I'm a novice runner. I started using minimalist shoes because I was getting plantar fasciitis when running with regular shoes. Minimalist shoes have helped my pain a lot.

I couldn't help but cringe at all the heel striking going on in this video! My knees began to hurt just watching it. I do, however, agree with the premise of barefoot running and have been doing it for about 4 months now. Yes... do take it slow!

I just started running a month ago and already have knee problems. I am so glad I discovered barefoot running and minimalist running shoes! Thank you.

That's why it was easy for me to start running minimalist shoes I couldn't even run 5k before I bought my pair, so running 1k for a few days was relatively fine for me 👌

Excellent advice. Feeling my calves and Achilles stretch after "just" walking around for half a day in zero-drop shoes convinced me that slow and methodical is the way to go.

I have been running in minimalistic running shoes for 8 years didn't even know those shoes were minimalistic running shoes.

Finally! I have found the video that has pushed me over the top and get myself some minimalist shoes. I researched and researched my door type, recorded my run pattern and form...now I see. I need to move to short distance, even paced, form-building runs. Thank you!!!

Awhile back I got back into running after a few years off. bought some zero drop minimalist shoes and loved them straight away. If I'd been running regularly, I think I'd have had a harder time transitioning out of that 'addiction to cushioning and support'. I have read that ppl with higher arches tend to do better in minimalists, which I do have

Just got my first pair of minimalist shoes, and taking it slow, merrel vapour glove 5. Just walking for now, and will start running and hiking in them at some point too!

I have nothing but love and respect for my Vivos! Great video !

When I started barefoot running it was for 100 meters only. I actually run in Xero truefeel 4mm, it's as close to barefoot as you can get without fearing glass and suchlike. After 5 years I can pretty much run any distance. Raced a 1/2 marathon in 93 minutes. Most important thing is to take it easy and go slow, slow, slow.

Concept of this video is fine. Wow this could have been cut by 80% with no loss of info. Redundancy insanity.

i currently run in vivobarefoot shoes, 3mm soles and insane sensory feedback. i started out about 8 months with a 400m run which gave me sore calves and feet, it was humbling. i am currently capable of running 10k properly. you definitely know when you have done too much and really have to build slowly but it is a lot more fun and interactive to run this way. It really promotes great running technique and other than an overused tendon i havent really had any injuries.

The one topic not covered is if the runner is overweight. There’s a lot of new runners who are just starting because they are overweight. If you’re overweight, start out with walking before running. Being overweight even includes being muscular. Your feet and legs need to adjust after a lifetime of wearing shoes with too much support. STOP the heel strike when running or jogging. For walking it’s ok. When going downhill, it’s safer to just walk. Your run times will be slower in the beginning. Ok to keep track of time, but don’t try beat your old run times. Focus on feedback from feet and not on running times. With running shoes, I find my joints hurt afterwards. With minimalist, joints are fine, muscles and feet are tired/sore, but no real pain. I also use a training mask on an easy set when running with minimalist shoes. If it’s harder to breathe, then it will force you to slow down. It will raise your heart rate and breathing as if you are running faster.

Excellent.!

Great video man! Wish I could've of seen it years ago would've saved me a lot of injuries 😅

I switched out of necessity (not a very disciplined person). I had a foot injury from wearing firm orthotic and taking a bad step jogging. Podiatrist wanted to put me in an orthotic. Orthopedic wanted me to take braces off and strengthen foot. He was right

We all do! But it is a matter of finding that balance and fine tuning! Just started and loving it! Walk in them first!

Switched to minimalist shoes 2 months after I started running I my distance in half and built back up to and past what I was running

Based on personal experience, totally agree with this. Weeks of shorter runs, then gradually increasing distance, to reshape my footstrike and rediscover the pleasure of running. Today, I use a combination of vibram for a weekly 5km (fun fast trail), altra for road and hoka (so far from minimalist) for 15+km long runs

Chronic shin pain and barefoot shoes seem to work but I need more time and distance to see.

I’ve had this conversation with friends wanting to try out Merrell or Vibram after running for years in Brooks, ASICS, NB, or something similar. They often scoffed at idea of staying under a mile for the first week and just walking around their homes for awhile. Even when I showed them the old 13 week suggestion from vibram, my advice fell on deaf ears. It’s good to see a video talking about some of these issues.

Great job expanding on this topic - great resource. I'm looking to get into zero drop and barefoot shoes as a way to build strength and heal my PF, and I've heard many times so far to "take it slow", but no one have really expanded on what that means, mentally and physically, like you do here. I think your pointing to how running fully barefoot would stop us from running too long, and that bypassing this self regulatory mechanism comes with a lot of responsibility to maintain discipline instead, is excellent. I'm planning to shift all of my aerobic training to cycling for the next couple of months and only do strength exercises, walking, hiking and very short and light jogging with a slow gradual increase in my new barefoot shoes, and pay very close attention to my bodily cues as I'm muting the intelligence of the skin on my foot soles. If anyone is reading this comment I'd also recommend an interview with dr peter francis on the benefits of barefoot running that also expands on this topic.

Yes, thank you indeed this is very good information. Although i think the link to “do a test run” is wrong, it is actually a link to the podcast bersion of this video...

Thank you for this video!!!! 💗💗💗 I was considering minimalist running shoes. I ran 7 miles shoeless (had socks) . Running shoes weren't broken in all the way. 🥺

Great video! I’m one of those uncommon novice runners. I decided to begin running for the first time in my life, (age 45) and my first running shoes are the VivoBarefoot Magna FG Women’s. I’m two days in, and definitely going slow. I go to a park with trails and a paved track. I run for just a bit then walk, then run. Definitely building up slowly. My calves are only a little sore. I’ll be paying close attention to how my calves feel on the 2 days following runs.

Minimalist shoes have saved me. I did have to lower my mileage and then gradually pick it up. Injuries are gone and my whole body feels so so much better.

I ordered a pair of minimalist shoes for weight training and short runs of about 1 to 3 miles.

I wear a water shoes (sports shoes on amazon) because I do it mainly not to run but for body-weight conditioning.

Interesting video. I would have to agree with what you're saying. I did exactly this and got injured but it was due to a weak glute-med and not my feet. But the injury did force me to reset and start slowly building up my distance and adding in strengthening exercises. I also started wearing my vivobarefoot trail shoes all the time not just when running. That combined with going barefoot around the house has really helped strengthen my feet. Supposedly just walking in barefoot shoes all or most of the time will strengthen your feet by as much as 60%. So my injury actually forced me to reassess and become more disciplined.

I'm a novice runner who went for minimalist running shoes. Not immediately after starting, but soon enough. It was back in 2010 when that Barefoot book came out.

Couldn't agree more with this video. When I tried barefoot running for the first time, it felt so good that I ran 6km (although I did get the advice not to). My muscles, especially my calvs, definitely punished me for that in the next couple of days!! So now i always take of my shoes near the end of a run to transition slowly without losing my weekly mileage.

I just ran in my Hokas after a couple weaks of barefoot running and I felt like I was running on clouds

Just started using minimalist shoes, went from easily doing a 10k to barely being able to do a mile- very humbling experience, but I stuck with it and I mixed barefoot runs in with typical runs and now I’m almost at the 10 mile mark with barefoot shoes, which now take up all of my training

That's is true I'm glad I did my research before taking off on minimalistics, I ran 1/4 of a mile Walk the rest of the mile on an off for about 30mins and I felt like I could run a lot more but due reading reviews of people crying hurt I stoped... Next day I woke up with some pain in my ankles and feet and I was like not that bad, 2ndbday I woke up like ouch yeah kinda bad I almost fell went trying to go downstairs lol

I'm the guy who ask the question about hammer toes and hoping you put up a video addressing that problem. I forgot to ask if minimalist running shoes are okay to wear if you have hammer toes? ...... or if it matters at all.

nice video. I am a sprinter who had hallux valgus operation. I am trying a combo (Vivo Primus lite III , Vibram V run) the first for daily life and the second for form. I confirm that some part of your body need to be trained first as you are weak at the beginning, for instance your achilles tendon could hurt. I would even suggest people to see a specialist to make the transition correctly. All after that, I think that minimalist way is a lot more pure and logical. Which shoes would you suggest for sprinter (spikes etc...) ?

I made the mistake of going to hard at first and doing 10 mile runs off the bat. My cardio far exceeded my soft tissue and it’s a lesson I won’t have to learn again now that I’ve adapted I run and basically live in Xeros, and I really can’t see wearing a conventional, raised-heel cushioned foot grave again. This video is spot-on, I never recommend switching between the old shoes and the minimalist, just keep consistent with the better shoe but lower your mileage for a while. If you’re still running consistently you won’t lose notable fitness, and you’ll get it back plus some later. If you learn nasal Buteyko breathing along with the proper forefoot strike it’ll change your life

Hi was hoping to hear if anyone has had success with swapping to Minimalist running shoes to help with recurring Anterior Tibialis Tendonitis.

If you're a heel striker it's best to stick with normal running shoes. Heel striking in minimalist shoes is plain terrible for health and longevity. Hit forefoot first and their great, provided you condition yourself slowly to them.

If you were to start running in minimalist shoes, would it be a good idea to run a half mile in the minimalist shoes, and then to satisfy yourself then switch your shoes to run a further distance? Or would the shoe switch be too much and cause foot pain

I remember before i was running jn old time converse shoes for 10 k without even thinking it... Now i run in nike and adidas and i have pain jn my legs ...

Barefoot running is the way to go I brought my fitness lvl to a whole new lvl switching to barefoot style

So starting off with minimalist shoes is okay? I'm not in good shape currently and have just started running with minimalist shoes. Never ran with other shoes. I'm assuming my cardio and muscles/ligaments/bones will improve at the same rate so it'll be safe.

I've been a barefoot runner for over 4 years now. I agree... it must be done slowly and carefully to allow your body to adapt to the new running form. Listen to your body (feet and legs mostly) if it hurts... stop.

Agree with the point of the video. I've only just seriously transitioned to minimalist running shoes. And it's the prehab conditioning that's been so important for me the past few months. The shoes are merely one part of the solution not a magic pill.

Omg that start at 4:39 was horrendous 😂. Great video and great points!

After twelve years of barefoot running my cartilage is now in smithereens; the worst mistake I ever made. I can hardly walk now never mind run; there was no build up, no pain, no indication; after a good run I found the next day I couldn't straighten my right leg and that was it, when knees go that's it. When I told the sports surgeons about barefoot running they just shook their heads and said your not the first and you won't be the last if this fad doesn't stop.

Restraint to take it step by step hehe

I think if you're going to start running in minimalist shoes, you should probably just make the switch to minimalist shoes in your daily life as well. I hadn't run in years, and a five mile run in minimalist shoes was no problem for me, probably because I've kept up with other kinds of regular athletic training, and I have worn minimalist shoes for decades.

omgoodness why isnt anybody talking about 4:39 ...

I recommend to always start barefoot before putting on minimalist shoes. But that's just my opinion.

I couldn't run 1 km with "conventional" shoes due to knee pain. So the transition to minimalist was easy. as I had to build from the ground up

How about for long distance

Funny. I started wearing minimalist shoes to help with hip and shoulder pain.. My first 10k was in minimalist shoes.. the farthest I ran before the 10k was 5 miles. And I finished in 73min. 20min faster than I thought I would 😁

I think Eliud Kipchoge would beg to differ.. Have you seen the Alphafly he wore to beat the record? Just sayin

I started with 5 mins my first run and gradually increased 1 min a day for the first several weeks.

ahhh the hubris of the average runner lol

Anyone who starts running should just start Minimalist

Yes. Guilty.

Wow man...what an obnoxious title....i got cardio for days and I switched to barefoot shoes and......and......and got bursitis...oh wait nvm great title. Thanks for the info

omg.. the girl running at 0:33. please do some glute strengthening so your knee's don't snap.