# Barefoot Running vs. Shoes:Lets discuss. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 4, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944 "2010-12-04T17:53:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944/41 "2010-12-05T21:53:38Z")
I’m a type 2 diabetic and am not willing to risk damage to my feet. If I didn’t have that issue going on, I’d probably give it a whirl to see, but in my situation it’s just not worth it. Besides which, as I mentioned in one of the other recent threads touching on this topic, my running shoes work really well for me, and as far as I can tell, my joints are actually stronger and less achy than they were before I started running, so I have no real impetus to switch. Edit: This was in response to the “shards of glass” topic. A few other posts snuck in there while I was composing this one. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![El\_Presidente](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@El\_Presidente](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Presidente)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944/42 "2010-12-06T08:01:20Z")
> [@dumbroad](#): > > Okay. Let’s start off slow. > > What is hemp? Let’s turn to Wikipedia which states this: Hemp is the name of the soft, durable fibre that is cultivated from plants of the Cannabis genus, cultivated for commercial use. In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food, fuel, and medical purposes with modest commercial success. > > What is marijuana? (For those of you who don’t know, or just need more specifics, it’s also called: weed, pot, ganja, and numerous other things.) Again, we turn to Wikipedia: Cannabis, also known as marijuana (sometimes spelled “marihuana”) among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug. The word marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish marihuana. According to the United Nations, cannabis “is the most widely used illicit substance in the world.” No need to start off slow for me, I don’t toke tree like you do. Hemp=cannibis=majijuana. Hippie lettuce. Weed. Pot. Let’s not confuse the issue. Hemp supporters secretly are potheads. > [@](#): > > My suggestion to you? Go get some Zig Zags, find the nearest hemp field, pick some, roll you one, try to smoke it, then get back online and tell us all about your experience. Thanks for the suggestion, but I will respectfully decline. See, I have something called a LIFE, and a JOB. So I will pass on your feeble offer to fall into your personal vortex of drug abuse, hippy. Here’s a suggestion for you: get a haircut, get a shave, and take a shower, then file for a job. Then, if you can hold onto one for a year, and lay off the dope, get back online and tell us all about YOUR experience. I have a feeling you will tell us all a cheerful tale of self-respect and near financial independence. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944/43 "2010-12-06T08:56:33Z")
> [@El\_Presidente](#): > > Hemp=cannibis=majijuana. Hippie lettuce. Weed. Pot. Let’s not confuse the issue. Hemp supporters secretly are potheads. A lot of hemp supporters smoke pot, and it’s hardly a secret. It’s all cannabis, but some of it has high THC and the kind that gets made into rope has hardly any, and what’s it got to do with running shoes, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![dumbroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@dumbroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dumbroad)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944/44 "2010-12-06T14:13:18Z")
> [@El\_Presidente](#): > > No need to start off slow for me, I don’t toke tree like you do. > > Hemp=cannibis=majijuana. Hippie lettuce. Weed. Pot. Let’s not confuse the issue. Hemp supporters secretly are potheads. > > Thanks for the suggestion, but I will respectfully decline. See, I have something called a LIFE, and a JOB. So I will pass on your feeble offer to fall into your personal vortex of drug abuse, hippy. > > Here’s a suggestion for you: get a haircut, get a shave, and take a shower, then file for a job. Then, if you can hold onto one for a year, and lay off the dope, get back online and tell us all about YOUR experience. I have a feeling you will tell us all a cheerful tale of self-respect and near financial independence. I told you to smoke the hemp because it isn’t a drug. I’m not trying to drag you into my “personal vortex of drug abuse”. The only thing you will accomplish is probably a headache. Job; check. Life; check. You’re obviously ignorant. This is the problem with so many people when it comes to this topic. Just do a few minutes worth of research on hemp, and you’ll see. Note: I’ve been working at the same job for almost eight months now (after just moving to a new town), and I’m very financially stable. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944/45 "2010-12-06T14:19:44Z")
Please drop the hijack. This thread is to discuss barefoot running. And knock off the insults while you’re at it. **Ellen Cherry IMHO Moderator** ---
**Author:** ![dumbroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@dumbroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dumbroad)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944/46 "2010-12-06T14:44:06Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Please drop the hijack. This thread is to discuss barefoot running. And knock off the insults while you’re at it. > > **Ellen Cherry > IMHO Moderator** So, should I start a new thread to discuss yet another definition, but now of the term “ignorant”? ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944/47 "2010-12-06T14:53:55Z")
[Here’s a website](http://www.barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu/6FAQ.html) from some Harvard folks investigating “the biomechanics of endurance running, comparing habitually barefoot runners with runners who normally run in modern running shoes with built-up heels, stiff soles and arch support.” They summarize their findings thusly: > [@](#): > > Our research asked how and why humans can and did run comfortably without modern running shoes. We tested and confirmed what many people knew already: that most experienced, habitually barefoot runners tend to avoid landing on the heel and instead land with a forefoot or midfoot strike. The bulk of our published research explores the collisional mechanics of different kinds of foot strikes. We show that most forefoot and some midfoot strikes (shod or barefoot) do not generate the sudden, large impact transients that occur when you heel strike (shod or barefoot). Consequently, runners who forefoot or midfoot strike do not need shoes with elevated cushioned heels to cope with these sudden, high transient forces that occur when you land on the ground. Therefore, barefoot and minimally shod people can run easily on the hardest surfaces in the world without discomfort from landing. If impact transient forces contribute to some forms of injury, then this style of running (shod or barefoot) might have some benefits, but that hypothesis remains to be tested. The site has videos showing the impacts generated from various running styles. In regards to midfoot landing: > [@](#): > > One can land softly in a midfoot strike without much impact transient, but some midfoot strikes can generate impact transients like those of heel strikes. However, these forces are distributed over larger surfaces areas, reducing the stress on the foot. Speaking for myself, the biggest problem I had with my Vibrams was slamming my feet down when I ran. Even landing midfoot it was causing pain in my feet and calves. Once I began running in a kinda dopey looking manner, with a shorter stride and my feet not coming off the ground as high and easing into my landings, I got better results (even on pavement). ETA: Oh, and I’ve learned to avoid running in Vibrams anywhere there are roots or lots of sharp gravel-type stones. That hurts. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944/48 "2010-12-06T15:34:57Z")
> [@dumbroad](#): > > So, should I start a new thread to discuss yet another definition, but now of the term “ignorant”? You are free to open threads on whatever topic you choose, provided you abide by the rules. If you wish to discuss a moderator action, please open a thread in ATMB. If you wish to take another poster to task, you have the Pit available to you. No more off-topic posts in this thread, please. **Ellen Cherry IMHO Moderator** ---
**Author:** ![Peeta\_Mellark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Peeta\_Mellark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peeta_Mellark)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944/49 "2010-12-06T15:45:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Our research asked how and why humans can and did run comfortably without modern running shoes. We tested and confirmed what many people knew already: that most experienced, habitually barefoot runners tend to avoid landing on the heel and instead land with a forefoot or midfoot strike. So how do you train yourself to run like that, out of curiosity? How my foot hits the ground is so ingrained into me it never really struck me as possible to change it in a habitual way. Do you just start out doing it as a conscious effort for short bursts until you can keep it going without obsessing over your feet the whole time? ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944/50 "2010-12-06T15:48:14Z")
> [@Peeta\_Mellark](#): > > So how do you train yourself to run like that, out of curiosity? How my foot hits the ground is so ingrained into me it never really struck me as possible to change it in a habitual way. Do you just start out doing it as a conscious effort for short bursts until you can keep it going without obsessing over your feet the whole time? You quickly learn not to land on your heel when running barefoot because it really hurts when you do. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944/51 "2010-12-06T16:07:56Z")
Your first time running in bare feet can kind of be a hilarious experience, if you have a sense of humor. You **will** heelstrike, and each impact feels like Sideshow Bob stepping on the rakes (starting at 3:35 of [this clip](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9_vQ-41nqw&feature=related)). It really jars your entire body. About 5 strides in you’ll start to think ‘wt **F** is going on?’ and retrain yourself not to heel strike :). ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944/52 "2010-12-06T16:21:52Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > ETA: Oh, and I’ve learned to avoid running in Vibrams anywhere there are roots or lots of sharp gravel-type stones. That hurts. Yeah, you find out where they really did a cheap, crappy job with the pavement! There’s one street in particular that I need to remember to not run on, because the road surface feels like running on gravel. ---
**Author:** ![Peeta\_Mellark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Peeta\_Mellark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peeta_Mellark)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944/53 "2010-12-06T16:22:36Z")
Hilarious and painful, huh? Okay, I know what I’m doing this afternoon. 😃 It’s a little chilly to do it outside without any of those special shoes, so I suppose I’ll be attempting it inside somewhere… ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944/54 "2010-12-06T16:27:36Z")
Heh. This time of year, I’ve no choice at all if I want to run outside. Barefoot (or Vibram’d, I’d wager) just isn’t an option when there’s 10" of new snow that just fell this weekend and it’s forecast to be 19F as a high. I’m intrigued and might try more minimalist shoes, but probably not until May. ---
**Author:** ![gregorio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@gregorio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregorio)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944/55 "2010-12-06T16:33:18Z")
This worked for me **Peeta** , you might want to give it a try. If you want to skip any potential evangelizing skip down to where it says **Beginning** From Runner’s World forums: [NEW BAREFOOT OR MINIMALIST RUNNERS START HERE!](http://www.runnersworld.com/community/forums/runner-communities/barefoot-running/new-barefoot-minimalist-runners-start-here) Basically, start slow, don’t do too much too fast and be conscious of your form. > [@Peeta\_Mellark](#): > > Hilarious and painful, huh? Okay, I know what I’m doing this afternoon. 😃 It’s a little chilly to do it outside without any of those special shoes, so I suppose I’ll be attempting it inside somewhere… ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944/56 "2010-12-06T17:44:05Z")
> [@gregorio](#): > > I’m not ready to go for real bare foot, but I do enjoy running in Vibram Five Fingers. I’ve never had any problems running in shoes and once I learned to land fore foot/mid foot I’ve never had any problems running in my VFFs. And that comes pretty naturally and quick. I took up running in the VFFs to keep running fresh and try something different. > > What do you make of the data that shows cushioned running shoe shod runners have a higher impact than barefoot runners? > > Why not go barefoot for real? I don’t want to step on sharp sticks, glass, dog poop, whatever. Why do I run in VFFs? Because I can. I ran in VFF for a year and I think, in my case, it made a difference. I used to get shin splints all the time and my joints always ached. Then I tried vibrams and that cleared up. That said, I do not think that vibrams were the difference. I think running so that I struck on my forefoot as opposed to my heel is what made the difference. It would be _very_ difficult to run on the pavement in vibrams and to heel strike. The fact is, it seemed that no matter how long I ran, after the 20 minute mark, the pavement made running on it in vibrams very uncomfortable. So I stopped. I now run in nike frees. They are light and since the vibrams got me into running on my forefoot, I still don’t have shin splints or joint pains. I still use my Vibrams, but mainly for weight training. I get better balance when I squat in them. Plus they don’t take up a lot of room in my gym bag and they are easily washable. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944/57 "2010-12-06T18:02:32Z")
Question for the minimalists. Do you think running shoes themselves are bad or is it more the changed footplant that makes the difference? I ask as I ran with a midfoot plant for almost all my miles but very much needed the support and cushion as my small attempt at barefoot/minimalist was a disaster. ---
**Author:** ![Peeta\_Mellark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Peeta\_Mellark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peeta_Mellark)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944/58 "2010-12-06T18:06:17Z")
Thanks for the link, **gregorio**. So this is what I did: > [@](#): > > **Stage One:** Walk around barefoot as many places as possible. Do not start running yet. This will begin to condition your feet and soles for more active barefoot running. This stage could also include barefoot activities such as hiking. There is no mileage associated with the stage. Also during this stage, take time to do exercises to strengthen your calves. This will reduce the likelihood of Achilles tendon and plantar fasciitis pain and injuries. Move on to stage two if you do not experience pain after two weeks. If you already do a lot of barefoot activity, this step may be skipped. I’m always barefoot when I’m in my apartment and I’m pretty comfortable as such, so I skipped this stage. > [@](#): > > **Stage Two:** Begin walking in place barefoot. Slowly increase your cadence until you are slowly running in place. The idea is to learn how it feels to lightly touch the ground and pull your feet straight up without pushing off. This will also begin the process of preparing the bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments of your feet to barefoot running. Start with 30 seconds of running in place 2-3 times per day. Increase this time by 15 seconds each day. Move on to stage three when you can run in place for three minutes without pain. If you already do a lot of barefoot activity, this step may be skipped. Well, as I said, I’m comfortable barefoot so I decided to skip to running in place for three minutes. I cranked up Bob Marley’s _Get Up, Stand Up_ (3m, 16s) and began. Automatically, I was hitting the ground first with my forefoot before easing down onto my heel. Since I was running in place, there’s no real “stride” to it so everything stays close and neat. It was very easy to maintain a comfortable form. When I stopped, I noticed a little bit of soreness on the top of my right foot. So I sat down for a few minutes and relaxed and it quickly went away. So far so good. I decided to give it another go. This time I went with The Who’s _My Generation_ (3m, 16s…yes, I use my playlist as a timepiece). Again, it was easy and while there was that faint soreness on the top of my foot afterward there was nothing I’d really call pain. So, skipping onward. > [@](#): > > **Stage Three:** Find hard, smooth surface without debris. Examples include new asphalt, smooth sidewalks, or running tracks. Begin running 3 times per week with at least one rest day after each barefoot run. Limit distance to 1/8 to 1/4 mile depending on running experience. Increase distance by 1/8th mile each day. Pace should be VERY slow, the focus is on finding a form that works well for you. If you experience pain, take an extra day off. If you develop blisters, slow down or reevaluate form. Move on to stage four when you are able to run 1.5 miles barefoot without pain, including one or two days after the barefoot run (some injuries are not immediately apparent). I live in a big old house that has been split into apartments for student housing. It’s cold outside, so running barefoot outdoors didn’t seem like a good idea. Instead, I went down into the basement. Nice, smooth cement, no debris. It was a somewhat tight track, but serviceable. My “track” ended up being around 62f for each circuit, so I figured I’d do it eleven times. And here is where my disappointment kicked in. Why? Because there was no pain and no hilarity. I don’t know if I’m some kind of toe-walking beast man or what, but except for once when I came down on my heel I was coming down on my forefoot first. My forefoot would touch the ground, sort of roll down onto my heel and then come straight back up again. It was weird, and yet took no conscious effort from me whatsoever. I’d obviously grossly overestimated how ingrained my regular way of running is, because my body just took over and handled how my feet should land. Afterward, I stopped to drink some water and assess the state of my body. The bottoms of my feet feel a little sensitive, but otherwise I’m not sore. Is barefoot/minimalist running for everyone? No idea, and I haven’t seen enough data on it yet to be convinced. But if you are capable of adapting to it, there doesn’t seem to be anything intrinsically bad about it. I don’t feel as though any joints in my body were stressed and the impact of each footfall was negligible. And to my surprise, it’s fun as hell and makes you feel like a badass. “Bah! Who needs _shoes_?” I’ll give it a day of rest to see if any twinges crop up and then try it again. For science! ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944/59 "2010-12-06T18:24:07Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Question for the minimalists. Do you think running shoes themselves are bad or is it more the changed footplant that makes the difference? > > I ask as I ran with a midfoot plant for almost all my miles but very much needed the support and cushion as my small attempt at barefoot/minimalist was a disaster. In my personal experience, arch “support” is inherently bad. I have high, strong arches, and having a big lump under them is uncomfortable and throws my entire gait off in all sorts of nasty ways. I have a pair of Asics for casual wear that has arch support (the last shoes I’ll ever purchase with this calamitous “feature”) and I look like Forest Gump trying to walk in them. I would guess that this was my #1 problem with running shoes. Problem number 2 is the ridiculously built-up heel. My last pair of running shoes - the ones I was professional fitted for after having my gait analyzed by a running specialist at a running specialty store - is a pair of Brooks with a heel that is at least twice the width of my actual heel, and god only knows how thick. It completely immobilizes any natural subtleties in my stride and makes running an absolute nightmare. It’s pretty much impossible to do anything _but_ heel strike in these things. Oh, and they were about 130 bucks IIRC. So, do I think _running shoes themselves_ are bad? No. Not necessarily. But I think those two features are bad, and they are almost universal in running shoes. I’d really like to try out the Nike Frees, but I’ve never seen a pair in person. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944/60 "2010-12-06T18:35:45Z")
I agree with PPs that proper running form is instinctual once you take away shoes. There is really only one way to run barefoot, and I think it’s the healthiest way for all humans to run long distances, shod or not. > [@runner pat](#): > > Question for the minimalists. Do you think running shoes themselves are bad or is it more the changed footplant that makes the difference? > > I ask as I ran with a midfoot plant for almost all my miles but very much needed the support and cushion as my small attempt at barefoot/minimalist was a disaster. It’s a combination of striking on the mid or forefoot, the force with which your feet hit the ground, and keeping the feet under the hips and the upper body tilted a bit forward rather than kicking out in front. If I could run that way wearing real shoes, I don’t see why I wouldn’t. But I have tried many times, and I always get pain. For instance when I try my hardest to use proper form I’m certainly not heel-striking, but my feet slide forward in the shoes with a forefoot strike and my toes get jammed against the end and get quite sore. Since the heels of all running shoes are built-up, it’s hard to keep my feet from getting ahead of my body. And without the feedback from bare or nearly bare feet, I hit the ground with my feet too hard (I have a tendency to use way too much force for everything I do) and after a while I get that ‘jarred’ feeling, which gives me hip pain in short order. Since developing the muscles of my feet from going barefoot, I find any sort of ‘support’ painful and intrusive. I have used to have average arches, now they are high, and my foot is about a half size smaller than it used to be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barefoot-running-vs-shoes-lets-discuss/562944.md?page=4)