**r/BarefootRunning Guidelines**

**1.Be Kind!**

Reddit has a rules section. This sub has *guidelines.* Please refrain from replying to anybody with simply "Rule 2" or something similar as that runs counter to being welcoming and does not add to the discussion. Outside of standard site-wide Reddit rules like no spam none of these sub-specific guidelines will be the basis for post removal or banning. Nobody can "violate" guidelines. Posters can be politely pointed to the guidelines to help them fully understand the benefits of better running.

**2.No Shoes are Barefoot**

Shoes are good! Most here use minimalist shoes and recommend them as excellent tools especially for winter or very rough conditions. Unshod is good, too. But these two things are very, very different. Please refrain from using the marketing term "barefoot shoes" as it reinforces an entirely unhelpful conflation. Check out the links in the sidebar for more information about the distinct and unique benefits of minimalist and barefoot.

**[BarefootRunning FAQ](/r/BarefootRunning/wiki), [Running Wiki](/r/running/wiki/faq), [Fitness Wiki](https://thefitness.wiki/)**

Barefoot **&** minimalist running: the [strong feet](http://www.thepeacefulrunner.com/barefoot-running.html) collective.

Barefoot and minimalist submissions are welcome here at BarefootRunning. 

For a subreddit for only unshod/completely barefoot running, see [/r/barefoot](/r/barefoot). 

Possible benefits of barefoot/minimalist running include more ground feel, stronger feet, pain/injury free running.

* [Video: The Principles of Natural Running](http://naturalrunningcenter.com/2013/05/06/video-the-principles-natural-running/)
* [Video: You've Been Running Wrong](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zFvEBSTYx8)
* ["Think easy, light, smooth and fast" - Caballo Blanco](https://old.reddit.com/r/BarefootRunning/comments/tt3by6/think_easy_light_smooth_and_fast_caballo_blanco/)
* [Stop worrying about the heel-strike](https://www.reddit.com/r/BarefootRunning/comments/879erb/stop_worrying_about_the_heelstrike/)
* There's no such thing as "barefoot shoes." [Why no shoes are the best shoes](https://www.reddit.com/r/BarefootRunning/comments/cw6fhd/what_shoes_are_best_to_start_transitioning_none/)
* [Do not trust in the false promise of "tough feet"](https://old.reddit.com/r/BarefootRunning/comments/kn97qi/its_not_about_tough_feet_its_not_about_tough/)
* [Why you should run unshod on concrete](https://www.reddit.com/r/BarefootRunning/comments/lwvkoi/run_unshod_on_concrete/)
* [It's horizontal braking, not vertical impact, that causes the most problems](https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a21343715/lower-your-running-injury-risk/)
* [Unshod is a valuable tool not an end goal](https://old.reddit.com/r/BarefootRunning/comments/sjpfqf/dont_think_of_unshod_as_a_goal_its_the_means_to/)
* [The fallacy of "run barefoot style in shoes"](https://old.reddit.com/r/BarefootRunning/comments/tr6jyn/im_not_skilled_enough_to_run_in_shoes/)
* [Sore calves can be common but a major red flag](https://old.reddit.com/r/BarefootRunning/comments/wlsynj/sore_calves_are_common_but_likely_a_big_warning/)
* Frustrated with the transition? [Skip it alltogether](https://old.reddit.com/r/BarefootRunning/comments/waci9s/dont_transition/)
* [What pulling instead of pushing looks like](https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ00CnRBRVf/?utm_medium=copy_link)
* [Recommended videos](/r/BarefootRunning/comments/4v3xb9/)
* [Running fast and injury free by Gordon Pirie](http://speedendurance.com/2009/09/22/running-fast-and-injury-free-by-gordon-pirie/)
* Footgear is the greatest enemy of the human foot. -[A Case for Bare Feet](http://www.barefooters.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/A-Case-for-Bare-Feet.pdf)  
* "The modern running shoe and footwear generally reduce sensory feedback, apparently without diminishing injury-inducing impact" [Barefoot Running](http://www.sportsci.org/jour/0103/mw.htm)
* Barefoot running is an evolutionarily sound, biomechanically sound, and statistically plausible way of improving running and reducing injury.  [Condensed Science](http://condensedscience.wordpress.com/category/running/)

Barefoot:  [**starting**](https://bftsadventures.blogspot.com/2010/04/so-you-wanna-start-running-barefoot.html), [Professor (video)](http://youtu.be/7jrnj-7YKZE?hd=1), [Ted](http://barefootted.com)

Start *slowly*, your body needs time to adapt to a radically different way of movement. Too much too soon will result in **injury**, possibly stress fractures or worse. Pretend you are learning how to run for the first time. Listen to your body, if you have *pain* while running, **stop immediately**. Going barefoot may change your shoe size (usually smaller & wider), so some recommend unshod before buying minimalist shoes. Run less than half a mile for your first time, and build up gradually, with rest days. You will be sore in new areas due to barefoot/minimalist running, but if you feel pain or soreness that does not go away after a few days, do not run.

[Glass is an overblown concern](http://unshod.org/pfbc/pfbrknglass.htm). The soles of your feet will _gradually_ toughen as you _slowly_ increase your amount of barefooting. Be alert and constantly scan the ground for anything reflective, but especially watch out for cars pulling out/into driveways. Run against traffic.

Exercises: [dynamic stretching (vid)](http://youtu.be/DkCZym9CT54), [tabata sprints](http://marksdailyapple.com/what-are-tabata-sprints), [backwards running](http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~btbates/backward/backward1.htm), [side box jumps (vid)](http://youtu.be/Kotr9rDceRw)

Minimalist shoes: 

https://www.minimal-list.org/

Women's minimalist shoe reviews:

https://anyasreviews.com/

**BTR** [Born to Run (book)](http://www.amazon.com/Born-Run-Hidden-Superathletes-Greatest/dp/0307266303)  
**HIIT** [High intensity interval training](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_interval_training)  
**MR** Minimalist Runner/Running  
**TMTS** Too Much Too Soon - *stress fracture* risk  
**TOFP** Top of Foot Pain  
**VFF** Vibram Five Fingers - specify model(s)  

[related subreddits](/r/barefoot+trailrunning+ais+barefoothiking+c25k+running+sprinting+toespacers+HumanRewilding)

[latest comments](/r/BarefootRunning/comments)


[text](http://www.reddit.com/r/barefootrunning/submit?selftext=true& "submit a self post")
[link](http://www.reddit.com/r/barefootrunning/submit? "submit a link post")

<div class="md"><a href="/r/BarefootRunning">r/BarefootRunning</a> Guidelines

1.Be Kind!

Reddit has a rules section. This sub has guidelines. Please refrain from replying to anybody with simply &quot;Rule 2&quot; or something similar as that runs counter to being welcoming and does not add to the discussion. Outside of standard site-wide Reddit rules like no spam none of these sub-specific guidelines will be the basis for post removal or banning. Nobody can &quot;violate&quot; guidelines. Posters can be politely pointed to the guidelines to help them fully understand the benefits of better running.

2.No Shoes are Barefoot

Shoes are good! Most here use minimalist shoes and recommend them as excellent tools especially for winter or very rough conditions. Unshod is good, too. But these two things are very, very different. Please refrain from using the marketing term &quot;barefoot shoes&quot; as it reinforces an entirely unhelpful conflation. Check out the links in the sidebar for more information about the distinct and unique benefits of minimalist and barefoot.

<a href="/r/BarefootRunning/wiki">BarefootRunning FAQ</a>, <a href="/r/running/wiki/faq">Running Wiki</a>, <a href="https://thefitness.wiki/">Fitness Wiki</a>

Barefoot &amp; minimalist running: the <a href="http://www.thepeacefulrunner.com/barefoot-running.html">strong feet</a> collective.

Barefoot and minimalist submissions are welcome here at BarefootRunning. 

For a subreddit for only unshod/completely barefoot running, see <a href="/r/barefoot">/r/barefoot</a>. 

Possible benefits of barefoot/minimalist running include more ground feel, stronger feet, pain/injury free running.

<ul>
<li><a href="http://naturalrunningcenter.com/2013/05/06/video-the-principles-natural-running/">Video: The Principles of Natural Running</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zFvEBSTYx8">Video: You&#39;ve Been Running Wrong</a></li>
<li><a href="https://old.reddit.com/r/BarefootRunning/comments/tt3by6/think_easy_light_smooth_and_fast_caballo_blanco/">&quot;Think easy, light, smooth and fast&quot; - Caballo Blanco</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/BarefootRunning/comments/879erb/stop_worrying_about_the_heelstrike/">Stop worrying about the heel-strike</a></li>
<li>There&#39;s no such thing as &quot;barefoot shoes.&quot; <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/BarefootRunning/comments/cw6fhd/what_shoes_are_best_to_start_transitioning_none/">Why no shoes are the best shoes</a></li>
<li><a href="https://old.reddit.com/r/BarefootRunning/comments/kn97qi/its_not_about_tough_feet_its_not_about_tough/">Do not trust in the false promise of &quot;tough feet&quot;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/BarefootRunning/comments/lwvkoi/run_unshod_on_concrete/">Why you should run unshod on concrete</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a21343715/lower-your-running-injury-risk/">It&#39;s horizontal braking, not vertical impact, that causes the most problems</a></li>
<li><a href="https://old.reddit.com/r/BarefootRunning/comments/sjpfqf/dont_think_of_unshod_as_a_goal_its_the_means_to/">Unshod is a valuable tool not an end goal</a></li>
<li><a href="https://old.reddit.com/r/BarefootRunning/comments/tr6jyn/im_not_skilled_enough_to_run_in_shoes/">The fallacy of &quot;run barefoot style in shoes&quot;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://old.reddit.com/r/BarefootRunning/comments/wlsynj/sore_calves_are_common_but_likely_a_big_warning/">Sore calves can be common but a major red flag</a></li>
<li>Frustrated with the transition? <a href="https://old.reddit.com/r/BarefootRunning/comments/waci9s/dont_transition/">Skip it alltogether</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ00CnRBRVf/?utm_medium=copy_link">What pulling instead of pushing looks like</a></li>
<li><a href="/r/BarefootRunning/comments/4v3xb9/">Recommended videos</a></li>
<li><a href="http://speedendurance.com/2009/09/22/running-fast-and-injury-free-by-gordon-pirie/">Running fast and injury free by Gordon Pirie</a></li>
<li>Footgear is the greatest enemy of the human foot. -<a href="http://www.barefooters.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/A-Case-for-Bare-Feet.pdf">A Case for Bare Feet</a> </li>
<li>&quot;The modern running shoe and footwear generally reduce sensory feedback, apparently without diminishing injury-inducing impact&quot; <a href="http://www.sportsci.org/jour/0103/mw.htm">Barefoot Running</a></li>
<li>Barefoot running is an evolutionarily sound, biomechanically sound, and statistically plausible way of improving running and reducing injury. <a href="http://condensedscience.wordpress.com/category/running/">Condensed Science</a></li>
</ul>

Barefoot: <a href="https://bftsadventures.blogspot.com/2010/04/so-you-wanna-start-running-barefoot.html">starting</a>, <a href="http://youtu.be/7jrnj-7YKZE?hd=1">Professor (video)</a>, <a href="http://barefootted.com">Ted</a>

Start slowly, your body needs time to adapt to a radically different way of movement. Too much too soon will result in injury, possibly stress fractures or worse. Pretend you are learning how to run for the first time. Listen to your body, if you have pain while running, stop immediately. Going barefoot may change your shoe size (usually smaller &amp; wider), so some recommend unshod before buying minimalist shoes. Run less than half a mile for your first time, and build up gradually, with rest days. You will be sore in new areas due to barefoot/minimalist running, but if you feel pain or soreness that does not go away after a few days, do not run.

<a href="http://unshod.org/pfbc/pfbrknglass.htm">Glass is an overblown concern</a>. The soles of your feet will gradually toughen as you slowly increase your amount of barefooting. Be alert and constantly scan the ground for anything reflective, but especially watch out for cars pulling out/into driveways. Run against traffic.

Exercises: <a href="http://youtu.be/DkCZym9CT54">dynamic stretching (vid)</a>, <a href="http://marksdailyapple.com/what-are-tabata-sprints">tabata sprints</a>, <a href="http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/%7Ebtbates/backward/backward1.htm">backwards running</a>, <a href="http://youtu.be/Kotr9rDceRw">side box jumps (vid)</a>

Minimalist shoes: 

<a href="https://www.minimal-list.org/">https://www.minimal-list.org/</a>

Women&#39;s minimalist shoe reviews:

<a href="https://anyasreviews.com/">https://anyasreviews.com/</a>

BTR <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Born-Run-Hidden-Superathletes-Greatest/dp/0307266303">Born to Run (book)</a> 
HIIT <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_interval_training">High intensity interval training</a> 
MR Minimalist Runner/Running 
TMTS Too Much Too Soon - stress fracture risk 
TOFP Top of Foot Pain 
VFF Vibram Five Fingers - specify model(s) 

<a href="/r/barefoot+trailrunning+ais+barefoothiking+c25k+running+sprinting+toespacers+HumanRewilding">related subreddits</a>

<a href="/r/BarefootRunning/comments">latest comments</a>

<a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/barefootrunning/submit?selftext=true&amp;" title="submit a self post">text</a>
<a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/barefootrunning/submit?" title="submit a link post">link</a>
</div>

barefoot power!

t5_2rp0r

A community of barefoot and minimalist runners.

<div class="md">A community of barefoot and minimalist runners.
</div>

1.Be Kind!

Reddit has a rules section. This sub has guidelines. Please refrain from replying to anybody with simply "Rule 2" or something similar as that runs counter to being welcoming and does not add to the discussion. Outside of standard site-wide Reddit rules like no spam none of these sub-specific guidelines will be the basis for post removal or banning. Nobody can "violate" guidelines. Posters can be politely pointed to the guidelines to help them fully understand the benefits of better running.

2.No Shoes are Barefoot

Shoes are good! Most here use minimalist shoes and recommend them as excellent tools especially for winter or very rough conditions. Unshod is good, too. But these two things are very, very different. Please refrain from using the marketing term "barefoot shoes" as it reinforces an entirely unhelpful conflation. Check out the links in the sidebar for more information about the distinct and unique benefits of minimalist and barefoot.

<div class="md">1.Be Kind!

Reddit has a rules section. This sub has guidelines. Please refrain from replying to anybody with simply &quot;Rule 2&quot; or something similar as that runs counter to being welcoming and does not add to the discussion. Outside of standard site-wide Reddit rules like no spam none of these sub-specific guidelines will be the basis for post removal or banning. Nobody can &quot;violate&quot; guidelines. Posters can be politely pointed to the guidelines to help them fully understand the benefits of better running.

2.No Shoes are Barefoot

Shoes are good! Most here use minimalist shoes and recommend them as excellent tools especially for winter or very rough conditions. Unshod is good, too. But these two things are very, very different. Please refrain from using the marketing term &quot;barefoot shoes&quot; as it reinforces an entirely unhelpful conflation. Check out the links in the sidebar for more information about the distinct and unique benefits of minimalist and barefoot.
</div>

Pain from run & walk