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My Barefoot Running Days Are Over

I've been running a few kilometers a day barefoot, on a treadmill.

I really liked it. But over the last couple of months, my feet started hurting. After consulting with Dr. Internet, I diagnosed the pain as early stages of Plantar Fasciatis.

I also found weird bumps on the outside edge of my feet, presumably bone spurs in the making. Yikes.

My wise partner made me by a pair of Hokas. They look a little like small boats, but are amazingly comfortable and padded, including lateral support worthy of a sports car, ready for extreme cornering.

I don't like running in shoes, even these wonderful Hokas. I feel like an elephant, slap slap clunk. Barefoot was so much quieter... But my feet feel a lot better,

🚀 stack

Mar 12 · 5 months ago

11 Comments ↓

🌲 Half_Elf_Monk · Mar 13 at 14:14:

Hokas look weird, but they must be really comfortable, because everyone I know who has worn them says they're great. Out of curiousity, what was the reason for running barefoot on a treadmill? I've never heard about doing that before.

🚀 stack [OP] · Mar 13 at 22:58:

@Half_Elf_Monk: it just happened: we don't wear shoes in the house, and there is the treadmill, so I got onto it one day and really liked it. I've written about it before here on BBS and on my gemlog -- after recovering from second-round of COVID, I found that I could run for miles -- something I could not do before...

☕️ Morgan · Mar 14 at 07:22:

I recently discovered that inclining the treadmill means I expend the same energy with a slower pace, which I guess is easier on my feet+knees ... wish I had found this earlier :) obvious in retrospect...

🐦 wasolili [...] · Mar 18 at 00:21:

I use a treadmill desk and spent the first few days I had it walking barefoot on it. Feet felt rough after a couple of days and I realized I should use shoes. I just use an old pair of shoes that are falling apart for now, but those Hokas sound good. I've been meaning to get a good pair of super comfy shoes before summer starts. I'll add Hokas to the list to look into

🚀 stack [OP] · Mar 18 at 01:14:

@wasolili: when I say barefoot, I mean shoeless, but _with socks on_! At least my footie is way to gentle for the sandbelting.

I can't say enough good things about Hokas! I bet if you try them on, you will buy them and walk out of the store in them like I did.

🌲 Half_Elf_Monk · Mar 20 at 02:35:

@stack - hat's the best covid recovery I've heard of. Good for you! :)

🌲 Half_Elf_Monk · Mar 20 at 02:36:

fwiw I've had a pretty good experience with a few of the Brooks shoes as well... they seem similarly positioned as orthopedic healthy shoes. fwiw

🐦 wasolili [...] · Mar 22 at 03:02:

@stack you weren't wrong. got a pair today and they surpassed my expectations. thanks

🚀 stack [OP] · Mar 22 at 17:39:

@wasolili So happy I am not the only one!

One minor thing to watch out for: the toebox is very large, so make sure the laces are _reasonably_ tight, otherwise you may pound your toes into the front of the shoe.

🐦 wasolili [...] · Apr 02 at 03:36:

Gotta send you more thanks. Wore the Hokas to a music festival on Saturday and they were an absolute game changer. My feet and calves are usually sore for a couple days after such events, but walked away with 0 soreness this time. Can't believe I didn't buy these much sooner

🐦 wasolili [...] · Jun 21 at 02:39:

Returning to this post yet again to give more thanks. spent 5 days at a music festival last week, did a lot of walking, dancing, moshing, and standing, and my feet felt absolutely fine afterwards. These shoes are crazy.