Has anybody transitioned to minimalist/barefoot running with any success?

I tried it about a year and a half ago. I ramped up too quickly and pulled a muscle. I was also very overweight.

Don't take my advice. I am sure there is a proper way to ramp up your mileage, but I don't know how.

I tried with some Altria’s and wasn’t successful. Having had issues changing drop before, I tried working these in more slowly. I only ran with them once a week on a flat track and walked with them on my off days. This caused me to get tendinitis in my left Achilles. My left foot would go numb when I ran over a couple of miles.

Going back to the old shoes and a stretching regiment got me back to normal. I’m currently reading Anatomy for Runners. This guy is a big proponent of the lowest heel drop and biggest toe box you can comfortably run in. I’ve got my Altria’s back out and have stuck with my mobility program. I’ll try slowly working these back in again and see if I can transition one more time.

I ran in Vibrams and Merrel Vapors for a while, ocassionally barefoot. Lots of fun but my calves and achilles are not strong enough anymore. I miss it.

I think the barefoot running trend ended 5-7 years ago. It's all about the supershoes now. Hokas and 4%s.

quote:

---

supershoes

---

My brother has some bizarre super Nikes he wears for short time trials. They look absurd and don't last long. I'm now a power walker old man shuffle jogger type so I'll stick with my Altras. My knee issues went away when I went to zero drop (probably bc it made me fix my form).

quote:

---

I stick with their most cushioned shoe.

---

That's the one I got as well. My plan is to start putting 3 miles on them every Sunday at the high school track on my recovery day. The physical therapist said that the zero drop was stretching my Achilles and causing my foot to go numb. Hoping this mobility program I'm using and more slowly trying to incorporate the shoes will work this time. Otherwise, I'm stuck with the 4mm drop forever. Every time I've tried to go up or down from there, I've blown something up.

quote:

---

Has anybody transitioned to minimalist/barefoot running with any success?

---

Yup.

I went from "normal" shoes to racers/trainers to slightly thicker zero drop to super thin barefoot shoes - over the course of 6-8 months. I took time and had 0 problems changing. Running barefoot is kind of dumb imo, too unsafe. Run in sandals if you want that experience. I suggest Bedrock or Shamma. I have both. Run short distances in them.

For barefoot running shoes, Merrell, Vivobarefoot, Softstar.

Softstar Dash RunAmocs are my favorite super light shoe. Merrell Vapor Glove is my daily runner.

quote:

---

about 1 mo ago I bought a pair of vivobarefoot shoes (basically just a bare minimum thin, super flexible rubber sole with wider toe box area. I never plan on running actual barefoot or using vibram finger shoes). I've slowly transitioned into them with increasing walking miles per week. Now, I am pretty much wearing them anytime I'm out of the house. I haven't started running in them yet but I am preparing to start working my way up slowly. Kind of concerned how my feet/legs and gait will respond to the change. Any advice?

---

For it to work really well, I transitioned my entire shoe collection to Minimalist/Zero Drop. They can be pricier, and you lose some options, but ultimately I have 0 foot issues because of them. I had lingering ankle issues for years as a soccer player who also had massive growth spurts as a kid.

So again - Merrell, Vivo, Softstar, Lems, Tune Footwear for me. Shamma and Bedrock for minimalist sandals.

I've actually only owned Vibrams once and I didn't like them.

quote:

---

I transitioned to minimalist several years ago. I now run my longer runs in Altras, shorter runs in Merrill barefoot shoes, and throw in a little barefoot running in the Spring and Summer.

---

Do you get any problems switching between shoes like that?

Even though altras a "zero drop" they seem stiffer. In the past I've always had trouble if I didn't use the same shoe for everything.