{Running for Newbies} Barefoot Running

Hello Friends!

I am spending a few days out of town at the Nebraska State Shoot as I said in my WIAW post, so I thought I'd break out this guest post I forgot about was saving for you. ;-)

I have been intrigued by barefoot running for awhile, but haven't bitten the bullet and bought the shoes.  I do, however, work out barefoot in my basement AND walk around the house barefoot, so that does help with the muscles that aren't used by wearing running shoes.

Since I am no expert, read this post from someone who knows FAR more than I about the subject of barefoot running.

This lovely post was sent to me from Jacqueline at Move Together Fitness, a very cool business where you actually have a personal training session on Skype!

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Barefoot Exercising-How it can save your joints

As a fitness business owner of Move Together Fitness, I come across the latest fitness trends and fads each day. Every now and again I like to give them a try, so when my clients inquire about them, I have a firsthand opinion. 

Over the summer Vibram 5 finger shoes had begun sweeping the nation. Vibram shoes are designed to give your foot the feeling of being barefoot with that extra protection from the elements. 

I started to see these wacky shoes pop in my training sessions and group classes, so I researched them. As with any good research, I wanted to be well read for the pros and cons. After reading why Vibram thought these shoes are a great idea, I looked into actual research conducted on the shoes and barefoot exercising. What I came across made me a believer!

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Not only was the research I read fascinating and factual, I could not find any research against barefoot exercising. To sum up all the hours of articles I read, and to keep it plain and simple.....

I want you to imagine running in sneakers. When we run in sneakers we hit the ground in this order-HEEL, TOE, PUSH OFF, HEEL, TOE, PUSH OFF. Imagine running without shoes on, you almost tip toe and run in this order- TOE, SHOCK ABSORB TOWARD HEEL, PUSH OFF, REPEAT.

When we hit the ground running in sneakers, with the heel coming in contact with the ground first, we automatically stop all momentum and force our body to come to a screeching halt with each step! This forces all of our joints to pound against one another with all of our weight and gravity crashing down.  When you run without shoes on and we hit the ground with the ball of our foot hitting first, it gives our body the time to absorb the shock of the ground in turn saving our joints from all unneeded stress and locking up. 

If you were or are an athlete you have heard your coach say "stay on your toes", he meant that for a reason. Watch football or soccer players run, they run on the ball of their foot because it allows for a quicker push off and more powerful stride. I train completely barefoot and found that my joints feel great the next morning and my plyometric strength has seen a huge increase.

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If you want to start barefoot exercising I suggest you work your way into it. Try warming up with shoes on and then stretching along with the first 25% of your workout barefoot. Each week do a little more barefoot until you are comfortable. Barefoot exercising will target an entirely new muscle group that was hardly used before, which is why easing into barefoot exercising is fundamental. 

My opinion is to try the barefoot exercising and save your joints in the long haul. You will start to feel better in the days after your workouts and stronger since you will be training the muscles that are most important in the push off of each step. 

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Stay tuned for some awesome shooting pictures.  That is... pictures of the BF shooting a shotgun at flying orange discs...epic. ;-)

Okay preview!  He won class A doubles Friday! :-)

Have a great weekend friends!

*~Amanda aka Semi-Health Nut~*

Have you tried barefoot running or exercising?


Have you ever been trap or skeet shooting?  Or even heard of it?