That's my foot in a size 13 RunAmoc running moccasin. That's right, they're a lightweight moccasin designed to simulate barefoot running without being barefoot. I know, it sounds kind of weird.
Allow me to explain. I've been running short distances and doing sprints a couple times a week for the past several months. The trouble I've been having is with building up my lower leg muscles enough so that I can run on the balls of my feet. After years of running off & on in modern running shoes, I had developed a heel strike style that was hard to break. My poor form was slowing me down, and whenever I tried to correct it I suffered from a disconcerting ankle instability. It felt as if I was on the verge of spraining my ankle as I was running full speed.
And as usual, this little journey that led me to these shoes started off with some research on Google. In my quest for a cure I came across surprising claims from those such as Barefoot Ted that running barefoot was a completely viable option. When you run barefoot, your body naturally compensates for its lack of protection by landing on the balls of your feet. When your feet land this way, also called a forefoot strike, your knee will be slightly bent and your foot and calf muscle will actually absorb the shock of your landing far more than you might expect.
The revelation behind all of this is that your body's tendency to protect itself like this is actually considered good form. Of course, running completely barefoot is rather extreme. And it wasn't a step I felt ready to take just yet.
So today I ran in my RunAmocs for the first time. It was more of a leisurely jog to be honest. The 2mm rubber sole and leather insole underneath my feet was enough to protect my feet from rocks and anything sharp. And, just as running barefoot would do, I felt naturally compelled to forefoot strike with every step. My ankle instability I mentioned was still there, but I expect this to get better with time. The muscles this hits in my feet and lower leg are muscles that I know have been neglected over the years, so I look forward to the soreness tomorrow.
See my thoughts 2 weeks later >>
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