Excellent, glad I could help with that paper :)

Sent from my iPad

Minimal shoes keep my form in line and I like how they feel on my feet. Vivobarefoot is my brand of choice lately. They just fit my foot well. Since that switch, a good 3 years ago, I’ve done multiple half marathons and I’m now training for my first marathon.

I had to convince my older sister to NOT switch to minimal. She was going to do it just because it worked for me, but she wasn’t having any trouble. She runs well and injury free, so I told her to stick with what’s working for her.

Thanks for the recommendation. The Mix Master 2 Aeroblock weren’t available when I was shopping, and I was able to get the Innov-8 345 for just over $50 on sale at Sierra Trading Post – hard to beat any Gore-Tex shoes at that price. I’ve previously used 2 Merrell’s in the past. I still have the 1st Barefoot Glove, and had the Mix Master 2 (no waterproofing though) for 3 months until they developed a tear in the heel, so I exchanged them for the Brooks that I’m using today. I do like Merrell and will try them again. I definitely like the sole on their shoes compared to most others that I’ve used. I do worry that my Brooks Drifts sole won’t last more than 6 months. The tread at the toes (it’s just white foam) wore off in under a month.

Yes, one of the benefits of minimal shoes for me is I can double stack them on shelves of my shoe rack. Packability is key :)

i had to build myself back up, i’d been reading about minimal footwear and barefoot running for about 2 years, i wasn’t sure how long shoes would last, when i could switch etc.

I finally did that summer to build myself back up
mono still affected me until probably last november or december, not majorly but the remnants of my destroyed system, and crumbled mental toughness still lingered freshman year of college track

didn’t do track this last spring semester, and i don’t think i will, especially considering the university i’m going to transfer to is fairly new and budget cuts prevented them from starting sports like they planned, don’t know when they’ll start

anyway, since starting in then invisible shoes, fivefingers, and still having the pair of vivobarefoot neos, and now running 95% barefoot (just depends on the weather, usually minimally shod a few times in the winter now)

i’ve become a much stronger runner, i’m more alert, better form, love the ground, and i love being closer to where i’m naturally supposed to be (almost cause my toes are a bit messed up from traditional footwear)

i was never injured in traditional footwear before, but running is actually comfortable now, not injured one time except for like 2 times when first transitioning while figuring out how much i could actually do

i will NEVER go back, so glad this movement has been happening, thankful for the internet for helping me find such information, thankful for the information provided by others to educate me properly
because of the above, i’ve successfully helped convert over a dozen for sure going minimally or barefoot

my thanks to those that have aided in my education includes you pete!!
also thanks again for helping me with my paper last semester ( got an A btw )

I’ll also add that I definitely notice how much easier it is to pack minimalist shoes when I pack for business trips and vacations. I can usually fit almost two minimialist pairs shoes in the same space as one pair of stability shoes that I used to wear – and it weighs considerably less.

Sadly these won’t be my go-to shoe for much longer as the temps will get a lot colder in the upper midwest, and I’ll need to switch to something with better traction and Gore-tex for winter. (I have the Innov-8 Terroc 345 GTX) These are good shoes, but not perfect – wish there were more minimalist waterproof (Gore-tex) options.

Thanks guys, much appreciated!

—-
Pete Larson’s Web Links:
-Performance Health Spine and Sport Therapy<http: about-us=”” dr-peter-larson=”” performancehealthnh.com=””>
-My book: Tread Lightly: http://ow.ly/bdUO0
-Blog: https://runblogger.com
-Twitter: http://twitter.com/Runblogger
-Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Runbl…
-Discussion Forum: https://runblogger.com/forum</http:>

I think that, whatever this study or that study says or doesn’t say, in the end, it’s about how it feels.

I don’t know why, and I’m not sure that it even really matters, but I kinda feel like a kid when I do barefoot strides on the grass, or when I run in something almost not there.

It seems to me that far too many of us get wrapped up in the technical aspects of our footwear. If we wear what feels good, what is comfortable, what allows us to enjoy what we’re doing–whether it is for health or competitive reasons–then more than likely we have the right shoe.

Well done, man!