I have bunions and flat feet, and it seems to run in my family. Ever since about 7th grade I’ve had pain in my bunions and especially when I played sports. My mom tried to get me to wear orthotics as a kid, but the break-in time to wear them hurt so bad I never wore them. Some nights after a basketball game I would have absolutely crippling pain in my feet, but I lived with it. My parents always bought me nice cushioney shoes, and I have continued wearing that type of shoe to this day. Although, I’ve dropped Nike because the toe-box is so constricting. Essentially, I don’t want any pressure on my bunion or it will hurt.
I had surgery on the worst foot about ten years ago. Now it doesn’t hurt too bad and it looks about the same as the foot that didn’t have surgery on. I wear orthotics now and couldn’t imagine not wearing them. I’ve dabbled in triathlons over the past few years. Straight ahead running doesn’t hurt my feet too bad. I’m probably more of a heel to mid-foot striker because running on the balls of my feet has always hurt like hell.
Over the past few years I’ve heard about the barefoot running movement. I wonder if I might be able to transform my gnarly feet if I started going barefoot. Has anyone every tried barefoot running with such bad feet as mine and been successful?
I wonder if I might be able to transform my gnarly feet if I started going barefoot. Has anyone every tried barefoot running with such bad feet as mine and been successful?
What exactly are you trying to achieve? If you think that somehow running barefoot is going to make your bunions go away, put an arch where there isn’t one, or “fix” your feet in general, you’re sadly mistaken.
Try going to a soccer field or park and do a few 50m strides without shoes on (scope it out w/ shoes on first!)
See how that feels.
Don’t overdo it.
Try that 3 or 4 times before trying anything longer.
Be on the lookout for signs of fatigue in your lower legs and feet - you’ll be working the muscles a lot more than they’re likely used to.
Khai is right, you won’t ‘fix’ your feet with barefoot running. You’ll still have flat feet and bunions. If you overdo the barefoot thing you can add blisters, bruises and plantar fasciitis to the mix.
That said, I have flat feet and for years ran in motion control shoes. I am now in lightweight stability shoes without orthotics. I achieved this by first losing a great deal of weight and bringing myself close to ideal body weight by insurance industry standards. I also have done a fair amount of trail running at the Indiana Dunes State Park. Most recently, I’ve been doing barefoot strides and running up the dunes barefoot as well. I did this very slowly. So far, no injuries and I’ve been able to run faster. I still need orthotics for daily wear as I’m on my feet all day. I don’t forsee ever being able to run in racing flats but it is nice to run in the lighter shoes.
Best benefit–my daughter no longer calls me Mr. Klompy in reference to the clomp, clomp, clomp stride I used to have.
I agree with what the others have posted. Stay on a soft surface. I have flat feet and don’t have an arch but my feet are much stronger. Just take it easy at first because your asking your leg and feet muscles to do something they haven’t done in a long time.
Well be careful, I wear Hykes Escapes which are barefoot and zero drop and took my feet sometime to get used to them. Try them but be careful. It is like going to the gym for the first time, go slow and let your body adjust.
Have not seen forums in google for years.