Just curious if any fast pro/elite triathletes are just going pure barefoot on the run, and skipping putting on their shoes completely in T2.
I know that it may be tough for pros who have shoe contracts to do this, but I’m surprised that I haven’t seen any up and coming guys doing this. (Although granted I haven’t seen that much in the tri world.)
Barefoot running is for slow people.
Saw a guy running the Philly Marathon last year barefoot.
Then again he was dressed like a Trojan warrior.
Barefoot running is for slow people.
Like this guy, right?
He did run a 2:12, which is a very pedestrian time. Runners with shoes came after him and bettered his time.
Edit: he ran 2:15 that day. He went on to put on shoes and run 2:12.
Is this a serious question?
Actually, I see lots of people barefoot: from the water to T1 
and I know most don’t like it much, even with carpet, water buckets, etc. along the way. Sure would be fun running 10K + on roads like that … However, I do hope it gets popular - have a new associate I could keep busier
Most people who run in shoes are slow.
Didn’t realize Bikila was doing an on road tri now
Seriously overdone since 1960 consider he (as was mentioned) switched to shoes as well and so has about every other marathon winner since as times have gotten faster and faster.
So is the consensus that shoes = faster running? Or are the faster numbers with shoes because shoe sponsors are a primary source of income for elite pro runners?
So is the consensus that shoes = faster running? Or are the faster numbers with shoes because shoe sponsors are a primary source of income for elite pro runners?
maybe a good racing flat is lighter than the kind of calluses you need to run 40 miles a week barefoot? =)
So is the consensus that shoes = faster running? Or are the faster numbers with shoes because shoe sponsors are a primary source of income for elite pro runners?
maybe a good racing flat is lighter than the kind of calluses you need to run 40 miles a week barefoot? =)
Not debating that point, which I think is entirely possible. Just wondering if any fast triathletes are going barefoot on race day. Apparently not by what it sounds like here.
I’m not just asking about barefoot running as a ‘fad’ - my colleague is a MD, resident in training in the rehab residency at Johns Hopkins, and they just got a lecture from Dr. Irene Davis, who has studied running shoe biomechanics extensively, and provides a lot of evidence that running shoes have not reduced injuries whatsoever (and may have increased them.) While she doesn’t comment whether there’s a speed advantage of shoes vs no shoes, at the least, it seems that the barefoot running phenomena might not just be a weird fad to stick out from the crowd.
Some of her lectures can be seen here:
http://www.runblogger.com/2011/07/irene-davis-lecture-on-running-shoes.html
Of note, my friend the resident, who’s a runner himself (not great, but puts up 20min 5ks and runs marathons when he can), was totally against barefoot running and minimalist shoes until he heard her lecture. He’s now completely changed his tune, as the scientific evidence she presents is pretty convincing on the benefits of the barefoot running and no science behind the regular shoes. Again, this is different than going FAST - it’s entirely possible that running shoes may help you run faster than barefoot shoes.
It’s not allowed in ITU. The rules specifically state you must wear shoes.
Doh - that would make sense then. ( Excuse my lack of ITU rule familiarity.)
On a related note, are there generally similar rules requiring shoes for mid-sized Olys and Sprints (or IMs) in the US?
I think there is a conspiracy at work. You go into the running store and buy Vibrams for $100 (good old pay more for less), donate your old pair of shoes that are packed up and sent off to Kenya. Those Kenyans are going to start getting injured left and right as our new barefoot runners dominate!! (not).
I think your point makes sense in that you may be able to be injury free/prevent injuries from running barefoot, but with the added protection of any kind of shoe will allow you to be quicker as you don’t have to concentrate so much on how or what you land on at race paces. I am all for minimalist running as I have reached the end of my rope injury/surgery wise and am willing to try it after reading the ingredients of all the kool aid and now am ready to drink as a last resort, I just think shod runners will always be slightly faster because of protection from the surface, not the firmness of the surface. But I am totally making assumptions here from what I’ve read and seen, I have not done one ounce of research. Barefoot running just makes simple sense to me for what research has said it is for, endurance running to eat, not race at your fastest pace.
Joe Gambles tried barefoot running for a season, then went back to shoes:
http://www.3gomagazine.com/Foundation/content/17/431/The-Rise-of-the-Barefoot-Triathlete
.
Your original query was running “fast”, not injured.
Dr. Irene Davis has been beating her drum re: this for a while (she is a physical therapist).
Barefoot running is only “new” to triathletes (not even a sport until about 1976) We are on about round #3. My cross country coach had us doing some barefoot strides 25 years ago and I have many athletes occasionally do so. But racing barefoot is an entirely different animal (and one that Dr. Davis lectures and knows little about). You do not have to pick sides: barefoot is natural or the side of a motion control, overbuilt shoe or rigid orthotics. Plenty of room in the middle
Doh - that would make sense then. ( Excuse my lack of ITU rule familiarity.)
On a related note, are there generally similar rules requiring shoes for mid-sized Olys and Sprints (or IMs) in the US?
The rules for Ironman (WTC) races specify that shoes must be worn. I checked because I was considering going without shoes. My Luna Sandals are at least close.
I did a sprint tri barefoot for the run but it was on gravel not asphalt. Managed 5:30 miles instead of usual 5:20. I figured the savings came in not donning the shoes.
Someone mentioned that they’re required for IM. USAT rules on running conduct don’t explicitly forbid barefoot running. Most RD’s won’t explicitly forbid it, but that’s probably only because it hasn’t become a “problem” yet.
Here’s my take:
In triathlon you traverse some potentially nasty terrain: grass/dirt/gravel for certain segments of some road triathlons, and in other on-road triathlons you’ll face road debris on the shoulder such as glass, more gravel, and general junk that you don’t want to step on. I can and do occasionally run barefoot to strengthen my calves, and usually I’m good up to 2 mi on the road/brick (and can run indefinitely on a nice grass surface like my school’s intramural fields) so I’m not just some pussy with weak/soft feet. That said, when I’m running in triathlon I value the protection shoes offer from the environmental hazards I’m not paying attention to when I’m blitzing the run course. Instead of tiptoeing through gravel/rock/road debris that would mess up anyone without feet made of vulcanized rubber, I can blaze on through and focus on going balls-out instead of protecting my feet. Could I traverse 99% of run courses barefoot? Probably, but why bother? Besides, you just don’t know what’s out there. Even if your feet can handle running on asphalt, I guarantee they can’t handle running on screws, tacks, broken glass, and all the other random shit that collects on the shoulder of most roads. Shit happens, but I don’t want that shit to happen during a race, so I do what I can to mitigate the risks. IMO the risk of running barefoot simply isn’t worth whatever gains someone may think they’re realizing.