Barefoot Runner – Running Barefoot, Natural Running & Healthy Living

We’ve been indoctrinated to believe that when running shoe companies develop new “advanced” materials (without real scientific evidence proving their benefit) that these advancements are better for us. They still call it “technology”, but do not let you be fooled.

Humans have been barefoot for several million years (~2 million actually). It means that our bare feet have the ability to carry us around on all kinds of surfaces – hard ones as well as soft ones. It means that we have the ability to adapt ourselves to our surroundings.

Running shoes or trainers are designed to minimize heel strike and maximize toe spring. Or so you thought… What actually ends up happening is we slam our heels on the pavement harder than necessary because we want to feel the feedback that is, ironically, cushioned by the shoes on our feet. Here are 5 things to look for when you’re buying a pair of runners…

Terra Plana is one of those interesting shoe companies that dare exploring more unconventional ideas. Among these are recycled shoes and minimal shoes. [Rated: 6/10 Toes]

Overall the upper material is very comfortable and the lack of an Achilles supporter (as mentioned the rear part is just soft fabric) is very nice because it makes your foot the master and not the shoe. [Rated: 5/10 Toes]

Original post on RailRiders.com/blog. Republished with author’s permission.
A very insightful post that captures the history and future of running footwear. Hope you like it. Happy trails, David.

I boil the kettle and throw some Earl Grey leaves into a pot. The steam rises and the leaves steep into a brew.

I lean back into my chair and put my feet up. The contrast of the cup and saucer and my dirty bare feet amuses me.

The tea tastes good.

I live in Florida. The extent of ‘winter’ here is… well, there isn’t. While living in Calgary, Canada however (see pic above) I had the pleasure of running through many winter seasons. For those not familiar with Alberta winters, they’re known to last a good 7 months with. Running barefoot for many runners coast-to-coast is [...]

Okay, I’ll admit it, I stare at runners. I do. I can’t help looking at nearly every runner that I see. Driving to work in the morning I’ll find myself slowing down just enough to catch a few strides of a morning runner. It amazes me how dramatically running shoes alter, err… break, something as primitive and hard-wired within us as running.

I don’t know why, but I was expecting something truly amazing with the release of ECCO’s new BIOM shoe. How could I not? Their thebiomproject website shouted “everything you know about shoes is wrong”. Although just a few weeks back they changed their copy to, well, better reflect the final product. Perhaps for their existing [...]