Barefoot Running - Set your feet free and feel alive on your next run.

If you haven't tried barefoot running, it really is quite exhilarating. You'll feel like a kid again. Your toes can spread out and grip the ground. Your feet seem to tap the ground instead of pounding on the pavement. Find a nice surface to give it a try and run free.

I like to run on the nice grass around my town's football field. This can get boring though after countless laps. There are slip on shoes that even have spaces for your toes which can still protect your feet. This still gives you the feel of running barefoot. The best brand is called Vibram. You can compare prices for Vibram Fivefingers Here.

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Here are my top five tips for running barefoot.

1. Work your way into it just like you work your way into shape. Don't just ditch your running shoes all together immediately. Run a normal distance run, then slip off the shoes and run for two or three minutes. Slowly add more time and distance each run. Running on the pavement is actually suggested for your first barefoot run. You learn immediately how to land correctly with your feet. If you land on your heal, it hurts! Use your whole foot as you land softly on the ground with each step.

2. After you have good barefoot running form down, find a nice place to run barefoot. If you can figure out a way to get onto a golf course, this is the ideal surface to run on barefoot. The grass is soft and well manicured. If not on a golf course, find a well kept football, soccer, or baseball field to test out your bare feet on.

3. Invest in a pair of Vibram Fivefingers. shoes. Wearing these shoes is essentially running barefoot, but these protect your feet from sharp rocks, woodchips, or other rough patches that you might encounter on a run. I love to run the trails, and these shoes allow me the feel of being barefoot even on gravel, or wood chip trails. It's quite frigid here in Wisconsin during the winter. I wear my Vibram Five Fingers because running barefoot on the pavement is way too cold.

4. Run barefoot to help prevent injury. The book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall challenges the claims of the top running shoe makers. Running injuries continue to climb despite the new shoes and technology available. The book details countless examples of how running barefoot can actually reduce your chances for a running injury.

5. Barefoot running improves your form. Most runners tend to pound the ground and land on your heel way too much with trainer running shoes. Being barefoot forces you to land softer, and more with your whole foot to absorb the impact. Because of this, your form will automatically adjust. You will run more efficiently which helps to prevent common running injuries.

Are you going to try barefoot running? You might not be able to do it all the time because of the weather (especially here in Wisconsin), but get out there without your shoes when you can. Your feet will get stronger, it feels great, and it prevents some running injuries.

Running Barefoot right now? How is it going?

I am in the midst of trying to run barefoot. It is a struggle right now. I need some votes of confidence that I am doing the right thing. Also, if you think I'm crazy for trying it, let me know. I'm on the fence about barefoot running. Which side are you on? Describe why you believe in running shoes, or running without them. Have any tips or advice on running barefoot for me or anyone that is interested?

Click below to see contributions from other visitors and their advice on Running barefoot.

Born to Run
Running Workouts
Train for marathon running

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