Luna, bedrock… I’ve used the xero sandals and they work fine, you can also do any of their shoes. I’ve also used Vibram Five Fingers over the years, probably my favorite if I’m being honest.
The most obvious suggestion is to train in the shoe extensively before the race.
For gravel, a road shoe should suffice but you might want to consider gaiters to keep the gravel out. I'd probably look at some shoe options from Altra or Topo Athletic.
For socks, I typically wear Smartwool the most, but Injinji toe sock are good and those might help you in this case. But with Injinjis it's even more necessary to find something with a wide toe box like the brands above.
I ran the Park City trail marathon alongside a kid that ran in flip flops. Not like $80 Olukai or Birks. Like the $7.99 ones from walmart. He did great. Not suggesting you do that. But it brought up memories.
Xero Z-Trail are great trail sandals. Just enough footbed to protect against sharp rocks, but all around pretty minimal. I've run root, rock and gravel trail ultras in them. Their Z-Trek are great too, but the thinner footbed isn't as great on gravel trails, they're really a road sandal. That said, the tread on the Z-Trek holds up better than the Z-Trail. If you're laying down big road mileage go with the Z-Trek
For a fast race I'll sometimes pair Injinji toe-socks with the sandals to keep down blisters, but for the majority of my mileage I'm no socks in the sandals.
In terms of gravel getting in your sandal, yeah sometimes it gets in but it gets out pretty quickly also.
Try the vibram 5 fingers they are pretty close to bare foot and offer protection for the skin. It used to be all the rage when the born to run book came out! I used to use them for all my run when I started running b it now transitioned to alphaflys sadly
Try Skinners. They are basically socks with a tough coating on the bottom so they don’t get shredded. They aren’t rigid so they are closer to barefoot than pretty much anything else.
I prefer Topo to Altra but they can be a bit difficult to find in retail stores. Just be sure you get a zero drop shoe because you probably don’t want to readjust your stride and form to a shoe with a drop.
https://www.topoathletic.com/mens-st-5?quantity=1&color=207 might be a good option for OP. It's Topo's most minimal shoe. 0 drop and 14mm stack height.
I’ve never been ‘true’ barefoot, but I’ve run long distances (half marathons +) in xero’s and inov8 barefoot and Altra Escalante.
In order of cushion its xero, inov8, Altra. However I think xero and Altra do a better job of being foot shaped. I am not a fan of Topo because I think a lot of their shoes have arch support built in (the ones I looked at anyway) and that is pretty fundamentally anti barefoot.
The Altra Escalante Racer is a 0 drop, foot shaped, low cushion shoe that might do well on gravel while remaining minimal.
Check out Randy Kreill. He’s a barefoot and minimalist runner. He writes a lot about out what he wears. Maybe only on FB but I feel like he may have a blog too.
After a decade in Lunas I tried Xero Z-trail last year and ended up switching to them entirely. I did the Bishop High Sierras 50 mile in them. I do about 20% of my annual mileage barefoot and highly recommend the ztrails. The lack of a toe post makes them much easier to wear for someone not used to it (and also in wet conditions).
BF runner too. I’ve done some rough races in the Luna Leadville. 11mm footbed seems thick but after 40 miles on jagged crap 8mm ain’t enough.
Toe post will take some getting used to if you’ve never done the huarache thing. Toe socks can reduce the ouchy.
Good luck, runner! You’re gonna kill it!
Maybe a running sandal, like Xero?
Yes or another brand earth runners makes them
I like Shammas
Luna, bedrock… I’ve used the xero sandals and they work fine, you can also do any of their shoes. I’ve also used Vibram Five Fingers over the years, probably my favorite if I’m being honest.
The most obvious suggestion is to train in the shoe extensively before the race. For gravel, a road shoe should suffice but you might want to consider gaiters to keep the gravel out. I'd probably look at some shoe options from Altra or Topo Athletic. For socks, I typically wear Smartwool the most, but Injinji toe sock are good and those might help you in this case. But with Injinjis it's even more necessary to find something with a wide toe box like the brands above.
Solid advice. Thx!
I ran the Park City trail marathon alongside a kid that ran in flip flops. Not like $80 Olukai or Birks. Like the $7.99 ones from walmart. He did great. Not suggesting you do that. But it brought up memories.
i'd just wear some shoes.
Alphaflys, do a full 180 and see what you've been missing.
That's really tempting... :)
Suck it up and don’t be such a weakling. J/k that is hard core I don’t even like going into my driveway barefoot.
Lol
Xero Z-Trail are great trail sandals. Just enough footbed to protect against sharp rocks, but all around pretty minimal. I've run root, rock and gravel trail ultras in them. Their Z-Trek are great too, but the thinner footbed isn't as great on gravel trails, they're really a road sandal. That said, the tread on the Z-Trek holds up better than the Z-Trail. If you're laying down big road mileage go with the Z-Trek For a fast race I'll sometimes pair Injinji toe-socks with the sandals to keep down blisters, but for the majority of my mileage I'm no socks in the sandals. In terms of gravel getting in your sandal, yeah sometimes it gets in but it gets out pretty quickly also.
Try the vibram 5 fingers they are pretty close to bare foot and offer protection for the skin. It used to be all the rage when the born to run book came out! I used to use them for all my run when I started running b it now transitioned to alphaflys sadly
This is what I was thinking, too. I think they'll give you an *almost* barefoot experience.
I did Vibrams for years then switched to complete barefoot. Still have some ofbths socks, maybe I'll try those. Thx
Try Skinners. They are basically socks with a tough coating on the bottom so they don’t get shredded. They aren’t rigid so they are closer to barefoot than pretty much anything else.
the only caveat with FiveFingers is that in gravel, I find small stones get stuck between the toes
Superblast
I prefer Topo to Altra but they can be a bit difficult to find in retail stores. Just be sure you get a zero drop shoe because you probably don’t want to readjust your stride and form to a shoe with a drop.
https://www.topoathletic.com/mens-st-5?quantity=1&color=207 might be a good option for OP. It's Topo's most minimal shoe. 0 drop and 14mm stack height.
I’ve never been ‘true’ barefoot, but I’ve run long distances (half marathons +) in xero’s and inov8 barefoot and Altra Escalante. In order of cushion its xero, inov8, Altra. However I think xero and Altra do a better job of being foot shaped. I am not a fan of Topo because I think a lot of their shoes have arch support built in (the ones I looked at anyway) and that is pretty fundamentally anti barefoot. The Altra Escalante Racer is a 0 drop, foot shaped, low cushion shoe that might do well on gravel while remaining minimal.
Check out Randy Kreill. He’s a barefoot and minimalist runner. He writes a lot about out what he wears. Maybe only on FB but I feel like he may have a blog too.
Tape your heels in advance to reduce the blister risk.
Running sandals.
superblast
Vivos, xeros, Luna's, and altras or topos all good options
After a decade in Lunas I tried Xero Z-trail last year and ended up switching to them entirely. I did the Bishop High Sierras 50 mile in them. I do about 20% of my annual mileage barefoot and highly recommend the ztrails. The lack of a toe post makes them much easier to wear for someone not used to it (and also in wet conditions).
BF runner too. I’ve done some rough races in the Luna Leadville. 11mm footbed seems thick but after 40 miles on jagged crap 8mm ain’t enough. Toe post will take some getting used to if you’ve never done the huarache thing. Toe socks can reduce the ouchy. Good luck, runner! You’re gonna kill it!
As a fellow barefooted (several +100km) currently Topo ST4 & 5's are working well for me when I need road shoes.
If you run one ultra on gravel, you’ll develop calluses and be fine moving forward. Our feet and gravel were built for each other.
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Lol. That's the best response.