Comments on: Barefoot Running: Not just for bums and hippies. http://runningquest.net/2009/08/04/barefoot-running-not-just-for-bums-and-hippes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=barefoot-running-not-just-for-bums-and-hippes It's the journey, and the destination. Fri, 11 May 2012 01:48:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Clyntonhttp://runningquest.net/2009/08/04/barefoot-running-not-just-for-bums-and-hippes/comment-page-2/#comment-1164 Clynton Fri, 11 May 2012 01:43:26 +0000 http://www.runningquest.net/?p=616#comment-1164 Hi Sarah, I just saw I hadn't responded yet. I feel your pain. L4/5 is exactly where I had a herniation which strangled the sciatica. Terrible pain that darn nerve can cause. I am certain it was poor running form from very large (and expensive) running shoes that caused my disc to get particularly bad. And it was barefoot running that enabled me to run again. Now, mind you, I had surgery to extract the disc matter and give my nerve room to "breathe" again. I am certain without that I couldn't have done anything without severe pain. I am no doctor and don't know exactly what a tear means. I would follow your body and start off by walking completely barefoot. Even with Merrells you are missing important proprioceptive information that is vital to help you discover a good form. Make sure you land forefoot before your heel. It'll soften your landing. Test the difference out by sticking your fingers in your ears and listening to what it sounds like to land heel first. Then switch to forefoot first. You can literally hear the difference. Believe me, your back will feel the difference, as any shock will go straight up to the L4/5 disc region. If you feel you can walk no problem, without aggravation, try a very short (10 feet at first) running. Take it incredibly slowly and listen to your back. Continue to ramp up slowly if you feel comfortable with it. Going barefoot will ensure you also have bent knees which help you land even more softly. Again, this is what I would do, not advice, as I really have no idea what will work for you. Let me know how it goes. Hi Sarah,

I just saw I hadn’t responded yet. I feel your pain. L4/5 is exactly where I had a herniation which strangled the sciatica. Terrible pain that darn nerve can cause. I am certain it was poor running form from very large (and expensive) running shoes that caused my disc to get particularly bad. And it was barefoot running that enabled me to run again. Now, mind you, I had surgery to extract the disc matter and give my nerve room to “breathe” again. I am certain without that I couldn’t have done anything without severe pain. I am no doctor and don’t know exactly what a tear means. I would follow your body and start off by walking completely barefoot. Even with Merrells you are missing important proprioceptive information that is vital to help you discover a good form. Make sure you land forefoot before your heel. It’ll soften your landing. Test the difference out by sticking your fingers in your ears and listening to what it sounds like to land heel first. Then switch to forefoot first. You can literally hear the difference. Believe me, your back will feel the difference, as any shock will go straight up to the L4/5 disc region.

If you feel you can walk no problem, without aggravation, try a very short (10 feet at first) running. Take it incredibly slowly and listen to your back. Continue to ramp up slowly if you feel comfortable with it. Going barefoot will ensure you also have bent knees which help you land even more softly.

Again, this is what I would do, not advice, as I really have no idea what will work for you.

Let me know how it goes.

]]> By: Sarahhttp://runningquest.net/2009/08/04/barefoot-running-not-just-for-bums-and-hippes/comment-page-2/#comment-1162 Sarah Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:19:32 +0000 http://www.runningquest.net/?p=616#comment-1162 Hi - Like Clyton, I have recently been diagnosed with disc problem (annualar tear in my L4/L5 discs) which has left me with bad sciatica particularly when running.. So much so, I had to stop marathon training and now told not to run anymore as it will just aggravate the discs even more. Not happy! Have tried barefoot running a few times in a pair of Merrell's but really want to know if barefoot running is ok, anyone in the medical profession immediately tells me no, so I want to know if anyone has had positive experiences with barefoot running with a disc complaint. Thanks in advance, Sarah Hi — Like Clyton, I have recently been diagnosed with disc problem (annualar tear in my L4/L5 discs) which has left me with bad sciatica particularly when running.. So much so, I had to stop marathon training and now told not to run anymore as it will just aggravate the discs even more. Not happy!
Have tried barefoot running a few times in a pair of Merrell’s but really want to know if barefoot running is ok, anyone in the medical profession immediately tells me no, so I want to know if anyone has had positive experiences with barefoot running with a disc complaint.
Thanks in advance,
Sarah

]]> By: Review: Feelmax Panka | Barefoot Runner - Running Barefoot, Natural Running & Healthy Livinghttp://runningquest.net/2009/08/04/barefoot-running-not-just-for-bums-and-hippes/comment-page-2/#comment-1154 Review: Feelmax Panka | Barefoot Runner - Running Barefoot, Natural Running & Healthy Living Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:36:36 +0000 http://www.runningquest.net/?p=616#comment-1154 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> Kramer auto Pingback[…] […]

]]> By: VIVOBAREFOOT | Communityhttp://runningquest.net/2009/08/04/barefoot-running-not-just-for-bums-and-hippes/comment-page-2/#comment-1118 VIVOBAREFOOT | Community Sat, 11 Jun 2011 08:29:04 +0000 http://www.runningquest.net/?p=616#comment-1118 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] http://www.runningquest.net/2009/08/04/barefoot-running-not-just-for-bums-and-hippes/ [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> Kramer auto Pingback[…] http://www.runningquest.net/2009/08/04/barefoot-running-not-just-for-bums-and-hippes/ […]

]]> By: Losing Stomach Fathttp://runningquest.net/2009/08/04/barefoot-running-not-just-for-bums-and-hippes/comment-page-2/#comment-1101 Losing Stomach Fat Mon, 07 Mar 2011 09:57:00 +0000 http://www.runningquest.net/?p=616#comment-1101 I find running barefoot can be quite liberating, it feels great and I always feel like I am running faster? I find running barefoot can be quite liberating, it feels great and I always feel like I am running faster?

]]> By: Terra Plana | Communityhttp://runningquest.net/2009/08/04/barefoot-running-not-just-for-bums-and-hippes/comment-page-2/#comment-1095 Terra Plana | Community Sat, 12 Feb 2011 22:30:29 +0000 http://www.runningquest.net/?p=616#comment-1095 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] http://www.runningquest.net/2009/08/04/barefoot-running-not-just-for-bums-and-hippes/ [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> Kramer auto Pingback[…] http://www.runningquest.net/2009/08/04/barefoot-running-not-just-for-bums-and-hippes/ […]

]]> By: Guesthttp://runningquest.net/2009/08/04/barefoot-running-not-just-for-bums-and-hippes/comment-page-2/#comment-997 Guest Fri, 15 Oct 2010 21:26:00 +0000 http://www.runningquest.net/?p=616#comment-997 Most of these shoes listed above focus on a heel-to-toe ratio or drop, not just a small looking heel. Do your reading on the Newtons before just looking at them. They don't have a model with a heel-to-toe drop over 5mm and the Distance Racer shown only has a drop of 2mm, where VFFs have about 1.5 mm of a drop. They're minimal, you just have to know your stuff, which by saying, "Look at a shoe, its not minimalist," proves you don't Most of these shoes listed above focus on a heel-to-toe ratio or drop, not just a small looking heel. Do your reading on the Newtons before just looking at them. They don’t have a model with a heel-to-toe drop over 5mm and the Distance Racer shown only has a drop of 2mm, where VFFs have about 1.5 mm of a drop. They’re minimal, you just have to know your stuff, which by saying, “Look at a shoe, its not minimalist,” proves you don’t

]]> By: Lucyruns2http://runningquest.net/2009/08/04/barefoot-running-not-just-for-bums-and-hippes/comment-page-2/#comment-987 Lucyruns2 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 22:51:00 +0000 http://www.runningquest.net/?p=616#comment-987 Currently running short distances(>6) in Nike Frees. I have a neutral foot. As I have not run barefoot, I probably am not a good person to review. I will say when I put my regular Nikes back on, they sure feel clunky. My one complaint is that the toe box could be roomier. Otherwise they are alright for short trail runs or walks. Currently running short distances(>6) in Nike Frees. I have a neutral foot. As I have not run barefoot, I probably am not a good person to review. I will say when I put my regular Nikes back on, they sure feel clunky.

My one complaint is that the toe box could be roomier. Otherwise they are alright for short trail runs or walks.

]]> By: Clyntonhttp://runningquest.net/2009/08/04/barefoot-running-not-just-for-bums-and-hippes/comment-page-2/#comment-768 Clynton Mon, 24 May 2010 05:45:31 +0000 http://www.runningquest.net/?p=616#comment-768 Thanks for sharing your experience. Sorry to hear about your troubles. Great that you're able to keep your forefoot strike in the Saucony, though. That's a really big deal and one of the reasons I run barefoot or in my Vivo Barefoot EVOs or Vibram Five Fingers - I can be sure I won't start heal striking or landing with an unbent knee. BTW, I updated the list of shoes in a more recent post here: <a href="http://bit.ly/5Mbg7D" rel="nofollow">http://bit.ly/5Mbg7D</a><br><br>Good luck! Thanks for sharing your experience. Sorry to hear about your troubles. Great that you’re able to keep your forefoot strike in the Saucony, though. That’s a really big deal and one of the reasons I run barefoot or in my Vivo Barefoot EVOs or Vibram Five Fingers — I can be sure I won’t start heal striking or landing with an unbent knee. BTW, I updated the list of shoes in a more recent post here: http://bit.ly/5Mbg7D

Good luck!

]]> By: Clyntonhttp://runningquest.net/2009/08/04/barefoot-running-not-just-for-bums-and-hippes/comment-page-2/#comment-667 Clynton Sun, 23 May 2010 22:45:31 +0000 http://www.runningquest.net/?p=616#comment-667 Thanks for sharing your experience. Sorry to hear about your troubles. Great that you're able to keep your forefoot strike in the Saucony, though. That's a really big deal and one of the reasons I run barefoot or in my Vivo Barefoot EVOs or Vibram Five Fingers - I can be sure I won't start heal striking or landing with an unbent knee. BTW, I updated the list of shoes in a more recent post here: <a href="http://bit.ly/5Mbg7D" rel="nofollow">http://bit.ly/5Mbg7D</a><br><br>Good luck! Thanks for sharing your experience. Sorry to hear about your troubles. Great that you’re able to keep your forefoot strike in the Saucony, though. That’s a really big deal and one of the reasons I run barefoot or in my Vivo Barefoot EVOs or Vibram Five Fingers — I can be sure I won’t start heal striking or landing with an unbent knee. BTW, I updated the list of shoes in a more recent post here: http://bit.ly/5Mbg7D

Good luck!

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