(Part 2) Top products from r/BarefootRunning

First, welcome to the club!!

You sound like you're doing the fundamentals right. Running true barefoot (not even VFFs, not even mininalist shoes) and walking barefoot is a great idea. It'll help your feet adapt.

Expect pain as you build up calluses under your feet. The good news? They build up pretty fast, and before long you'll have your own dog paws.

If you want further reading material, I recommend this book for great barefoot-related, very practical advice. It served me very well.

I have been meaning to make a long form post for some time. I have had quite the journey and learned a lot. I once went the orthotic insert route and it just made things so much worse. Unfortunately I am completely swamped with work right now but I am putting this on my to do list for this week and will get back to you.

Jaclean is just the brand of chi machine that I like the most (have tried a few models). It's amazing for a daily or twice daily unwind. I ALWAYS use it before and after any kind of physical activity. Here's the link. I recommend using it on carpet or a yoga mat (don't want to be on too hard or too soft of a surface). Don't use pillows or anything, just lay down and let it shake your body. Start slowly and work your way up to faster speeds as you loosen up. If you are too stiff and go too fast it can cause a little pain in the knees. The Jaclean model is great because it has variable speeds. I would start with 5-10 minutes at a time and if you feel good then go for the full 15 minutes (it turns off after 15 min). Good luck and I'll follow up soon!

In the Barefoot Running Step by Step book, Barefoot Ken Bob talks about a friend who uses Plasti Dip to coat the bottom of his socks. Plasti Dip is just liquid rubber so once it dries the socks will have a light layer of protection/padding on the bottom.

Apparently these allow for a more barefoot-like feel of the road as compared to VFF or Minimal shoes and they allow you to run in the winter while still being as close to barefoot as possible. The best part is you choose the socks that fit you best or that you want to use (can even use toe socks). The book suggests wearing the socks when you coat them (use a foam paint brush) which means hanging out in a well ventilated area for 45 min. or so.

For less than $10 you can get a jar of Plasti Dip and a pair of socks, and the jar will last for multiple pairs of socks. Sounds like a good deal to me, I've been thinking about trying it.

EDIT I missed the part where you can't wear the VFFs at work and are looking for a replacement. The rubber coated socks probably aren't a good solution for your problem.

Thanks for the great rely, your description is very accurate of how I feel. I am thinking of getting this book and figuring out a routine for myself.
Thanks for the motivation.

Thanks. Since, like you, a bunion is what I'm particularly concerned about, I think I'm going to start with this http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L1VVDF8/ref=pe_385040_30332190_TE_3p_dp_1 and all wider shoes.

I do have this
ww.amazon.com/Yasco-Bunion-Toe-Straightener-Pair/dp/B000O5FCI6/ref=sr_1_9?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1412628861&sr=1-9&keywords=bunion which I seriously love.

*+1 on the foam roller. If you aren't yelping at the point of tears while foam rolling, you aren't doing it right. Nothing helped my ITBS as much as foam rolling regularly.

• http://www.amzn.com/B000G34VV0/ This strap helped immensely, so I could still go on hikes without pain.
  
  
• Here are some good stretches/strengthening exercises. If you have a gym, use the hip adductor/abductor machine, as weakness in these stabilizing muscle can help contribute to ITBS.
  
  
• Good luck! I managed to get over mine in about 4-5 weeks, with a lot of stretches/foamrolling/strengthening.

The you may really enjoy Daniel Lieberman's The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, and Disease. Here. I'm enjoying it immensely.

Or even a jog in the field. Just don't try running a file. Try running/jogging 100m.

Check out this book: http://www.amazon.ca/Power-Speed-ENDURANCE-Skill-Based-Endurance/dp/1936608618

Really great info on proper forefoot running carrying on from POSE method. It is my go to on run/bike/swim body mechanics.

socks + [spray on rubber] (https://www.amazon.com/Performix-11203-Multi-Purpose-Coating-Aerosol/dp/B0006SU3QW/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1474933644&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=spray+on+rubber)
works amazing, is crazy cheap, and if the rubber wears down you re apply, machine washable, get black spray on black socks and you're good to go. i have a few pairs

I recently read Ready to Run, in which Kelly Starrett talks about minimalist shoes and that you need to address any issues that you may have in order to be able to run "barefoot". He goes through a few common issues regarding mobility and other things. It could work for you, and books sure are cheaper than seeing a professional... :-)

You like math?

clip++rockbox+16gb+cx300= AwesomeMetronome

There are two popular studies out there:

Conclusions Drawn From A Comparative Study Of The Feet Of Barefooted And Shoe-Wearing Peoples

Conclusion: It is very significant that in the one hundred eighty six pairs of primitive feet examined, I did not find a single foot associated with the symptoms of weakness so characteristic and common in adult shoe-wearing feet, which are weakened by the restraint the shoe exerts over function.

SURVEY IN CHINA AND INDIA OF FEET THAT HAVE NEVER WORN SHOES

Conclusion: People who have never worn shoes acquire very few foot defects, most of which are painless and non-debilitating. The range of their foot motions are remarkably great, allowing for full foot activity. Shoes are not necessary for healthy feet and are the cause of most foot troubles. Children should not be encouraged to walk prematurely and should not wear any footgear until absolutely necessary. Footgear is the greatest enemy of the human foot.

Also there's some interesting stuff referenced in The Barefoot Book.

Fun fact: It's cheaper for Americans to buy a region 2 DVD player, have it shipped over to the US, and buy the movie on DVD than it is to buy the VHS version from Amazon

I have this one ($10) and I love it. It's a bit smaller and the pocket isn't big enough for most phones, but it can carry a key + snacks and enough water for most runs up to a half marathon.

For those of you who are jealous that you didn't get the hookup, /u/Hvatning suggested benzoin tincture to help the moleskin stick to my feet better.

While your down on RnR grab a copy of Anatomy for Runners. It's a great read for any runner and has lots of exercises that you can do while you are not running because of injury or other reasons.

You don't push, you lift. And high heels, not high knees. I second the recommendation to buy and read
ChiRunning.

(Co-incidentally I'm reading that book for the first time at the moment, but I've been running in essentially the same way for over a year anyway. I've already found several tips that make my runs better.)

scuba boots maybe?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V9LFYK

or you could give this a try: http://naturallyengineered.com/blog/how-to-turn-your-thick-hiking-boots-into-minimalist-snow-shoes/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002L9AL84/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Is it possible the problem is that some of the glue entered into the hole, so now it's not smooth?

After each run, roll out your legs on a foam roll (etc). They can be purchased at most sports stores. I sometimes get knee pain after a run, and this always helps.

Also roll out your feet on a tennis ball.