(Part 3) Top products from r/BarefootRunning

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.

I had plantar fasciitis from transitioning too quickly to barefoot running with an over-pronated left foot.

​

The biggest thing for me was making a conscious effort to have a neutral ankle position while walking all day. Rather than favoring the ball of my foot, I'd favor the outside of my foot for weight distribution. This also relieved PF pain, so maybe that helped.

They also sell metatarsal pads and arch pads that can be worn while barefoot or in minimal shoes. I recommend trying those as it sort of forces your foot into a neutral position.

​

Certainly working on mobility/stretching and foam rolling your ankles, calves, thighs every day can't hurt either. So you can be sure that your ankles aren't trying to compensate for some other mobility issue up the chain. Best of luck!

Sweet, sure those look great. I found good benefit from nightly hot foot soaks with epsom salts - then throwing on the toe spreaders for a bit.

I started with small foams between each toe, then went to Pro-Tec spreaders which pushed a bit more, then yoga toes which push the most.

Couple other items to consider are Injinji socks - so you can get a bit of separation all day, and toe spreader socks which I wore at night for awhile:

https://www.amazon.com/Comfy-Alignment-Spacer-Relaxing-Comfort/dp/B001VDMV5M

As an owner of Flows in Ohio that thought this was the right answer, I can tell you, no they do not. While neoprene, you don't get the wet suit effect of a thin layer of warm water. One slushy spot and your feet are frozen. I went with these. A thicker sole, but still had decent ground feel and my feet were perfectly dry and warm.
*edit: added clarification that I own a pair of flows

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.

Agreed on not giving it up. I had PF too. I actually succumbed to the cortisone shot eventually and rest, and the inflammation finally went away... but every so often I still get a little tight in the arches. Overly supportive shoes and orthodics weakens your foot's natural abilities. I decided to get into BF running after figuring I wasn't born with shoes, so my body must have the capacity to run on it's own, right?

I did heal all the way before I started BF running, though.

Other things that helped: this thing to stretch my foot (wear shoes in it) and this boot thing to sleep in.

I tore a calf 5 years ago and took months off multiple times and still get random tweaks every now and then. FINGER CROSSED but I have been in zero drop trail shoes for a year and zero drop road shoes for 8 months and haven't had a calf issue yet. I still do a dynamic stretching routine and roll my calves every time I run and wear compression sleeves like a security blanket.

Read Run for your Life!

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 used gel toe spacers that I purchased at a local pharmacy. They stayed in place since I need to wear shoes/socks for work any way. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015TGN60

I used them for a few years, but I don't need them anymore, as I strengthened my foot muscles to separate my toes.

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

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

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.)

• Feet
  
  
• Sandals
  
  --------------
  
  Toe Socks
  
  -----------
  
  Zems
  
  

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/

I briefly had the classic 373, whose drop didn't seem to be much more than 4mm. I returned them because the toes were SOOOO narrow, even in a 2E width.

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.