Barefoot and Minimalist Running

I’m a big fan of barefoot/minimalist running; however my body mechanics are not strong enough to do either at this point. The good news is that you can strengthen your body, but it takes time and patience. Patience is especially important because many people get injured trying to do too much too soon.

My friend Melanie wrote a beautiful post on barefoot running. If it’s something you’ve thought about, she has great info for you to consider. If it’s something you’re already doing, then you’ll nod your head in agreement as you read it: Barefoot Running: Stepping Out of the Pain Game

Perhaps one day I’ll be able to run in minimalist shoes, but I’m not there yet. I was a ballet dancer for 18 years. I had extremely strong feet and arches that allowed me to dance en pointe (on my toes). After I retired and as I’ve aged, my feet/ankles have gotten weaker and my arches are starting to drop. On the upside, the exercises needed for barefoot running are good for my body, even if I stay in shoes. No matter what I do, as I said I’m a big fan of barefoot and minimalist running!