A Lasting Impression
Shucking off my tennis shoes, I would step barefoot onto the mats of my Taekwondo class. The florescent lights made my translucent skin glow and illuminated the blue of the mats so brightly that they became a neon-colored backdrop. My heart would flutter at the ghastly sight of my own feet, my giant white bananas.
This unveiling was a twice-a-week ritual of embarrassment for my 14-year-old self. Each task over the following hour seemed designed to draw more unwanted attention to my jackrabbit paws: Side gallops showed off their springing capabilities; Side crunches brought near-unbearable human proximity, with a partner holding my ankles; Kicks were particularly hazardous to my classmates, reflecting blinding light off the moon-surface of my pale skin.
By the time I quit Taekwondo, I was sick of this awkward feeling. I put my sneakers back on and laced them securely, resolving to make future sightings of Bigfoot unlikely.
The Great Footwear Compromise
My strategy for face-saving was simple: I would trade flashy shoes like strappy heels and dress sandals‒expensive and ugly in a 9.5 anyways‒for sneakers. Cute Pumas and funky, fashionable New Balances in college, then on to regular tennis shoes later on. I’ve always been active and a fan of walking everywhere, so I never minded rocking the athletic look.
Once I went back into the restaurant business though, I discovered a problem. Each year I was trading up for bigger, squishier shoes. Between walking, hiking, occasionally running and working on my feet 30 hours a week, I couldn’t tolerate a shoe that was even the slightest bit uncomfortable. I went through a dozen work shoes looking for a pair that wouldn’t make my knees ache during a shift, eventually settling on a pair of Brooks walking shoes. As I put on this pair of huge, heavy shoes to go to work, the old feeling of embarrassment washed over me. My feet had officially lost any semblance of cute I could manage. Pretty soon I’d be power walking around in a pair of 2-inch high orthotic walkers.
The past and what is hopefully not the future
Then, right around the time I’d given in to a life of fuggly shoes, I noticed an odd trend catching on in my area. I first saw it while hiking with a friend, on the redwood-lined trails of Mt. Tamalpais. She would exclaim and surreptitiously point, in a mixture of delight and what the hell are these people thinking, at the feet of some of the hikers as they passed. “Those are the barefoot shoes, like I was telling you about!” She’d been enthusiastically describing a good book she was reading, the bestselling Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall.
Goofy looking yes, but everyone seemed to be wearing these last summer
How anyone could hike comfortably in what amounted to foot glove was beyond me. In fact, I could envision exactly what kind of stabby pain and achiness awaited me should I ever be so foolish as to attempt such a march. Nevertheless, I ended up borrowing the book from my friend, and was sucked in from the first page. I finished the book in two days. The story the book wove about the lives of several athletes was captivating, but it was McDougall’s view on feet that kept me burning through the pages.
The central argument presented in Born to Run is simple: Our bodies are naturally designed for movement and running in particular, and shoes, rather than helping, are often detrimental. When wrapped in thick, protective layers of rubber and padding our feet become “dumb,” leading us to walk/run with poor form. Furthermore, comfort footwear atrophies our muscles and bones over time. The combination of bad form and weak muscles leads to chronic injury, keeping many a sports injury doc’s pockets flush.
These feet, these knees… I can rebuild them! I knew I couldn’t rehabilitate my legs overnight, and even the book cautions against doing too much too soon. I chatted with a local running store owner one day who provided some sound advice: Those who drastically tried to change their footwear and habits were returning to him with stress fractures, while those who eased into it swore the transformation was life changing. He himself had switched to running in racing flats (track shoes) in his early 20s, and it had taken him a full year to do it, even at that age. He had however, run comfortably in next-to-nothing shoes for 20 years, injury free.
The feeling was funny, crazy even, the first time I stepped into a pair of foot gloves. The rubber tread made them awkward on the concrete, but once I hit the gravel and trails, it was like a fish to water. My bananas didn’t feel so useless and floppy anymore. I could feel everything, my calf muscles struggling, my toes gripping, the rocks on the path feeling, to my overly-soft foot pads, like a massage. The sound of my steps was like a whisper, whereas those who passed me in regular shoes went clonk! clonk! clonk! Afterwards, I was so tired and sore I felt like I’d been repeatedly hit in the back of my legs. And yet, I couldn’t wait to take my new shoes out again.
My well-used barefoot shoes. They fit, literally, like a glove
I messed around with barefoot and minimal shoes over the summer with success, but backed off during the fall when my busy season at work hit. I figured it was a bad time of the year try new things and possibly injure myself. Ironically, it was a couple months into this “re-coddling” phase that I ended up getting hurt; I overstretched during yoga, then picked up some wine wrong and bam, my lower back started to spasm on me. Every time I wore my squishy work shoes (a tennis shoes basically with a gel insole) I felt shooting pain in my lower back. Desperate to make the stabbies go away, I decided to throw on a leather pair of barefoot shoes one night for work. I was surprised at the result: My legs were super tired at the end of the night, but my back wasn’t in pain for the whole shift.
I may never work up to being a full-time barefooter, as I must be realistic at my age about how much re-conditioning I can accomplish. Still, I appreciate the moments of freedom I’ve had in my new shoes, and the strength I’ve gained. Even better, this training process has given me something I never thought I’d have: I don’t think of my feet as lame; They are ninja.
Ok, my feet might be ninja but they are still blindingly white
Comparison between a minimal sneaker (one with a zero heel-to-toe drop but with padding) and a traditional tennis shoe
Linking up again with Yeah Write!
In college, I trained with regular running shoes, but used racing flats for most of my cross country races, and I loved the way they made me feel! You nailed it with the “ninja” description. There’s really nothing like it. Now, way out of college and done with competitive running, I’ve gone back to my regular training shoes. About a year and a half ago, I did try those 5-finger Vibrams, and like you, enjoyed the new pain in my calves and the fact that I no longer had any knee or hip pain, but unfortunately, with the mix of my clumsy balance and the uneven trails, I gradually tore a tendon in my ankle. It sucks, ’cause as I’ve been slowly getting myself back into running, I want to use my Vibrams again, but my ankle needs the support of a sturdy shoe. Maybe as I get stronger, I’ll go back to a minimalist shoe like the ones you have. Those look really neat and seem a bit more supportive than the Vibrams.
Ericamos recently posted…Hung Up On My What Ifs
I go back and forth between supportive shoes and minimal ones. I try to avoid getting over tired as that is the easiest way to get injured! Minimal shoes with a bit of padding are awesome, and it seems like they are coming out with new versions every day as this stuff catches on. I love the old style NB Minimus 10s, which have a only a 4mm drop. I hiked for four and five hours at a time last summer in those shoes, with no problems. I did run a bit in them too, but mostly on flat, packed sand trails near the beach. I hear you about the uneven terrain and especially rocks, eesh.
I blogged once on my sneaker addiction (shameless plug – http://wp.me/p1ByJK-DV) … I have a ton, but don’t use them for running, etc. I think I have similar Asics but in bright green and yellow. THey are starting to feel really uncomfortable so it’s time to replace. I like the idea of the minimal shoes, but I’m really not digging any of the styles. The NB Minimus 10s you mentioned are ok, but I like the looks of the Pumas and some of the retro looks. I think the Onitsuka Tigers are pretty close to minimal and look cool, but my feet are too wide. Any suggestions you can think of that might fit the bill?
The Hedonist recently posted…5 Reasons Why I’m Not Going to Watch This Year’s Grammy Awards
A fellow sneaker addict! I would recommend the sneaks pictured above (merrell bare access 2s) but with the caveat that they are pretty narrow. The minimus 10s (the old style that are hard to find now, they have a softer sole) have a nice wide toe bed, but yeah, they are fuggly- I didn’t use a picture of them even though they are the ones I honestly wear the most. Very comfortable and I hate that they switched the style to the inflexible sole. There’s a bunch of new styles out there I haven’t tried though, so it’s worth a google. And an internet retail account with free returns
If it will save you a couple bucks, I have a pair of Onitsuka Tigers that I’ve worn maybe three times. Not comfy + narrow. Pumas these days don’t seem to be comfortable at all. I wore a suede navy blue pair in college ’till there were holes in the bottom.
My brother has started wearing the barefoot shoes and swears by them, but he never explained all the benefits that you did. I may have to try them out.
Brett Minor (@brettminor) recently posted…Funny Bone Results #14
I started out walking to the store and back in my barefoots, then would cruise around town. It took months to be able to go for longer walks but it was definitely worth the work.
My husband has socks with little toes that he LOVES but thinks the shoes with little toes are ridiculous. Hypocrite. They do make some crazy prints in the dirt where we walk the dog though… we were like… um… it’s 22 degrees outside… barefeet? Big foot?
Amy (KidFreeLiving) recently posted…Never Go Food Shopping Again
We see a lot of the five-finger shoe prints in the sand around here, it is a little alarming
I’m not too keen on the toe shoes myself, though they are excellent for rocky California beaches. I refer to them as my “goat shoes,” as I can walk on steeply angled rocks without slipping
I was looking into them as shoes really can screw you up. My back went kaput last summer and I’m still walking in shoes with good support everywhere, inside and outside as my legs suck without shoes. Slowly building a little strength in them. Might give those a go when I can, but yeah shoes really really can screw with the muscles and nerves in you legs.
Pat Hatt recently posted…Time For Round Ten With The Crazies At My Den!
Doing little rehab exercises at home helps: toe lifts, leg lifts, anything to build strength before you go stomping around outside. It’s hard to get back on top of things once you get injured, I know the feeling!
I really need a good pair of ninja shoes. My knees have been bothering me lately, so I have extra cushy shoes to alleviate the knee pain while they recover, but I also don’t want my legs to become weak. What a trade off, right? Damned if you do, damned if you don’t…
I find that any shoe with an elevated heel eventually makes my knees ache, partly because they tend to make me walk “stompy” (hard on my heels). When I wear my thicker work shoes now I try to walk a little more evenly and mindfully.
The padded minimal shoes are cool, because many actually give the sense of arch support. This is good when your arches and knees aren’t feeling so strong.
I’ve been wanting to try these! Mike read that book and told me all about it. I feel much more coordinated when I’m barefoot (I am barefoot a lot, because of yoga and pilates), so I’m wondering if this will help the joint pain/muscle development for me. I’ll keep you posted.
Also, I’ve always felt weird about my feet. I’m very tall, and my teeny tiny feet look out of proportion with the rest of my body.
Natalie the Singingfool recently posted…My Date with Chanel
Yes, I would be pretty funny to imagine a lot of sports with people using giant sneakers- ballet, soccer, track…
I’m thankful I more or less grew into my feet as I got older. I already have enough things to be self-conscious about
Evidently, your blog doesn’t want me to talk about how I’m not a fan of feet and how I hate shoes.
Maybe third time’s a charm?
Andrew recently posted…Deliberate vs…: A Post About Thinking (Part Four)
Hmm was the comment form giving you a hard time?
I love and hate shoes, all at once
That theory makes a lot of sense…people ran around in bare feet for thousands of years and feet were not made to be stuffed into shoes.
Stacey recently posted…Monday Blog Hop: Friday was my Monday and why yes, it did suck enormously
Right? I don’t think we give ourselves a lot of credit
Those sneakers with the toes completely freak me out. I can’t have my toes separated and pinned like that. That, to me, is the equivalent of being tied done and having a ginormous pendulum swing down and rip my insides out.
Or is that just me?
Hugs!
Valerie
Valerie recently posted…I need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.
Totally just you but I appreciate your sense of imagination all the same!
Interesting! My mom switched to the toe ones last year for her gym visits and walking, and she absolutely loves them. I’ve been resistant due to their appearance (I hate my feet, and I’m no fan of other people’s feet), but boy does she tout their benefits. I had no idea they’d help with back issues. I need to look into the non-toe ones like you have pictured above. I do a lot of hiking, and didn’t think they would be good for that, but it sounds like that isn’t so!
Shannon Lawrence recently posted…Impressions Matter
Nothing like hiking in the barefoots, even if I can’t go as far. Our feet are sensitive like our hands. It’s cool to feel the ground again- I don’t think I ever wore shoes in the summer as a kid.
I think everyone needs a pair of these… mainly because I hate feet, especially my own xx
Scarlett recently posted…Pancake Tuesday… and Other British Celebrations
I’m surprised to discover how many other people here have weird feelings about feet!
As someone who wears shoes as rarely as possible, I loved your descriptions. “giant bananas” was especially fun. I want a pair of those barefoot shoes. At one time in my life, gravel didn’t hurt my feet, the callouses were so thick. I’ve been a city slicker long enough that I can’t go barefoot on rocks anymore. But I yearn to!
Jester Queen recently posted…Warning: TMI to follow
As kids, we were always proud of the callouses we’d worked up by the end of the summer
I love being barefoot, too, but it is darn impractical here in the snow. Bah!
I also love the look of minimal sneakers — I’ll have to look for some when my current tennies die.
IASoupMama recently posted…Fiction: The Photo
I need the warmest, fluffiest boots possible when I’m in the snow!
Can you imagine if you had stuck with Taekwondo all these years? Your massive feet would be instruments of death.
During my morning commute through midtown Manhattan, I used to pass a guy who ran barefoot. For real. Right down Madison Avenue. I always tried to get a pic for a blog post but he was too fast. The bottom of his feet were a shade of black I’ve never seen before. He’ll never get them clean. I use to pass vomit and all sorts of unpleasantness on the sidewalks. I haven’t seem him for a while.
The Unbearable Banishment recently posted…Star Struck c. 1993
You are so right!! Too bad I’m such a flake. I never tried hard enough to be good at it, though I progressed fairly far.
No one will ever catch me barefoot on a big city street, no way. Icky.
As it happens, I’m going to the chiropractor this evening to have my knees adjusted. Last week, she suggested that I purchase inserts, so I went to the CVS and got onto that Dr. Scholl’s machine that measures your pressure points, arches, etc. and tells you which pair to get. I’ve only tried them once so far, but they’ve really helped. I’ve heard the barefoot shoes are more comfortable than they look, and I didn’t realize they made them in a full show, rather than just that Vibram glove. I may have to check them out.
Bee recently posted…Too Young to Know
The weaker I let my legs get, the more I relied on perfectly shaped insoles. They helped the pain, but, like a brace or other crutch, I think overusing them wasn’t helping me long term.
I will cop to having an obsession with comfortable shoe wear and training shoes. I love the humorous take on all of this. I am dying to try barefoot running, but not in the wintertime! Great post.
My shoe collection is silly. I’ve gone through so many pairs trying to find ones that didn’t bug my knees. I’m sure I’ve made people very happy at the local Goodwill though.
I always choose comfort over style when it comes to shoes, but I have never considered getting one of the barefoot types. Now I’m curious to try them.
Marcy recently posted…Terror at Three Feet
Life is too short for the torture that is wearing high heels, says I
I’m a runner, and every time I go out, I see people running in those barefoot shoes. I am totally fascinated by them, and by the whole Born to Run phenomenon. I think it may be time to break down and read the book. Glad you found shoes that are comfortable for you!
Samantha Brinn Merel recently posted…City Lights
The book is an excellent read by itself. My mom even loved it, and she almost never reads anymore
That’s interesting to know that those shoes aren’t just gimmicky. I don’t run anymore after I injured my knee 14 years ago doing the Muir Woods marathon, but I’m still intrigued by those shoes. Might have to check ‘em out anyway. . . And, what restaurant do you work at? (I live in Oakland). . .
Jared Karol recently posted…The Man on the Train
I’d love to do one of those mountain runs some day, we shall see..
I won’t say exactly where I work since I’m semi-anonymous here, but it’s in the north bay as you can guess. I used to live in Piedmont. All the good restaurants are on your side, whenever I’m craving real food I go visit my friends over there
I have some running friends that read that book and got all into the barefoot (or practically barefoot) thing too. They tried to explain it to me but it still seemed crazy to me. However hearing your take on it makes more sense. If I was big into running I would definitely look into it. Unless they make similar type shoes for maximizing your TV watching experience? No? OK then.
Christian at Point Counter-Point Point Point recently posted…Donut vs. Doughnut
They are good for short nature walks too! But TV, not so much
Nice stylin shoes you ended up with in the end!
Stacie recently posted…Missing Pieces
Comfortable and inconspicuous, fits the bill!
i love your giant white bananas!! so funny. finding a good sneaker sure isn’t easy. i can’t help but turn my nose up at the barefoot ones. i’m such an old dog.
icescreammama recently posted…First Snow Meltdown
The toe ones do look silly, but the minimal sneakers look much more normal. Err, for me anyways
“Giant white bananas” – so funny! I’m always in search of comfortable shoes and refuse to be uncomfortable in footwear any more. Unfortunately, that means I wear the same shoes often. Love that you think of your feet as Ninjas! Great post!
Mary @ A Teachable Mom recently posted…Parental Redemption: The Coach Mike Version
Thanks!
I have a pair of the barefoot shoes. I have never been so sore in my life after running in them. I really like your end result.
Gina recently posted…Sometimes Being Right Sucks
I never thought it was possible to have such sore calves from walking
Hmmm, I’ve wondered about those, but have never tried them. I love Merells, typically, so you make me more curious now. I think I’m going to give them a try! Thanks for doing this post
Love the Merrell styles in these and the New Balances too! A bunch of other companies are in this game as well, but I find these ones suit my feet the best
These shoes work for you during your work hours too? I work sometimes 70 hour weeks on my feet on concrete and it’s almost (okay past) time for new shoes. I might have to take a look at this style – minus the toes.
My Half Assed Life recently posted…I Will Admit Occasionally, I’m An Asshole
I do a shift or two in them here and there, but it’s only 6-7 hours at a time. We have carpets and 1-inch mats around the restaurant too. Look for a style with padding and feeling of arch support if you are on the concrete
Visiting from YEahWrite….
I’ve always wanted to try those bare foot shoes but I do trail running so I have been afraid! I hear your muscles get so sore after, must be a great work out!
Amber recently posted…Un Real
I actually feel like they are pretty awesome for trail running, because you are much more agile on the uneven terrain. Lots and lots of trial Walking helps to do first though!
My girlfriend swears by her barefoot shoes. I am not much of a runner, but maybe I would become one! I also can super relate to being “translucent.” I often use the same word to describe my skin tone. Fun post!
Kristin recently posted…Pre-teen Skateland
I had never heard of barefoot shoes. I go through athletic shoes about every 3-4 months. I walk 5 miles every morning on fairly uneven terrain. Some of the wear and tear is weather related esp. in the winter in Kansas. I will check these out.
Cheryl P. recently posted…The Truth is in There Somewhere
I confess, I skipped “Born to Run” when my book club picked it to read. But I love the concept of being guided by the mechanics of our bodies, not fighting them. Also, I just realized how outdated my one pair of athletic shoes are. They should probably be a little more worn out at this point.
Erin O recently posted…The girl next door
I’m intrigued by the whole barefoot running but have been afraid to try it because I injured my foot two years ago while training for a marathon. Your post makes me think I just might take the plunge.
Kathleen recently posted…The Evil Queen
I’ve been curious about those barefoot shoes that separate the toes. I’m interested to give them a try now!
Mamarific recently posted…A Day to Remember: Letter to Dad
As a newbie runner, I am curious about the minimals but yes, was told to ease into them. I invested in a good pair of Brooks, but want to get to the Saucony Kinarava minimals soon! Nicely told.
I always wanted a pair of the finger shoes, but my feet aren’t a good fit. The concept is interesting. When I did the Rebel Race, a guy ran the race in them. He was one of the few who didn’t throw away his shoes after.
WG
WilyGuy recently posted…Not Dallas
Looking at these shoes makes my toes curl, literally, but you’ve convinced me that I must try them. I am a big fan of going barefoot, and hiking barefoot without worry would be wonderful.
I kind of have sneaker co-dependency issues. I have a lot of them. I don’t think I could handle those “foot gloves” though. (Hilarious btw). The piggies need to roam free. But I’m really curious to try them.
Mod Mom Beyond IndieDom recently posted…Bait and Switch
Cool shoes! I really need to invest in a new pair. My old ones are worn out.
Ginny Marie recently posted…Tenacious
Shoes are my nemesis. I hate shoe shopping, so I go for one pair of comfy ones. Then they inevitably wear out/get holes in them within a few months to a year and we go through the shopping process again. If I could go barefoot without fears of getting tetanus, I would.
SarcasticNinja recently posted…Jilted Hulk SMASH (NSFW)
These sound amazing. I am on my feet so very much all week at work and am always looking for new things to try for the foot pain thing. Awesome!
Punky Coletta recently posted…Hey, Free Stuff!