience any pain in the top of your feet. This is the first symptom of overdoing it and if you continue running you will most likely get a stress fracture in your foot. 3) Try to run as quiet as you can. The quieter you are, the less impact on your body. In just a couple of months, I have noticed significant changes in my feet. My feet are now wider and my toes naturally stay spread apart. I have several pairs of boots that I had for years, but I can no longer wear them since they no longer fit. I got orthotics after I was injured with plantar fasciitis and they helped me to get better but I had to wear them in every shoe or else my foot started to hurt again. One day without orthotics and my foot would hurt for days. My foot is now strong enough that I stopped wearing them in November and I'm not looking back. I’ve been running pain free in my Vibram shoes since September and I am completely sold on running barefoot and in minimalistic shoes. This fixed the plantar fasciitis that lingered in my left foot for a year and a half.

I ran 94 miles exclusively in my Vibram shoes during the month of January 2010. I am happy with that number given that I had to start my running over from scratch in September 2009. I wanted to run more, but I wouldn’t run if I was sore from a previous run. I am still working on slowly building up my mileage.

If anyone reading this decides to start running barefoot or in the Vibram shoes, then you need to make sure that you don’t overdo it at first, or will most likely get hurt. Here are a few things to look out for:

1) You will most likely experience sore and tight calves at first since your calves will absorb most of the impact from running. No matter how much you run right now, go out for no more than a half mile barefoot at first. I found that the soreness in my calves would come on later in the evening.

Run past a building where you can see your reflection in the window and you will see your calves acting like giant springs, absorbing the impact.

2) Take a break from running if you experience any pain in the top of your feet. This is the first symptom of overdoing it and if you continue running you will most likely get a stress fracture in your foot.

3) Try to run as quiet as you can. The quieter you are, the less impact on your body.

In just a couple of months, I have noticed significant changes in my feet. My feet are now wider and my toes naturally stay spread apart. I have several pairs of boots that I had for years, but I can no longer wear them since they no longer fit.

I got orthotics after I was injured with plantar fasciitis and they helped me to get better but I had to wear them in every shoe or else my foot started to hurt again. One day without orthotics and my foot would hurt for days. My foot is now strong enough that I stopped wearing them in November and I’m not looking back.

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