Interested in minimalist footwear but not sure where to start or afraid of injury?

Just like any of our lost primal skills, it takes time and patience to re-develop the skills, muscles and biomechanics (a fancy word for how your body moves) to get back to your body’s original design. Keep reading for a primer in the advantages of and transitioning to minimalist footwear.

Advantages of Minimalist Footwear

Running, walking and living barefoot or in minimal footwear is ideal, yet many people are far from it. Years of wearing heavily cushioned shoes with high heel to toe drop have weakened our feet and altered our body mechanics, training us to rely on our shoes to absorb impact in lieu of our lower leg muscles. Hip alignment is thrown off, causing lower back, knee and foot issues. (see image right) Beyond that, the human body has become less able to thrive and be useful in the world it was created to live in. This was all brought about by “well-meaning” doctors and companies who do not have enough faith in the human body’s ability to adapt, repair and be all around resilient. Thus, overprotective footwear ends up causing or reinforcing many of the issues it is designed to protect us from.

No matter where you are on a scale from ultra-runner to doctor prescribed inserts, it’s not too late to transition to minimal footwear.

 Convinced? Here’s How To Get Started

First off, slow and steady wins the race. Undoing years of altered movement cannot be done overnight. It takes time to re-develop the lower leg and foot muscles and biomechanics needed to wear minimalist footwear.

• Start Small: Begin by walking barefoot around your house or in your backyard.
• Listen to Your Body: If your feet are not used to being free, they will probably be sore along with your calves. If they are, give them a break (i.e. put your shoes back on), then start going barefoot again when the soreness goes away. This soreness is your muscles and tendons getting stronger to better be as nature intended. Rest and stretching helps them recover.
• Increase Foot Freedom: As your feet and lower legs get stronger, increase your barefoot time and invest in some minimalist footwear, the Earth Runners Alpha are a great option with a little more cushioning, allowing you to venture outside without fear of rocks etc. Continue to increase times and mileage with your feet free.

Developing Proper Biomechanics

Since there is no longer an inch or so of cushion between you and the ground, good biomechanics is very important to injury prevention and overall enjoyment.

• Most people walk and run with a heel strike. This is an adaptation to wearing padded shoes with a lifted heel (⅛-½”).  Heel striking relies on the shoe to absorb shock instead of the lower leg muscles. Walking and running barefoot while still heel striking will force your bones and joints to absorb the shock, resulting in foot, knee and lower back pain.

• Practice walking then running with a forefoot or mid-foot strike. This walking and running style uses your foot and lower leg muscles as shock absorbers. Again take things slow, allowing soreness to heal between sessions. The below video is a good example of good barefoot running foot strike. You can even video yourself to compare. Everyone's stride is unique so focus more on striking in a way that feels natural to you.

Now, get outside to free your feet a take the first step toward transitioning to minimalist footwear!

Keep eyes out for the next artical where we will get a little more technical with some stretches and movements to help you enjoy your new found foot freedom more and return your body back to it’s natural design.

Author: Curtis Hall is the Co-Founder and Head Creative at BAREfit Adventure Training, a fitness company based out of Louisville, Ky. BAREfit uses all upcycled and handmade equipment to train people to Make the World Their Playground.

www.barefitpt.com

Follow them at:
instagram.com/barefitpt
facebook.com/barefitpt

Barefoot running is becoming an ever increasingly popular activity amongst experienced runners and beginners alike. It has been credited for preventing most common running related injuries, strengthening weak muscles caused by shoe induced atrophy, and raising awareness of the capabilities of our body in its natural unhindered state. Many are enthusiastically joining the movement and leaving their running shoes behind when they head out for their regular training runs, however the results are not usually what they were expecting. Unfortunately, injuries amongst those new to barefoot/minimal running 

are an all too common complaint, causing many to shy away from barefoot running again after recovering, or preventing them from being able to run again at all. Nearly all of the injuries and painful moments of barefoot running are due to lack of proper preparation and adaptation. Though I feel that it's not necessary to hang up your running footwear for good and completely convert to barefoot running, if you haven't experienced the benefits and the natural minimalistic joy of running in its purest form then you're missing out!

Start Running in More Minimal Running Footwear

Running in a thinner soled, light weight shoe with less of a heel will promote a more mid-foot landing similar to how your foot lands when running without shoes. There are many "natural" running shoes out on the market today that are an excellent tool for transitioning to barefoot running, while still getting the cushioning, grip, and protection to keep you happily running for miles. When I want to experience most of the joy and benefits of running barefoot but need a little protection, then I prefer the modern take on the ancient huarache running sandal design of Earth Runners. They offer a custom fit thin forming sole secured with comfortable nylon laces and a unique electrical grounding system. It’s also great to know that my contribution is helping children in India as a part of the company’s donation fulfillment to Seva Sandals- 1 pair for every 10 sold.

If you just want a regular running shoe but stripped down to provide a more barefoot feel then there are tons of options for both road and trail shoes. Visit your local running store and try on several pairs to find out which ones fit you best and feel the most comfortable. You may even find that you're quite happy running in minimal footwear and have no need or desire to go completely bare. That's perfectly fine as you'll still be experiencing most of the benefits and joy of natural running. See links at the end of the article for my shoe review videos and other running related videos I've made.

Go Barefoot More Often

Try being barefoot as often as you can to help you more quickly adapt to being barefoot. We spend most of our lives in shoes or footwear of some kind so it will take a while for our feet, body, and brain to adjust to the new movements of your muscles when barefoot. The more you can be barefoot when not running, the easier barefoot running will be. If you usually wear shoes or slippers around the house try taking them off, go walking without shoes, try a short hikes without shoes, then progress to longer ones, play other sports without shoes like beach volley ball, frisbee, gymnastics, strength training and balancing exercises. Get back into your natural state of living, not just running!

Run on Soft Surfaces

This is especially important when first starting out. Running on soft surfaces such as grass, sand, or smooth trails will lessen the impact on your joints and muscles that you may be experiencing without the thick cushioning that most running shoes have. The soft surface will be much more forgiving, allowing you to run longer and adapt to barefoot running quicker.

Keep Your Runs Short

Running for short periods of time barefoot will help you adapt to it without the risk of over-use injuries or too much impact on your joints causing soreness. You can try running 2 or 3 times per day for only 5-10 minutes or so, giving you a higher total time/distance for the day, without the physical damage that happens from only one longer run. By slowly and consistently increasing the amount of time you run, you'll be able to painlessly transition into barefoot running for longer distances.

Cross Training

Doing other activities to improve your strength, balance, stability, and endurance will transfer over to barefoot running making you a stronger runner less prone to injury. Strength training can help equalize muscle imbalances, and decrease fatigue by improving muscle strength and endurance. Balancing exercises like slacklining, box jumps, and other sports are all great ways to improve foot, ankle, leg and core strength needed for barefoot running. Do these activities barefoot if you can as I mentioned in Tip #2. Better balance will also help you run over uneven surfaces and on challenging terrain with more confidence. For more information on balance and tips on how you can improve it see my article Better Balance = Better Fitness: 5 Tips to Improve Your Balance.

Using these tips will give you a much easier and safer transition to bare foot running. You will gain better form and become a stronger runner and a better all around athlete. If you have any questions about barefoot running or are interested in coaching to become a better runner and a fitter, healthier person then please contact me. If you have any barefoot running tips of your own that you would like to share please leave a comment!

Check out my Youtube Channel for running related videos, shoe reviews, training tips, natural movement workouts, diet and nutrition info, and more (Subscribe to my channel if you would like to see more!)

Kevin Park CPT

Kevin Park is the founder of wildbodywellness.com. He is a certified personal trainer specializing in natural movement, a natural lifestyle mentor, a long-term raw vegan, a runner, a bike racer, and a nature lover. His passion in life is to help people discover their natural wild bodies and achieve optimal health and wellness. He loves trail running with his dog, eating tropical fruits, reading good books, researching, and traveling with his partner.

wildbodywellness.com
facebook.com/wildbodywellness
youtube.com/wildbodywellness