If you’re reading this post, I hope you’ve read Step 1 in Barefoot Running first, as it’s essential to understanding how to stave off injuries when first dipping your toe into barefoot running. But since you’re here, I’m going to assume you’re a convert to everyday minimal footwear, and you’re ready to start running in minimal shoes too!  So how do you start?  Head out for a slow 5km!? Nope, sorry. In this post, I’ll share the ideal formula necessary to build up your minimal running so you can reach your barefoot goals –without injuring yourself! Because guess what?! It’s not about running barefoot 100% of the time. You can actually reap the benefits of minimalism by completing only some of your training sessions in minimal shoes.  It’s your preference.  Your first barefoot run It’s been 12 weeks since you started walking around in minimal footwear, and you’re ready to run.  Running barefoot/minimal puts tremendous stress on your body compared to walking. We’re talking forces of 2-3x your body weight for every step you run. Walking comes in at just over 1x your body weight.  So as you can imagine, your body will be working hard.  To mitigate any gait issues, I will first invite you to run completely barefoot.  That’s right. No shoes at all! By why? Any material between you and the ground will affect the feedback your feet receive from the ground, manipulating your running gait.  First, I’d like you to feel true barefoot running. Go outside on a small section of pavement where you can be sure there are no sharp objects, run for ~10 seconds, and run back.  If you must wear socks, that’s fine, but allowing the feet to behave naturally is essential.  Again, don’t practice this on soft ground or grass because that’ll […]