I had been landing with a straight leg, heel first. And since my cadence was quite long I landed with a thud each step. All of that shock was sent right up my leg to my lower back, where I ended up with the herniation.

After surgery I could run for an hour sooner than I could sit for an hour! The big difference was that barefoot, or in Vibram Five Fingers or Vivo Barefoots I was landing on the forefoot before my heel with a bent knee. I was employing the natural, built-in shock absorption of the body. I was also landing much more lightly in the first place. Now I only run and only walk in barefoot-like shoes, landing on my forefoot.

I think what the store clerk was imagining was running, landing on your heels, with no padding. But that won’t happen. You’ll land much more lightly. Try it for 10 feet (where I started), like you’re trying to sneak up on someone without them noticing you. You see that the back remains pretty damn safe and protected with your core engaged and your knees bent.

If you haven’t checked out the 12 Step Program to Run Barefoot (http://bit.ly/cbioml), I suggest you take a look. The biggest problem with barefoot is ramping up too quickly. As with any change in form, you need to condition the body and take it slowly.

Let me know your thoughts and how it goes!

I had been landing with a straight leg, heel first. And since my cadence was quite long I landed with a thud each step. All of that shock was sent right up my leg to my lower back, where I ended up with the herniation.

After surgery I could run for an hour sooner than I could sit for an hour! The big difference was that barefoot, or in Vibram Five Fingers or Vivo Barefoots I was landing on the forefoot before my heel with a bent knee. I was employing the natural, built-in shock absorption of the body. I was also landing much more lightly in the first place. Now I only run and only walk in barefoot-like shoes, landing on my forefoot.

I think what the store clerk was imagining was running, landing on your heels, with no padding. But that won’t happen. You’ll land much more lightly. Try it for 10 feet (where I started), like you’re trying to sneak up on someone without them noticing you. You see that the back remains pretty damn safe and protected with your core engaged and your knees bent.

If you haven’t checked out the 12 Step Program to Run Barefoot (http://bit.ly/cbioml), I suggest you take a look. The biggest problem with barefoot is ramping up too quickly. As with any change in form, you need to condition the body and take it slowly.

Let me know your thoughts and how it goes!

Sabra is a nice person, very helpful, so I am sure she can advise you.

Thanks for your support.
Ralph

My apologies,
Ralph.