Barefoot Running Trend Hits BIllings

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By Arianna Bennett

Story Published: Feb 12, 2010 at 6:40 PM MST

Story Updated: Feb 12, 2010 at 10:43 PM MST

BILLINGS - A recent trend for athletes has runners taking off their shoes. A Harvard study suggests the best way to protect your feet, and the rest of your body, is to leave them uncovered.

"In the last couple of months we've had a lot of people with a lot of interest in barefoot running," The Athlete's Foot Owner Jay Johansen said. "Especially our runners that have been running quite a bit."

And athletes are taking the advice seriously. Some runners are leaving their shoes at home in the hope of preventing injuries like shin splints and sprains. A Billings podiatrist said losing the shoes changes a runner's step, which can work better with the body's natural rhythms.

"You have better natural shock absorption that way," Dr. Scott DeMars of Rimrock Podiatry said, "and there tends to be less injuries overall with barefoot runners because of that, and less chronic injuries."

Even big shoe companies are getting on board with the shoeless trend. As unlikely as it seems, runners who like going barefoot can buy shoes that simulate the experience. They are flatter, thinner, and more flexible.

"It's a minimal shoe, a really light shoe with no support, so it's supposed to mimic running on your bare feet," Johansen said. "Nothing on the heel, everything up on the top. Toe running."

But before you set out on a barefoot 5K, make sure your feet can handle it. Dr. Demars says not to jump into it too quickly, it is best to ease it into your routine gradually.

"There are a lot of different types of feet," DeMars said. "Some foot types should not be barefoot running. They are not going to do well. Like the pronated foot type is not going to do well with barefoot running. They would have perhaps increased injuries, because they need that supportive shoe."

Luckily there is an easy way to figure out if pounding the pavement barefoot could be in your future. Some shoe stores, like The Athlete's Foot in Billings, have machines that analyze your foot shape. But although runners might benefit from going barefoot, another study from the University of Utah suggests that for just walking, it is best to keep your shoes on.

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