Comments on: Beware of Barefoot Running Injuries

By: Jimbob

Jimbob — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 19:41:59 +0000

I was up to 5.8M with my VFF’s and don’t ever wish to go back to full cushioned running shoes. I go barefoot on the local track, just to keep my form up. However, my VFF’s have cost me – I was on a local trail on Memorial Day friday, and stepped on a few rocks, and let me tell you, it hurts. A lot. The bruise went away, but there’s a small lump by the sematoids on my left foot. Just today, my podiatrist gave me the ‘boot’ to wear for 3 weeks until the inflammation goes down. X-rays were inconclusive. Not painful, but I could tell the foot wasn’t right. This won’t change my beliefs, nor am I a candidate to win any race, any distance. I just have fallen in love with the ‘ground feel’ of minimalist shoes. – J – ‘Pequa, NY

By: Trail Run Report: First run in birthday present « Fit Yogini Runner

Trail Run Report: First run in birthday present « Fit Yogini Runner — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 21:45:37 +0000

[...] if I could try on the New Balance Minimus in half a size larger than I had. She gave me the same warnings I’ve already read about regarding minimalist shoes, and I tried making small talk by saying I think I’ve already trained some of those muscles [...]

By: Running careless « Fredrik Ölmqvist – Blog

Running careless « Fredrik Ölmqvist – Blog — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 23:59:29 +0000

[...] there is an increasing amount of plantar fasciitis cases at podiatrists and physical therapists. Read more and “be careful out [...]

By: Flintstone

Flintstone — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 18:07:12 +0000

Everybody will make up their own mind. I’ve been running barefoot since 2001, including 3 marathons and countless halfs and 10ks, without injury or significant incident (occasional shard of glass). Had lots of injuries in shoes before that. Two observations: first, about calf pain, that’s natural. When you run properly, the eccentric muscles of your calf absorb the impact that used to be absorbed by the inch of rubber. So your calves will fatigue first, and your endurance will be limited mostly by the endurance-strength of your calves, plantar and (to a lesser extent) quads and glutes. That will steadily improve, but it won’t happen overnight. The second point is just to take exception with this idea that barefoot running is just for the biomechanically gifted. I think the opposite: it is only the truly gifted who can overcome the many problems of stability and desensitization presented by shoes. Most shod runners are injured at least once a year. Consider this: genes that restricted our ability to run naturally would not have lasted long in the evolutionary process. Our hardware and software has evolved over 2 million years to compensate for any surface or biomechanical imperfection. We were, as MacDougall put it, ‘Born to Run’.

By: Lshaw

Lshaw — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 22:55:37 +0000

I started running in VFF’s in August of 2010 and was 12 at the time. I have tried to change my technique to landing on the forefoot and keeping my heel off the ground. It was going absolutely fine. I ran a 5k on tarmac in 16:55 in the VFF’s’ Then in early November i got an injury on the front of my right foot when running on pavement, as my club had switched venue for the winter about three weeks in to the training. I was out for 5 weeks and did strengthening exercises before going back to running. Four days later and it came back although not very painful, more niggly. I left it for a week then did a short interval session, fine. Three days later i went out for a run and 6 minutes in, the side of my left foot and up under and around the outside ankle bone. I walked home, extremely annoyed. The day after i went out again, as the pain stopped a minute after i stopped running. Four minutes in it went again although now it was only around the bottom and back side of the lateral malleolus (the outside bony bit of the ankle).It went away and 30 minutes later i tried with my trainers (still with the same technique) but not too long in it niggled again. Later on in the day i jogged a few steps before it nigled again niggled again. Please note i never run on tarmac except at the club and i haven’t gone there since i was first injured 7-8 weeks ago now.

Pleas help i wan’t to run again!

By: Erskien Lenier

Erskien Lenier — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 22:09:10 +0000

The article you posted here declaring that barefoot running is dangerous and that shoes are the only logical solution to running safely is misguiding to those who have not decided to commit to mastering the discipline needed to run barefoot safely.
I am a 53 yr. old former International Racing Cyclist who transitioned to Barefoot Running about 3 1/2 yrs ago. I too went the Vibram route for the 1st few months but only as a bail out shoe after I had gone as far and fast as I could Barefoot each run first. Eventually, I only used the minimalist shoes as “Bail Out Shoes” when I encountered terrain to bruising or contaminated with jagged rocks or thorns and then they went back into my hydration packs pockets for the rest of the run.
Now a days I run over 125 mpw on all kinds of terrain and rarely need to break out any kind of sole covering.
Your decision to push shoes because it is your enterprise and your belief is respectable only if you let others know that these are your reasons for the stand you take.
For those of us that have stuck with our dedication to mastering step by step control of strike forces your view point is a slap in the face for no other reason than the promotion of technology over innate responsibility for ability to adapt to hard, hot and cold surfaces not respecting the appropriate use of sole coverings when the physics of functionality.
There is room for everyone in the running community to express running in the manner that suits their values, limitations or lack there of without speaking condescendingly about how or why others interface with the land or surfaces they run upon.
I have no problems with any of us offering someone an option if they find themselves wanting to improve performance or longevity in running. To each their own. Take a higher road than dissing others to make your product sell. There are no limits to what a runner can do except the ones he complains about instead of learns from.

By: Sir Isaac

Sir Isaac — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:41:35 +0000

Hard for us to diagnose, so I’d recommend seeing a doctor if the problem persists. What it most likely is a case of is “too much, too fast.” We always tell people to only run 15-20 minutes in the shoes for the first 2-3 weeks. Give it time to rest and I hope everything improves!

Cheers,
Sir Isaac

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 22:55:28 +0000

I recently bought a pair of Sir Isaac shoes, wide version and I enjoy the runs. My quads and knees are do not ache after a run and I seem to have better breathing control. After my last run, I developed a sharp pain on the top of my left hip bone. It’s not the joint but actually on top/center. it hurts when I press on it or twist to the right. I’ve tried to make sure I’m landing on my midfoot and then letting my heel settle briefly before lifting off, also taking smaller strides.
Any idea what this could be? I think I started running too far with the new shoes. I’m going to let it settle down before I run again.
Thanks
Mike

By: Sir Isaac

Sir Isaac — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 22:07:21 +0000

Hi Justin,

It sounds like your calves are sore because you aren’t letting your heels touch the ground at all. You should allow your heel to settle onto the ground after you land midfoot. This will take the stress off of your calf muscles. Let us know if you have any other questions.

Cheers,
Sir Isaac

By: Justin

Justin — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:26:05 +0000

male, mid 30′s, 6-2, 195, decent shape, run about 25 miles/wk & did half marathon about a month ago in my asics nimbus. After that, I bought a pair of newtons and scaled down my runs to no more than 5 miles at a time. I love the newtons (the nimbus feel like squishy bricks now), however my calves are screaming by mile 4. Like LC (above), I don’t seem to touch my heels too much at all during my stride, and the videos on the newton site don’t make it look like the heels hit the ground much either. Are my heels supposed to hit the ground & when will this assault on my calf muscles stop? Don’t see how I can ever run long distances with this stride, my calves would never last. I must be doing something wrong. I am worried about my achilles if I keep going on this way. any advice appreciated, thanks.