Disclaimer: I am not a professional runner. This is a personal account of my journey with barefoot and minimalist running.
Back to Basics: My Childhood with Bare Feet
Growing up in a northeastern state of India, my childhood was spent running around barefoot, like most kids in the neighborhood. Whether it was playing cricket or kicking around an old football, shoes were never a necessity—they were a luxury. Bare feet were the norm, giving me a natural connection to the ground beneath me. I had no idea what it felt like to play in expensive shoes, and frankly, I didn’t care.
The few times I wore shoes were for specific games, like lather ball cricket or football matches in school and college. Even then, shoes were more about protection than performance.
From Work Life to the Gym: Zero Drop by Coincidence
Fast forward to my professional life, and shoes became more of a tool than an obsession. My pairs lasted long, mostly used for gym sessions and occasional, very light running. Interestingly, I gravitated toward shoes with almost zero drop—a term I didn’t even know back then. This wasn’t intentional; I simply chose affordable options, and they happened to fit the bill.
My last pair of shoes—a discontinued Nike model—also turned out to be almost zero drop. They served me well for years until they wore out. Around this time, I stumbled upon Christopher McDougall’s TED talk, inspired by his book Born to Run. While intrigued by the idea of minimalist running, I didn’t feel the need to switch shoes. My trusty Nikes were enough.
The Search for New Shoes: Rediscovering Barefoot Running
When my old Nikes finally gave up, I sought advice from friends and colleagues who were avid runners. They offered great suggestions, but when I ventured into branded stores, I was hit by the reality of modern running shoes: hefty price tags and overly cushioned soles. I tried on a few pairs but couldn’t shake the discomfort. The cushioning felt unnatural, perhaps due to my childhood years running barefoot or my naturally wide toes.
During this time, I experimented with barefoot running, inspired by memories of my younger days. However, years of wearing shoes had left my feet sensitive, and the transition was slow and challenging. I also had a history of leg injuries from playing badminton and football, so I was cautious not to aggravate them further while adapting to minimalist shoes.
The Minimalist Leap: My First Pair of Barefoot Shoes
After researching minimalist brands like Vibram FiveFingers, VivoBarefoot, and Altra, I opted for an Indian brand. My reasons were simple:
- Cost: International brands were too expensive, and few were available in India.
- Experimentation: I wasn’t sure if I was ready for minimalist shoes, given my previous ones had some cushioning.
The switch was liberating and felt natural. Even though I’m not a dedicated runner, wearing minimalist shoes felt like coming home. Every step was intuitive and connected. Landing on my forefoot felt right, and I no longer worried about my form.
Lessons from the Tarahumara Tribe
Inspired by Born to Run, I watched videos of African tribes who still run to hunt and studied clips inspired by the Tarahumara tribe—renowned for their endurance and grace. I did try to visualize their techniques and borrowed elements of their running posture. While I made some adjustments to my upper body posture, my minimalist shoes gave me confidence in my foot strikes.
Running in minimalist shoes is a workout in itself. My calves have to work harder than they ever did with cushioned shoes. Initially, it was a struggle, but over time, the burn became a reward. Each step made me feel stronger and more grounded, taking me back to the days of running barefoot as a child.
Rediscovering the Magic of Running
After many years, I finally read Born to Run, and it resonated deeply with me. For the Tarahumara, running is more than just movement—it’s a lifestyle. For me, running has long served two purposes:
- Relieving headaches: Whenever I wasn’t hydrated enough or lacked sleep, a quick run worked like magic to relieve me from headache.
- Mental clarity: I never run with headphones, and after a few kilometers, my mind clears, often leading to gratitude or some good ideas.
Now, running serves two additional personal goals:
- Improving cardiovascular health: Lowering my resting heart rate and staying in tune with metrics like HRV, RHR, and RR (if you’ve read my other blogs, you know I’m into these).
- Strengthening my feet: Building stronger legs to eventually transition to full barefoot running.
Final Thoughts
Minimalist running isn’t just about shoes. It’s about rediscovering a natural way of moving, reconnecting with the ground, and developing a deeper understanding of your body. My journey is far from over, but each run in my barefoot shoes reminds me why I started: to keep it simple, functional, and real.
If you’re considering minimalist running, take it slow. Your feet need time to adapt, especially if they’ve been cushioned for years. But once you make the transition, you might find—as I did—that less is more.
Let your feet guide you. You might just rediscover the joy of running.