When I ran my first half marathon in January, I decided to go with my Mizuno shoes as a precaution. My feet started getting tired and sore after about 2.5 miles! Since then, I’ve run 3 half marathons in my KSOs including two in the last 10 days and my feet feel great. No soreness or pain. I’ve run in snow and ice (temperatures in the teens), dry and wet conditions, trails and pavement, all without the foot, back and leg issues I experienced prior to switching to VFFs.

I should mention that I am 45 and have also adopted the ChiRunning method. I highly recommend the shoes and the method.

Now I run only in VFF KSO. It took about 3 months before I got used to it – calves hurt like crazy, blisters on my toes. Key is focusing on your running style. No more heel-to-toe, just landing mid-foot and taking off again like a sprinter! Maybe Injiji socks could have helped.

With VFF, I can run almost pain-free and currently training for the Senior Games!

I also agree about the need for some exercise and good gait. I am working on developing these. Not there yet!

Many injuries are going to be caused by people trying to run barefoot. The VFF is too close to barefoot to be a transition shoe.

What we need to see are a series of exercises and steps to follow for the transition to BF that reduce the chance of injury. And this is where podiatrists can be of great help – assuming they don’t try to fit you with orthodics instead.

What finally worked? Running barefoot or in my Vibrams, along with foot-joint mobility moves. I went from being able to run only 5 pain-free minutes to 5 pain-free miles–and counting!

I successfully converted my running from running shoes to VFFs in order to
improve my form and to reduce the risk of injury. I now only run in VFFs.

I am of the view that most runners should move to a minimal shoe
independent of the state of their feet. Its not so much ‘if’ one should
go barefoot but rather ‘how’ one gets there that is the critical factor.
If you are weak or injured it is ever more important to embark on a
barefoot strengthening program. However, managing this type of program
is a real challenge for runners.

I would like to see podiatry focus on recovery programs using barefoot
training in response to running injuries. Your article could also be
entitled ‘Consider Wearing This Shoe if You Want to Run’.

I appreciate that fact that you are being very progressive with your
articles. I would not have done well to listen to the advice of podiatry
while I was researching barefoot running. I believe that your line of
reasoning will become increasingly popular as more and more runners
abandon conventional advice.