>>498479They're for hurting your feet. Barefoot running is first and foremost a fad used to sell expensive sports gear. Truth is, while it might be interesting, it's quite simply not for everyone, and most importantly, it's the fastest way to get injured.
Things to know.
- It's based on the idea that returning to a more natural state is necessarily better. It isn't, we have evolved. While tons of Africans are fine being barefoot for their entire life, it doesn't mean you can do the same. You hardly "develop" nor "get used to" anything either, you simply get so injured you don't feel anything anymore, it's not because it doesn't hurt that your feet are fine.
- Some claim that because you naturally walk on your forefoot when barefeet, then that's how you must run. That's bullshit, you don't run and walk the same way.
- It's not better than regular shoes, it's just different. It prevents some shoes-related injuries but comes with a whole new set of injuries.
- Most barefoot runners actually heel strike. Oh they know they shouldn't, and they're convinced they do it right, but they just don't. Unless there's someone looking at you running, you can't really know how you run, because it's such a deeply rooted behavior that changing it is very hard. So they end up suffering from both shoes and barefoot running injuries.
- Many barefoot runners change their habits once they begin, and then attribute those changes to barefoot running itself. Most often, it's just because their habits changed, and whatever shoes they wore actually made no difference.
So it's worth trying, just be extra careful, start very gently, and don't just assume it's better nor that you'll get used to it. If you feel the slightest pain, stop at once and never do it again;
