A CCHS cross country runner prepares to start their run in minimalist shoes. Minimalist and barefoot running techniques are becoming more popular among distance runners. Photo Credit KAYLA LOKEINSKY
BY REBECCA BINE
Your feet pound against the pavement as sweat drips down your forehead and stings your eyes, all while the blazing hot sun shines down as though it were interrogation light. Passersby stare at you, questioning your sanity. However, they aren’t puzzled by your running, but rather, why you’re sprinting across the sidewalk sporting nothing but the callused skin on your feet. This trend that is both ancient and revolutionary is gaining in popularity amongst the running community. The simple yet radical new approach in question? Running barefoot.
While some might think of running as an elite sport, it has gained mass popularity in America. Those involved in the running culture have become as diverse as our nation itself. This isn’t surprising, however, because as tough as running may be, it is one of the best ways to improve physical fitness, test will power, and increase natural endorphins. So why is it that a Runner’s World Poll has shown that as many as 66 percent of runners reported being injured in 2009? How can it be that a sport so natural to the human body has begun to suddenly turn against it? In search of a solution, many have chucked their running shoes in favor of a more natural approach.
While there have been no definitive studies on either the benefits of modern running shoes or the negative effects they may cause, there is one undeniable fact that must be taken into consideration. If the modern running shoe was only created in the 1970’s, what did humans do before then? Beginning more than 2,700 years ago in Ancient Greece, marathon runners completed their races without shoes. In fact, throughout ancient history, most civilizations and tribes have run either barefoot or with thin leather sandals for slight protection and comfort.
However, even hearing the two words “running” and “barefoot” put together can make people cringe; the thought of glass and metal slicing dirt-covered feet isn’t what most people would think of as an appealing solution to the problem. This is where revolutionary ideas come into play. Some theorize that modern running shoes provide “support” and “control” that doesn’t truly benefit the runner, but rather forces them to rely on the structure of the shoes rather than the strength of their own feet, thereby weakening the anatomy of the foot and leading to injuries.
Minimalist running is a technique that many modern runners use along with barefoot running. It combines the best of both worlds: the feeling and benefits of having bare feet without some of the risks. Minimalist shoes are designed to have less structure and support than ordinary running shoes, while still providing the safety of a thick, yet flexible, rubber sole. While this idea is not technically new, as many ancient people’s used some sort of physical protection for the bottom of their feet, it has provided a modern way for runner’s to work towards a more natural approach to running while also attempting to avoid injuries.
One of the most common barefoot alternatives, the Vibram FiveFingers, has the unique appearance of toe socks and, depending on the color, some may even say they look like frog or ape feet. However, the strange look of minimalist shoes is the result of a deeper purpose. The essence of the FiveFinger shoes, as well as similar brand adaptations such as Nike’s Free Run+ and Vivo Barefoot, is a design that offers minimal support in order to allow the wearer’s foot to go through a full natural range of motion.
College Academy Sophomore and former CCHS student, Andrew Kirk, believes very strongly in the power of both barefoot and minimalist running. He is one of the best runners on the CCHS cross country team, and owes much of his success to wearing minimalist shoes. During the off-season, he switches off between the shoes and bare feet, and while he warns anyone who wants to try it out to take it slowly, he has suffered no injures except for a few blisters which have now callused and toughened his feet.
“Running barefoot feels so free and has helped so much,” Kirk said. “There’s less weight on my feet, yet they have actually become stronger.”
CCHS Alumni, Travis Nichols, has also become a believer of the barefoot running trend. After high school, Nichols went onto Warner College in Central Florida on a running scholarship. After experiencing multiple injuries while wearing running shoes, he decided to take the barefoot route. He started out slowly, but now continues to run, even after graduating, as many as six to seven miles at a time either barefoot or in minimalist shoes, depending on the terrain. Since his switch, he has remained injury-free.
“People think it’s just a fad,” Nichols said. “But I really believe that running shoes make your feet act in ways they aren’t supposed to.”
People from all over are opening their minds to this new idea. In fact, the Vibram FiveFingers have become the number one selling item for Primo Comfort Footwear in Las Olas, one of the few certified retailers in South Florida.
Christan Seidle, a Sales Associate at the Las Olas store estimates that 85 percent of their sales come from the minimalist running shoes. Most are repeat customers who have come back for their second pair, but many are also first-timers who are shocked, yet intrigued by the strange shoe. Seidle herself proudly owns two pairs.
“I love them because everything I do feels more natural,” Seidle said. “I will never go back to sneakers.”
As the trend gains more popularity, more emphasis is being placed on the positive aspects on running without modern shoes. However, barefoot running must not be seen as a cure to running injuries and is something that must be done with great care and consideration. CCHS’s cross country coach, Bob Nichols, understands the idea of minimalist running, but also agrees that it is something that must be done with caution.
“Barefoot running is not for everyone,” Coach Nichols said. “On the other hand, we weren’t born wearing shoes.”
In the end, just continue to run. Run to feel better and to be better. However, the next time you run, reminisce about your childhood. Remember the feeling of freedom and comfort that going barefoot provided. Maybe one day you will join in with the other runner’s across the world who are giving up their modern running shoes for a more natural style of running.
