How Minimalist Running Shoes Could Help You Become An Elite Distance Runner

If you wrestle with the idea of barefoot running or running in minimalist shoes, in this post I’m going to provide some convincing insight that affirms that the evidence is quite clear in that you have a better chance of figuring out a safer, efficient way to run properly by wearing less on your feet.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that traditional running shoes may place a huge burden on your running performance as these shoes may you cause you to run with a hefty dose of impact and knee-joint loading, which may cause injury.

From a scientific standpoint, the research goes fuzzy in terms of the injury prevention capacity of cushioned, traditional running shoes. In contrast, many people who take up barefoot running or minimalist running report, not only a significant drop in injury and muscle soreness, but report that running feels more true whereby minimalist running, especially running barefoot, seems to produces a sense of a meditative flow which arises from neuro-motor and sensory unity thanks to higher levels of ground-feel.

How Minimalist Running May Turn You into an Elite Distance Runner
Camille Herron, now an elite marathoner, was a ‘hobby jogger’ who struggled with a seemingly endless cycle of running injuries. After learning about the health and performance benefits of barefoot and minimalist running, she became a minimalist runner which helped springboard her running performance to a whole new level!

How Minimalist Running Shoes Could Help You Become An Elite Distance Runner

To give more positive momentum to the minimalist and barefoot running movement, I thought it would be important to discuss an inspiring, yet informational article on a ‘hobby jogger’ who went from running in traditional footwear to becoming an elite marathoner with the aid of running barefoot and minimalist footwear.

The article featured Camille Herron, who is now a 2hr :37min elite marathoner with an even more impressive record at the ultrarunning distance level. In the article, she described her journey from transitioning from traditional running shoes to running barefoot and in minimalist running shoes and she also outlined many of the known drawbacks of training in traditional trainers and made inferences about how such footwear can impede performance gains via weakening the feet.

Ultimately, Herron’s experience certainly expands the anecdotal evidence in that running in traditional running shoes with orthotics does not consistently work well to prevent injury or enhance one’s running performance. Herrons remarks are so compelling in helping marshal the evidence that a runner can certainly flourish if they adopt a more barefoot/minimalist lifestyle and there is plenty of scientific data that supports the anecdotes, too! You can find the article here featured on the Running Centers website which is operated by Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, a barefoot/minimalist running advocate. I hope you enjoy the article as I did!!

Bretta Riches

"I believe the forefoot strike is the engine of endurance running..."

BSc Neurobiology; MSc Biomechanics candidate, ultra minimalist runner & founder of RunForefoot. I was a heel striker, always injured. I was inspired by the great Tirunesh Dibaba to try forefoot running. Now, I'm injury free. This is why I launched Run Forefoot, to advocate the health & performance benefits of forefoot running and to raise awareness on the dangers of heel striking, because the world needs to know.
Bretta Riches

P.S. Don't forget to check out the Run Forefoot Facebook Page, it's a terrific place to ask questions about forefoot running, barefoot running and injury. I'm always happy to help!