Comments on: Running Without Shoes?

By: john deluna

john deluna — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:53:02 +0000

I’m a former college track and cross country runner. My age is 66 and my weight is 185. My college running weight was 131. I stopped running five years ago and have really missed it. I walk and cycle now and play with dumbbells. But I want to run again.

I just bought a pair of the Vibram finger shoes and have been walking around the house in the evenings. I plan on walking in them for about a month and then see if I can transition back to running over a six month time frame. I’m in no hurry. I just want a positive outcome.

If I can eventually run a mile I will be happy. Our college team was the small college western states champions in both track and cross country so I don’t have anything to prove at this time.

I also want to lose about twenty pounds. The running will help more than my present walking program does.

Wish me luck. I’ll report my progress.

By: Brock

Brock — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:39:40 +0000

So, I’ve been running with the Vibram Fivefingers now for about three months and it has been pretty amazing, I have to say.

I was running in running shoes before, but now I’m running with significantly less pain over greater distances without. AND I’m 6’4″ and 220. I didn’t really believe that it would work (that is, making running more fun), but it seemed to do the trick. And I’m running in Brooklyn.

In fact, the only trouble I’ve had is that the severe back pain I had became milder lower back pain and calf pain when I first started subsided after my calves strengthened.

By: Scott K

Scott K — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:00:54 +0000

@Allen Jiang, @Ivan, @Air Jordans: Thank you so much for your comments! I’m continually surprised at how popular this topic is.

Thanks for a real comment, Tom. I too only run with shoes. Maybe that’s because my feet are too sensitive to withstand all the rocks that I would step on.

By: Air Jordans

Air Jordans — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:16:59 +0000

I’ve been checking your blog for a while now, seems like everyday I learn something new Thanks

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:07:12 +0000

I tried this shoeless business in Hawaii in 1970, at the start of a life of distance running. I was six foot 155 and fit, and less than a week of this shoeless thing had me in acute pain. BTW, I was running with great form, NOT landing on my heels. That’s easy when you’re light. Still had all over aching PAIN in my feet after less than a week. I was sure I was permanently damaged, but a short timeout and back to shoes and I was fine. I’ve spent my life owning multiple pairs of higher end running shoes and would not encourage this shoeless thing, given my life experience. Sooner or later it’s going to be great for the foot doctors, though. There are a LOT of very tiny bones in those feet and you better take care of all that.

By: Ivan

Ivan — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 05:22:15 +0000

Wow!! I had no idea that advanced shoes were injuring us. This was interesting and I appreciate you for sharing this information on people who are newbies in running.

By: jp

jp — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:17:27 +0000

@Micah True,
I read Born to run and loved it
I never wanted to run and now all I want to do is run connected to the earth
(sandals or no shoes)
Thanks for being the inspiration and the start of the incredible true adventure
JP a fan

By: Allen Jiang

Allen Jiang — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:48:00 +0000

Great posting! I’ve never see nice post as this.

By: Scott K

Scott K — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 23:14:20 +0000

Hey Brock,

Thanks! I guess that was ultimately the intent. BTW, interesting link…thanks for including it.

Scott

By: Laurence

Laurence — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:37:31 +0000

Scott,

I just wanted to tell you that I am laughing out loud at your serious responses to all of these spam comments. I came for the post on running without shoes and stayed for the conversations with spammers.

http://tinyurl.com/mysignoff,
Brock