From the BBC:
"In our 60 Second Idea To Change The World ANTONY GORMLEY instructs us all to
give up shoes and go barefoot. At a time of global warming, with naked feet you
can actually feel it. He has gone barefoot for a year and says that if you
dispense with shoes you can appreciate distinctions and negotiate your
environment in a totally different way."
watch the interview on: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p004wglf
scroll down to the 6th item or go directly to my website:
http://www.oerlopen.nl/index.php?pag=art&doc=1113

--- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, "Barefoot Ken Bob Saxton" <KenBob@...>
wrote:

> Likewise, most runners have chronic pains, and frequent injuries, therefore
this must be
> normal.

This week, on the Runner's World Marathon forum, someone posted (proudly?) that
in 18 years of running, he'd had 12 stress fractures.  It is amazing what people
will learn to accept as "normal."

-unshod ashish

Well, in all fairness - though the negative commentators certainly didn't care
about being fair - these are not particularly readers in the running
community... Even in the running community, it is rare, on a run, that I don't
meet a runner who has "never" heard of running barefoot ...

As Preston and I recently discussed over the phone, most runners aren't
particularly interested - after all, they're still running, without serious
problems, or at least nothing they consider serious, or at least, not unusual,
for most runners...

Reminds me of a chain smoker I worked with some 30 years ago. Whenever he
stepped into our shop, everyone started coughing - but, then again, that
probably happened most everywhere he went - people constantly coughing. To him,
it must have seemed that everyone else was coughing, constantly - kind of like
the refrigerator light, every time we open the refrigerator door, the light is
on. Therefore, the refrigerator must be on all of the time.

Every time my chain smoking co-worker saw other people, the other people were
coughing. Therefore, people must cough all of the time.

Likewise, most runners have chronic pains, and frequent injuries, therefore this
must be normal.

Every time I read my running club's newsletter, someone is talking about how
they, or a friend couldn't run, because of injury ... but they're looking
forward to their next run, as soon as they're recovered ...

It's no wonder running (not necessarily barefoot) gets a bad rep. And not
surprising that folks think running barefoot would be worse - because they
aren't reading with an open mind...

Have fun,
-barefoot ken bob

--- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, "inkyd@..." <sutcliffe@...> wrote:
>
> What I find odd isn't so much their negativity as their ignorance of the
barefoot "fad." Who in the running community hasn't heard of it by now?
>
> People treat learning like the flu.
>
> Josh
> southofthecliff.blogspot.com
>
> --- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, David McCord <saloncolorist@> wrote:
> >
> > OMG! I was reading the comments on the story and was shocked.  I couldn't
believe how much ignorance and closed mindedness there was.  Just try it, if
it's not for you then it's not for you, but at least you tried it. But to see
people quoting so much garbage about a subject they are clueless about.  And to
see it come from other runners...wow... I applaud you Ken Bob and everybody else
who deal with that crude on a daily basis.  Being new to barefoot running I
guess my eyes will be opening a lot more. Wow. I'm glad we have these forums to
help each other out....Have a great run everyone, Gumpy
> >
> > --- On Fri, 11/13/09, Preston <barefootrunners@> wrote:
> >
> >
>

What I find odd isn't so much their negativity as their ignorance of the
barefoot "fad." Who in the running community hasn't heard of it by now?

People treat learning like the flu.

Josh
southofthecliff.blogspot.com

--- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, David McCord <saloncolorist@...> wrote:
>
> OMG! I was reading the comments on the story and was shocked.  I couldn't
believe how much ignorance and closed mindedness there was.  Just try it, if
it's not for you then it's not for you, but at least you tried it. But to see
people quoting so much garbage about a subject they are clueless about.  And to
see it come from other runners...wow... I applaud you Ken Bob and everybody else
who deal with that crude on a daily basis.  Being new to barefoot running I
guess my eyes will be opening a lot more. Wow. I'm glad we have these forums to
help each other out....Have a great run everyone, Gumpy
>
> --- On Fri, 11/13/09, Preston <barefootrunners@...> wrote:
>
>

Hi David!

I just came back from a 5 mile run in the rain, temp 45 deg F. outside. I don't
have any tricks for running in the colder weather up here in the NW, except the
same old mantra we always repeat:

Knees bent, feet placed beneath the body, quick cadence, back erect,

and . . .

relax!

I make sure I keep my head and hands warm and bundle up as much as necessary
against the cold or the rain. My feet do get cold sometimes, even to the point
of getting numb, but they do just fine as long as I observe the basic rules of
good form.

Ryan - Vancouver, WA


--- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, "David" <themcdac@...> wrote:
>
> > --- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, "Preston" <barefootrunners@> wrote:
> > > Is it the weather or time of the year?
>
> --- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, "Barefoot Ken Bob Saxton" <KenBob@>
wrote:
> > Well, we actually have an even 1800 members now - Woo Hoo! But, it is not
unusual this time of year for the postings to slow down a bit...
> ...
> > See you all next spring (either here, or at RunningBarefoot.org) - though I
will still be running barefoot here in southern California.
>
> Ironically, I am ramping up my barefoot running. I am going to try for the
Eugene Marathon in spring.
>
> I figure if I can get through my first barefoot winter here in the Pacific
Northwest, I am set for life. This last weekend I did my 10 miler in pouring
rain and the temperature in the low 40's. It was not unbearable, but it did make
it interesting. I had to focus hard on not slipping or sliding due to the
lessened feeling from the cold and wet. We don't often get snow here but I am
curious what it will be like.
>
> Any good suggestions for the cold and wet? Ryan, I know you live here how do
you do it?
>
> --
> David
>

> --- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, "Preston" <barefootrunners@> wrote:
> > Is it the weather or time of the year?

--- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, "Barefoot Ken Bob Saxton" <KenBob@...>
wrote:
> Well, we actually have an even 1800 members now - Woo Hoo! But, it is not
unusual this time of year for the postings to slow down a bit...
...
> See you all next spring (either here, or at RunningBarefoot.org) - though I
will still be running barefoot here in southern California.

Ironically, I am ramping up my barefoot running. I am going to try for the
Eugene Marathon in spring.

I figure if I can get through my first barefoot winter here in the Pacific
Northwest, I am set for life. This last weekend I did my 10 miler in pouring
rain and the temperature in the low 40's. It was not unbearable, but it did make
it interesting. I had to focus hard on not slipping or sliding due to the
lessened feeling from the cold and wet. We don't often get snow here but I am
curious what it will be like.

Any good suggestions for the cold and wet? Ryan, I know you live here how do you
do it?

--
David

Cool Jim,

What did they say or how did they react to your chat and demo on barefoot
running? Were they more apt to get it being barefoot in a yoga class or was the
reaction the same to people ar races?

Just curious.

Good report.

Preston

--- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, "Jim Paisner" <jmpaisner@...> wrote:
>
> I had the pleasure of being part of that evening barefoot run. The reporter
> wrote: " The pace is more tentative, strides shorter and landings gentler."
> I think the tentative part was the other guys slowing down so I could keep
> up! lol
>
>
>
> After the yoga class I taught this morning half a dozen people gathered
> around me to talk about barefoot running. A couple had seen me running in
> town, and all had read the Boston Globe article. Of course we are all
> barefoot for yoga, so I was able to demonstrate barefoot running in place,
> and contrast that with heel striking in running shoes.
>
>
>
> Oh, and in the picture, mine is the only left foot!
>
>
>
> Jim
>

Well, this morning, it looks like the RunningBarefoot.org web membership and the
Running Barefoot Yahoo! membership are growing at the same pace...

Running Barefoot.org 1258, +1 from my last post
(welcome, icepigs)

Running Barefoot Yahoo! 1801, +1 from my last post
(welcome, jimkielma)

Have fun,
-barefoot ken bob

--- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, "Barefoot Ken Bob Saxton" <KenBob@...>
wrote:
>
> Well, we actually have an even 1800 members now - Woo Hoo! But, it is not
unusual this time of year for the postings to slow down a bit...
>
> Otherwise, it may be that there are a lot more Running Barefoot (Barefoot
Running) forums available, including http://RunningBarefoot.org - which
currently has 1,257 members (mostly recently joined), ...

Well, we actually have an even 1800 members now - Woo Hoo! But, it is not
unusual this time of year for the postings to slow down a bit...

Otherwise, it may be that there are a lot more Running Barefoot (Barefoot
Running) forums available, including http://RunningBarefoot.org - which
currently has 1,257 members (mostly recently joined), and the ability to post,
and comment on posts, is getting a lot of the activity that might otherwise have
been here.

So the dinosaur (this group) may be evolving (away from Yahoo!) in the near
future ...

See you all next spring (either here, or at RunningBarefoot.org) - though I will
still be running barefoot here in southern California.

Have fun,
-barefoot ken bob

--- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, "Preston" <barefootrunners@...> wrote:
>
> Is there something wrong with the speed of posts?
>
> It has been erie here the past few days.
>
> Considering an article in the Boston Globe and people's race results, this is
scary.
>
> Is it the weather or time of the year?
>
> Where is everybody?
>
> Preston
>

I was just getting ready to post the same article, but you beat me to it!

Great article.


--- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, "Preston" <barefootrunners@...> wrote:
>
> Hey all you barefootrunners,
>
> The Boston Globe article came out today and is online. I think it was a
pro-barefoot article, but will let peeps on this post decide.
>
> What disappointed more were the readers comments at the bottom of page 2. Some
very myopic statements about running BF and their lack of any experience to
trash one of lif'e great pleasures. Take a looksee and comment if you wish. It
was on the front page of the North section and has a lot of pictures in the
paper. Great coverage.
>
>
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2009/11/12/barefoot_runners_say_theyve\
_found_the_soul_of_the_sport/
>
>
> Preston
>

Is there something wrong with the speed of posts?

It has been erie here the past few days.

Considering an article in the Boston Globe and people's race results, this is
scary.

Is it the weather or time of the year?

Where is everybody?

Preston

Hey all you barefootrunners,

The Boston Globe article came out today and is online. I think it was a
pro-barefoot article, but will let peeps on this post decide.

What disappointed more were the readers comments at the bottom of page 2. Some
very myopic statements about running BF and their lack of any experience to
trash one of lif'e great pleasures. Take a looksee and comment if you wish. It
was on the front page of the North section and has a lot of pictures in the
paper. Great coverage.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2009/11/12/barefoot_runners_say_theyve\
_found_the_soul_of_the_sport/


Preston

Pretty darn good for a rusted runner. LOL

You may have to change it to well oiled machine. LOL

Look forward to the report.

Preston

--- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, "anthony314" <amarendy@...> wrote:
>
> Congratulations, Wendy.
>
> Great result!
>
> Anthony.
>
>
>
>
> --- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, Wendy Nail <wendynail2@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi all,
> >   I can now say that the Outer Banks Half marathon has been officially run
barefoot!!  I only had one problem and that is I had my D-tag pinned to the
bottom of my long running tights and by the end of the race they had scrunched
up enough that my time didn't register at the finish.  I've emailed with the
timing folks and they have entered a time for me (it is off by a half minute or
so, but no big deal.)  So in the future I'll stick to wearing the D-tag on
something tied to my ankle.  I finished just under 2 hours!  I will write a race
report in the next couple of days, but I will say now that I had one blistered
toe and a tiny blister on the ball of my foot, both of which were resolved the
next day without popping or treating them.  I did see one runner in Vibrims and
told him to man-up as I passed him LOL.
> >  
> >  Wendy 
> >
>

Congratulations, Wendy.

Great result!

Anthony.




--- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, Wendy Nail <wendynail2@...> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>   I can now say that the Outer Banks Half marathon has been officially run
barefoot!!  I only had one problem and that is I had my D-tag pinned to the
bottom of my long running tights and by the end of the race they had scrunched
up enough that my time didn't register at the finish.  I've emailed with the
timing folks and they have entered a time for me (it is off by a half minute or
so, but no big deal.)  So in the future I'll stick to wearing the D-tag on
something tied to my ankle.  I finished just under 2 hours!  I will write a race
report in the next couple of days, but I will say now that I had one blistered
toe and a tiny blister on the ball of my foot, both of which were resolved the
next day without popping or treating them.  I did see one runner in Vibrims and
told him to man-up as I passed him LOL.
>  
>  Wendy 
>

Congratulations Wendy!
Looking forward to your report.

Peter

Wendy Nail schreef:
> Hi all,
> I can now say that the Outer Banks Half marathon has been officially
> run barefoot!! I only had one problem and that is I had my D-tag
> pinned to the bottom of my long running tights and by the end of the
> race they had scrunched up enough that my time didn't register at the
> finish. I've emailed with the timing folks and they have entered a
> time for me (it is off by a half minute or so, but no big deal.) So in
> the future I'll stick to wearing the D-tag on something tied to my
> ankle. I finished just under 2 hours! I will write a race report in
> the next couple of days, but I will say now that I had one blistered
> toe and a tiny blister on the ball of my foot, both of which were
> resolved the next day without popping or treating them. I did see one
> runner in Vibrims and told him to man-up as I passed him LOL.
> /* Wendy */
>
>

Anyone want to run the:

Wild Turkey 5 Mile Run
Salem, MA
8AM
Thanksgiving Day, 11/26/2009
http://www.salem.com/pages/SalemMA_RecNews/I0116B934

and

Somerville Jingle Bell Run
Somerville, MA
11AM
Sunday, 12/13/2009
http://www.baevents.com/jinglebell/index.html

**This race fills up fast so if you would like to run it, you should register as
soon as you can.**

Preston

I was running last week and came up behind a lady jogger. I asked her as I
passed, "You're not going to let an old barefoot man beat you, are you?" She
gasped when she saw I really was running barefoot and said, "Oh! Now I really
feel like a wimp!" She didn't take my challenge to keep up with me, so I went on
my way.

Ryan


--- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, michae <heymichae@...> wrote:
>
> Congrats Wendy, 
>
> lmao at the man up comment...
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Wendy Nail <wendynail2@...>
> To: minimal running <huaraches@googlegroups.com>; Running Barefoot
<RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Wed, November 11, 2009 5:49:51 AM
> Subject: [RunningBarefoot] Barefoot half marathon
>
>  
> Hi all,
>   I can now say that the Outer Banks Half marathon has been officially run
barefoot!!  I only had one problem and that is I had my D-tag pinned to the
bottom of my long running tights and by the end of the race they had scrunched
up enough that my time didn't register at the finish.  I've emailed with the
timing folks and they have entered a time for me (it is off by a half minute or
so, but no big deal.)  So in the future I'll stick to wearing the D-tag on
something tied to my ankle.  I finished just under 2 hours!  I will write a
race report in the next couple of days, but I will say now that I had one
blistered toe and a tiny blister on the ball of my foot, both of which were
resolved the next day without popping or treating them.  I did see one runner
in Vibrims and told him to man-up as I passed him LOL.
>  
>  Wendy 
>

BIG applause for Wendy!

Ryan

--- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, Wendy Nail <wendynail2@...> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>   I can now say that the Outer Banks Half marathon has been officially run
barefoot!!  I only had one problem and that is I had my D-tag pinned to the
bottom of my long running tights and by the end of the race they had scrunched
up enough that my time didn't register at the finish.  I've emailed with the
timing folks and they have entered a time for me (it is off by a half minute or
so, but no big deal.)  So in the future I'll stick to wearing the D-tag on
something tied to my ankle.  I finished just under 2 hours!  I will write a race
report in the next couple of days, but I will say now that I had one blistered
toe and a tiny blister on the ball of my foot, both of which were resolved the
next day without popping or treating them.  I did see one runner in Vibrims and
told him to man-up as I passed him LOL.
>  
>  Wendy 
>

Wow!  Well done - that's a great achievement, Yanni.
Look forward to the report..
Yanni
Barefoot runner since December 2004.

--- In RunningBarefoot@yahoogroups.com, Wendy Nail <wendynail2@...> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>   I can now say that the Outer Banks Half marathon has been officially run
barefoot!!  I only had one problem and that is I had my D-tag pinned to the
bottom of my long running tights and by the end of the race they had scrunched
up enough that my time didn't register at the finish.  I've emailed with the
timing folks and they have entered a time for me (it is off by a half minute or
so, but no big deal.)  So in the future I'll stick to wearing the D-tag on
something tied to my ankle.  I finished just under 2 hours!  I will write a race
report in the next couple of days, but I will say now that I had one blistered
toe and a tiny blister on the ball of my foot, both of which were resolved the
next day without popping or treating them.  I did see one runner in Vibrims and
told him to man-up as I passed him LOL.
>
>  Wendy
>

Humerous - that's the funny old song about the "leg-bone connected to the
shin-bone..."

On Tuesday 10 November 2009, Wakeley Purple wrote:
> Seen the humerous Shoe Guy article in this month's Running Times?
>
> In summary, he claims it's ok to take your shoes off AFTER YOU RUN - to let
> your feet rest and rejuvenate, as long as you put some slippers or proper
> sandals on (not flip-flops!).
>
> He's going down fighting...

Seen the humerous Shoe Guy article in this month's Running Times?

In summary, he claims it's ok to take your shoes off AFTER YOU RUN - to let
your feet rest and rejuvenate, as long as you put some slippers or proper
sandals on (not flip-flops!).

He's going down fighting...

So the APMA, the podiatrists' association, has put out a grudging statement on barefoot running: 

http://www.apma.org/MainMenu/News/MediaRoom/PositionStatements/APMA-Position-Statement-on-Barefoot-Running.aspx  

As always barefooting is forced to bear the burden of proof -- it might make more sense it you swapped "running barefoot" and "running with shoes" in their first paragraph.  Then it would read like this: 

Running with shoes has become an increasing trend, and a possible alternative or training adjunct to running barefoot. While anecdotal evidence and testimonials proliferate on the Internet and in the media about the possible health benefits of running in shoes, research has not yet adequately shed light on the immediate and long term effects of this practice.

Finally, the podiatrists encourage the public to consult a podiatrist -- now there's a surprise.

Barefoot running has become an increasing trend, and a possible alternative or training adjunct to running with shoes. While anecdotal evidence and testimonials proliferate on the Internet and in the media about the possible health benefits of barefoot running, research has not yet adequately shed light on the immediate and long term effects of this practice.

Barefoot running has been touted as improving strength and balance, while promoting a more natural running style. However, risks of barefoot running include a lack of protection--which may lead to injuries such as puncture wounds--and increased stress on the lower extremities. Currently, inconclusive scientific research has been conducted regarding the benefits and/or risks of barefoot running.

The American Podiatric Medical Association, along with the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, encourages the public to consult a podiatrist with a strong background in sports medicine to make an informed decision on all aspects of their running and training programs.