You’ve in all probability been carrying padded footwear most of your life. Don’t count on to toss them and be capable of do the identical mileage—whether or not strolling or working—in barefoot footwear. To a sure diploma, it’s essential to relearn the way to run and stroll. It’s going to take a acutely aware effort in your half, and it may be very troublesome. You’re not simply studying, you are additionally unlearning some ingrained habits. The secret is to go sluggish. Very, very, absurdly sluggish.

How you method barefoot footwear will depend on what you are trying to do. I occurred to be moving into working, which labored out properly as a result of I had to take it sluggish (I sucked). If you are at present an ultra-marathoner and need to strive barefoot footwear, you will have a tough time holding your self again. If you are someplace between these poles, it will nonetheless be arduous to not overdo it. Focus the self-discipline you normally use for distance into not doing distance.

If you do not know the place to start out, take a look at Graham Tuttle’s YouTube channel, particularly his foot strengthening workout routines. These will show you how to develop the foot and ankle power you lack when you’re coming from years of padded footwear, and assist scale back muscle soreness if you’re getting began in barefoot working. Tuttle additionally provides some paid programs geared toward providing you with a extra personalised information (I’ve not tried any of those). Another YouTube channel I’ve discovered useful is the MovNat channel, which is not barefoot-specific however has loads of good barefoot recommendation sprinkled all through its content material. And if you have not learn Christopher McDougall, each Born to Run and Natural Born Heroes are enjoyable barefoot-related reads. Indeed, Born to Run arguably did extra to popularize barefoot working than anything for the reason that padded shoe was born within the early Seventies.

It’s additionally value saying that barefoot footwear should not a zero-sum sport. For over a yr I wore barefoot footwear working, common footwear for different duties, and sandals the remainder of the time. It’s not all or nothing. If you go on a barefoot run after which slap in your favourite Converse proper after, that is OK. It’s equally essential to know that everybody is completely different. It took me six months to completely transition to barefoot footwear. But that is simply me. It would possibly take you two months or two years. Go at your personal tempo, and don’t be concerned in regards to the experiences of others.