Going Barefoot

Feeling the sand against my toes as I run towards an undecided destination, we weave through the people lying in the sun, playing beach cricket or volleyball, freshly built sandcastles and seashells that manage not to pierce my bare feet. Sometimes it’s on hard sand, at times it’s the soft sand that works my thighs, calves and abs, either way it’s so nice to be without the shoes. It’s not a permanent separation just an occasional day off.

Barefoot running has its pros and cons. There are advocates and adversaries. People have told me I should be careful as I’m more likely to get injury due to lack of support. I’ve also read that running barefoot is healthy as it allows natural movement of the foot. It’s difficult to know who’s right and who’s wrong so I’m just going to go by feel and for now running barefoot on the beach feels fantastic.

Barefoot Running Benefits
*Land mid-foot or closer to the toes which reduces the strain on knees
*Stronger muscles, ligaments and tendons in the foot
*Improve your balance which will support your movement during your run

Detriments
*Blisters & calluses – yep they are hard to avoid when you’re running barefoot
*Dirty feet – not really a problem
*Lack of foot protection against rocks, broken glass or sea shells
*Injury if you overdo it in the beginning

If want to try running barefoot take things slowly. Start with a slow 15 minute jog and build on that for as long as it makes you feel comfortable.

Some links to follow on barefoot running:

What are your thoughts on barefoot running?