Running barefoot

If you’re even the tiniest bit geeky about running, you’ll know that barefoot running is quite a hot topic at the moment. It’s something I’ve been dallying with for the past year (sparked off by an amazing weekend workshop I attended in the Lake District last summer, called Natural
Running www.naturalrunning.co.uk) and it’s had a remarkable effect. I’ve been injury free (touch wood) and improved my times at 10k, 10 miles and half marathon distances.
I’ve also switched to much more minimal running footwear - shoes that keep me more in touch with the ground and are more responsive and flexible. Thus far, I have stuck mainly to drills, exercises and short stretches of barefoot running, but yesterday, I was running in Richmond Park and I suddenly thought…’why not?’ I ran the next mile or two with my shoes in my hands, and it felt great. Even when I put my trainers back on, my feet felt more alive. I highly recommend giving it a try if you can find a nice grassy stretch where there isn’t likely to be any broken glass. But go easy - little and often is the rule if your feet have spent most of their adult lives ensconced in shoes.