The barefoot lifestyle is quickly becoming all the rage these days. Barefoot for everything: walking… hiking… running… and, well, you get the idea.
Mark’s Daily Apple has a great post today on the benefits of barefoot living. He also discusses why gym-related “gizmos” (wrist wraps and weight belts, among others) in general should not be a part of your routine.
Regarding the barefoot deal, the gist is that your nice comfy shoes are actually weakening your feet, and, in doing so, weakening the structure of your entire body. Definitely worth a read.
Personally, I’ve take a liking to my Vibram Five Fingers when running or sprinting. The notion of each toe getting it’s own little “sock” takes some getting used to, but you’ll notice a difference in your foot strength and stride after only a few outings. With very little in the way of cushioning, Vibrams combine the effect of being barefoot with the foot protection that a shoe might offer.
Try going barefoot as much as possible. With the warmer weather upon us here in the ‘States that should be an easy one. The neighbors won’t mind.
Later…
Photo by misspudding on Flickr
