Day 152 - Can barefoot running fix you?

Can barefoot running fix you? It seems an odd question for me to be asking as I wait for my foot to heal. Haven't I already proved that it breaks you? Possibly, but a little recent experience suggests there really might be something in this whole change of technique.

I blogged a while ago about Rhiannon getting hold of a pair of minimalist shoes - Merrel Vapor Gloves, the same as mine, if somewhat smaller and pinker - and going out for her first run. The photos I took immediately demonstrated that by removing the cushioning and concentrating on an increased cadence her form instantly improved. It was quite dramatic. As if someone had clipped the elastic on her legs and let them swing through their full motion.

To give you a little more background, Rhiannon has been suffering with injury for the last year or so. Physios, osteopaths, orthotics... nothing has really sorted the issue with her twisting pelvis and subsequent painful knee. Every attempt at a comeback has ended in pain. But since trying these new shoes she's not had any of that pain. Some new pain, like sore calves, certainly, but the old problems haven't reared their ugly heads. At least not yet.

Prior to this she'd experienced various people trying to correct some fairly strong overpronation. The lady in the local running shop tried for a good hour with every shoe in the shop and eventually declared, "I can't fix that with shoes."

Fastforward a few months and a number of runs in barefoot shoes. Not an excessive number, but enough to get used to a new style and adapt to the need for increased control from feet and ankles (the shoes refuse to do it for you).


Next door to the Z hotel in Liverpool

city centre, a visit to this little shop

capped off our stay beautifully!

We were visiting Liverpool for a little city break (I had no idea there was so much to do there!) and discovered a running shop next door to our hotel. Natterjack Running. We of course had to pop in and see what they had on offer. And, as usual, we got chatting to someone about running. I love speaking this common language! It reminds me of our recent holiday in Spain where we made so many friends because we could converse in Spanish. The same this is at work when you meet a fellow runner.

On this occasion, our co-linguist was Jenny Clague, former junior elite runner (I say former elite, she did knock out a 2:36 marathon a couple of years ago) who was on duty at the time. We were very impressed with Jenny. She was warm, knowledgeable and interested in us. Barely a few minutes into the conversation she'd invited us out on a run that evening - which we may well have done if a) we weren't heading home that afternoon, b) I wasn't injured and c) she hadn't already let slip quite what a good runner she is! But it was that kind of invitation that makes all the difference in a shop; you're far more likely to buy something from someone who is interested in you, rather than your money.

We chatted a bit about barefoot running and Jenny was sensibly sceptical - quite at home with the idea of minimal shoes, as top-level runners tend to be, but concerned about removing all cushioning. My theory, which I've mentioned before, is that elite runners could happily run in barefoot shoes if they chose, but they don't need to because their form is already so good. Consequently they struggle to see the need for them. I wonder if 6 months of running like me would change their minds...

We told Jenny a bit about Rhiannon's fitness troubles, orthotics, and recent dalliance with barefooting, and she kindly offered to analyse Rhiannon's gait. She wasn't expecting a fee,* just genuinely interested to see the excessive pronation we'd described (and quite possibly wanting to gently steer her back towards some more normal trainers).

So Mrs Payne donned a pair of neutral shoes and hopped onto the treadmill while the video camera whirred into life. 60 seconds later and the results of the analysis were in. With video evidence. "You just need a pair of neutral shoes." "That ankle angle is perfect; somewhere between 170 & 180 degrees is ideal and that's 175." "You've got a really nice style." Even when Rhiannon deliberately slumped back onto her heels, the pronation was gone. A little movement which you'd expect from a joint, but no panicked grabs for orthotics and inserts.

Rhiannon left the shop with a deviation-free spring in her step, and I left marvelling that a couple of months of barefoot running could have that effect. Could it be that by removing all support her feet and ankles had so quickly learnt to support themselves? Had her ankles and arches strengthened that much? She'd not suffered any pain from pelvis or knees since making the switch - could it be that barefoot running had fixed her? Only time will tell, but I suspect that on that early autumn afternoon in Liverpool the three of us were silently asking the very same question.

* I feel I ought to point out that the shop was empty at the time, and we weren't really asking for the service - if you turn up and expect the same you'll probably have to pay £15. Seems fair enough. Unless you buy some shoes that is.