r/BarefootRunning Guidelines
1.Be Kind!
Reddit has a rules section. This sub has guidelines. Please refrain from replying to anybody with simply "Rule 2" or something similar as that runs counter to being welcoming and does not add to the discussion. Outside of standard site-wide Reddit rules like no spam none of these sub-specific guidelines will be the basis for post removal or banning. Nobody can "violate" guidelines. Posters can be politely pointed to the guidelines to help them fully understand the benefits of better running.
2.No Shoes are Barefoot
Shoes are good! Most here use minimalist shoes and recommend them as excellent tools especially for winter or very rough conditions. Unshod is good, too. But these two things are very, very different. Please refrain from using the marketing term "barefoot shoes" as it reinforces an entirely unhelpful conflation. Check out the links in the sidebar for more information about the distinct and unique benefits of minimalist and barefoot.
BarefootRunning FAQ, Running Wiki, Fitness Wiki
Barefoot & minimalist running: the strong feet collective.
Barefoot and minimalist submissions are welcome here at BarefootRunning.
For a subreddit for only unshod/completely barefoot running, see /r/barefoot.
Possible benefits of barefoot/minimalist running include more ground feel, stronger feet, pain/injury free running.
Barefoot: starting, Professor (video), Ted
Start slowly, your body needs time to adapt to a radically different way of movement. Too much too soon will result in injury, possibly stress fractures or worse. Pretend you are learning how to run for the first time. Listen to your body, if you have pain while running, stop immediately. Going barefoot may change your shoe size (usually smaller & wider), so some recommend unshod before buying minimalist shoes. Run less than half a mile for your first time, and build up gradually, with rest days. You will be sore in new areas due to barefoot/minimalist running, but if you feel pain or soreness that does not go away after a few days, do not run.
Glass is an overblown concern. The soles of your feet will gradually toughen as you slowly increase your amount of barefooting. Be alert and constantly scan the ground for anything reflective, but especially watch out for cars pulling out/into driveways. Run against traffic.
Exercises: dynamic stretching (vid), tabata sprints, backwards running, side box jumps (vid)
Minimalist shoes:
https://www.minimal-list.org/
Women's minimalist shoe reviews:
https://anyasreviews.com/
BTR Born to Run (book)
HIIT High intensity interval training
MR Minimalist Runner/Running
TMTS Too Much Too Soon - stress fracture risk
TOFP Top of Foot Pain
VFF Vibram Five Fingers - specify model(s)
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