Why Run Barefoot?

When you run barefoot, you take shorter, quicker steps because you are using your feet as feelers to feel things on the ground. You also dont land on your heel when you run barefoot. Your toes splay out, as if they are reaching for the ground.  In shoes, they can't do that. Your feet are actually pushing through your shoe to feel the ground, but it can't because of all that cushion in your shoes.

Think of it this way. If your kid was running down the street and was in need of you to get to her ASAP, and you had NO shoes on, how would you run? Landing midfoot, rolling from the outside of your foot through your pinky toe to your big toe then push off, and shorter steps, with your feet landing underneath you. You would run tall, hips underneath you, back straight, with light steps.

Also, think about your heel, there are no muscles, no tendons, just bone. The heel was not meant to be landed on. Now, your feet have a ton of tendons, or, rubberbands, that pull and stretch. You arch has them, your achilles is a major one. Point your toes toward your knees, no relax them. Your achilles pulls it back, just like if you were pulling a rubberband then letting it snap back.

If you find the right minimal shoe, shorten your stride (more on that in a minute), and build strength in your feet, no more IT band issues, plantar fasciitis or any other running injury for that matter.

No, how do you shorten your stride? Couple of ways, first, start running for 30 seconds, counting each time your feet touch the ground. Multiply that by 2. Ideally, it should be at 180. Quicker turnover, feet landing underneath you and not in front of you. Then, Google 180 beats per minute for songs. There are a ton of good songs out there that have 180 beats per minute. Run to that cadence. You will be running the same speed, just more steps.