Football leads to concussions. Does running lead to “foot concussions”?

Can you guess what these two athletes have in common?   On your left, John Krahn. Seven feet tall, 440 pounds. On your right, Jessica Trengove, 5’5″, 115 pounds. Have you guessed yet? The answer is as far on opposite ends of the athletes themselves as the athletes are far from each other in stature. […]

Bernard Lagat Won’t Run Barefoot?

This just in from the “WHAT A SHOCK… NOT” category: Runner who gets paid millions from shoe company says he won’t run barefoot! In an interview with The Guardian, Bernard Lagat, the Kenyan-American 13-time medal winning middle- and long-distance runner, is asked by Kate Carter: So, um, ever run barefoot? Bernard’s response: [Laughs] Well, since […]

GOSHEN Movie Trailer – Watch it here!

As many of you know, Xero Shoes were inspired by the Tarahumara of Mexico. First, we were inspired by their story of running enjoyably and injury-free into their 70s and beyond. Then we were inspired by the fact that they ran barefoot or in huaraches — sandals they made out of scraps of tire and […]

National Runner Survey 2014

Calling all RUNNERS! What motivates you to run? What is your favorite race distance? How often do you run? You are being invited to participate in Running USA’s National Runner Survey, a comprehensive survey to assess the demographics, lifestyle, attitudes, habits, and product preferences of the running population nationwide. The National Runner Survey is easy […]

Andrew Snopes sets a barefoot running world record

24 Hour Barefoot Running World Record

If you bump into someone who opines, “You can’t run in bare feet!” show them this. Andrew Snope ran 131.43 miles, barefoot, in 24 hours! Yup. Ran for 24 hours (with just a few bathroom breaks). Did it barefoot. And if that same opinionated person counters with, “Yeah, but the world record is 188.59 miles […]

Is barefoot running really BS?

Marc Lindsay recently posted what I’m sure he thinks is a scathing critique of barefoot running at Active.com called “Why Barefoot Running is BS.” Sadly, it’s not the well-researched, well-considered investigation I think he believes it to be. In fact, given that the top of the article clearly says “Sponsored by Brooks,” one has to […]

Barefoot Running Q&A – Transitioning, pain, and cold weather

Here’s another Barefoot Running Q&A video, where I take an email I’ve received and give an answer on video. In this video we look at the relationship between barefoot and minimalist shoes, foot and calf pain  during the transition to barefoot, how minimalist shoes fit in with the transition to bare feet, and how to […]

Man running on hamster wheel

Is running in our DNA?

One reason scientists study mice is, much as we may not want to admit it, we have a lot in common with our rodent relatives. We share enough DNA and physiology that studying mice often reveals quite a bit about us humans. So, does this recent study from Leiden University explain why many of us […]

Daniel Lieberman studies the Tarahumara running

Dr. Daniel Lieberman is one of the fathers of the barefoot running movement. His study showing how barefoot runners strike the ground with less force than shod runners, combined with Christopher McDougall’s book, Born to Run, catalyzed the growth of barefoot and minimalist running. Well, it’s as if Dr. Lieberman had a child with BTR, […]

Happy Born to Run release day!

May 5th is an important day in the barefoot running world. And, for the same reason, it’s one of the most important days in the Xero Shoes world. What makes it so important? As Brian Metzler from Competitor.com reminded me, “Journalist Christopher McDougall’s best-selling book “Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race […]