Why Running Barefoot on Pavement is Better than Grass

When it comes to learning forefoot running, my recommendation is to run barefoot on pavement. When learning forefoot running, running barefoot on pavement is better because it produces greater sensations of discomfort if you land on your heel. As a result, you are more likely to land properly on your forefoot and avoid heel strike to achieve greater landing comfort.

Part of the reason why running barefoot on grass is a problem to a beginner forefoot runner is that it makes landing on the heel more comfortable. However, even though there’s a feeling of comfort when you heel strike on softer surfaces, the heel strike-transient is still present, which is related to a high incidence of running-related injuries. Therefore, you are going to have the best advantage of developing a safe forefoot strike landing if you run barefoot on pavement, and here is some research to back this up.

Why Running Barefoot on Pavement is Better for Learning Forefoot Running

Why Running Barefoot on Pavement is Better than Grass

The findings of a recent study provided evidence for the idea that running barefoot on pavement is the best strategy to avoid heel strike.

The problem with learning forefoot running by running barefoot on softer surfaces such as grass, and especially if the learner was a shod heel striker, is that surface softness makes it easier or comfortable to maintain heel strike.

Conversely, running barefoot on pavement makes it easier to discourage heel strike as the lack of cushioning in the heel pad causes heel strike to feel relatively painful.

  • Recent work suggests that increased heel height of the standard running shoe may not be the only source for causing heel strike when running. The surface type of which a runner runs on may also affect foot strike behavior.

For instance, Gruber et al., (2013) found that heel striking was maintained when habitual heel strikers ran barefoot on a soft, matted surface. However, more than half of the participants adopted a forefoot strike when they ran on harder surfaces.

Avoid Barefoot Running on Soft Surfaces
Running barefoot on soft surfaces makes it easier to maintain heel strike because its more comfortable than running barefoot on pavement. SOURCE: Gurber et al. 2013. J Biomech.

The researchers concluded that habitual heel strikers are more inclined to make the unconscious choice to adopt a forefoot strike when running barefoot on hard surfaces.

Our Ancestors Weren’t Really Running on Soft Surfaces

Even though our ancestors were not running on pavement, you have to remember that the surface of which they ran barefoot on was relatively hard (hard dirt, rock etc) and not soft and plush like well-manicured grass.

Hard Surfaces Better for Barefoot Running
Running on hard dirt is considered as a hard surface in which Kenyan children run barefoot on such surfaces and land with a forefoot strike, not a heel strike.

The findings also reinforce the recommendations from Dr. Lieberman and Christopher McDougall, both suggest running barefoot on pavement is the best way to learn to interact lightly and safely with the ground and therefore prevent heel strike.

Bottom line, running barefoot on pavement produces a greater pain stimulus that is sufficient enough to enforce adjustments in foot fall patterns.

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References: De Wit et al. Biomechanical analysis of the stance phase during barefoot and shod running. J Biomech, 2000;33 (3):269–70.

Dover et al. Mechanical comparison of barefoot in shod running. Int J Sports Med, 2005; 26(7):593–98.

Gurner et al. Footfall patterns during barefoot running on harder and softer surfaces. Footwear Sci, 2013; 5(1):39–44.

Hamill et al. Impact characteristics in shod and barefoot running. Footwear Sci, 2011, 3(1):33–40.

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!

1 Comment

  1. I have always used the forefoot running technique while running with running shoes, but for a 200 lb man like myself, wouldn’t it be a little too hard on my legs to do that same technique on pavement barefoot without easing into it?

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