Barefoot says slow down...
At least that's what my shoes have been telling me since I've started wearing them.
Have you noticed it yourself? Maybe you were used to run 5ks under 20 minutes, and suddenly after the switch you're just... bummed out, because of these flat no spring trainers of yours. You're now slower, and you know it.
I've only started 5k runs with my local Parkrun recently, after switching to barefoot. Standing before the start line among the mass of runners, I got to notice how everyone around me was wearing the typical running shoes and I wondered how much faster I'd be if I was wearing those those in that moment. Just knowing that there is basically an over-engineered spring below your heel that will give you an insane boost every time you touch ground, was making me daydream about the endless speeds I could reach wearing a pair of Nikes. Then I looked down at my Realfoot natural runners and I realised that most of my running efforts would have to come from my body.
Imagine a Porsche 911 Carrera, beautiful car, but if you've ever had the opportunity of driving one you will know that these things are so well engineered, so smooth, that you'd feel as though you're driving a Toyota Prius while going at 300 mph. Although we're selling barefoot shoes here, I'm going to admit here that running in a cutting edge pair of Nikes like these ones is like driving a Porsche. Which car do you think I'm going to compare zero drop shoes to huh?
You'll get two answers to that question. Why two? Because unlike normal trainers which boost everyone up 3 notches, barefoot trainers make the user painfully and grass-touchingly aware of the user's skill level and body state. That's why you have two types of cars for two types of barefoot people.
First
The beginner. This is the person who has just started wearing minimalist footwear. I would compare them to a Jaguar F-Type. Raw power, thrilling. Let me explain another main difference between wearers of normal running shoes and wearers of barefoot shoes: the former are wearing the shoes, the latter must become one with the shoes. If you want to become one with the shoe, you've got to learn your own capabilities, otherwise you'll put yourself in danger. And that's why a barefoot novice is like a Jag. With the F-Type, if you're not careful you could accelerate dangerously fast ending up in injuries. Similarly, if you run a marathon while you're still adapting to minimalist trainers, you will not enjoy the consequences. Trust me, I've been there. I ran a half marathon earlier this May, and wearing my Realfoots which I'd just acquired (from ourselves). Naively I thought I could do it with no experience and this new pair of shoes. Turns out that I've sustained a significant amount of injury in my glutes and knees. This was because I underestimated the power of barefoot. You see, just like a Jaguar sports car, if the person in the driver seat hasn't developed the skill, then expect a world of challenges.
Lambo
This is the second category of barefoot runners, and this is where it gets fun. I urge you to at least once in your life, get the experience of driving a Lamborghini. I'm no seasoned wearer of barefoot, but I believe that they feel like a half million bucks supercar. The Gallardo was my personal experience, and I can only imagine how fun the Aventador must be, but this is the raw power of the Jaguar mixed with the smoothness of a Porsche. That's why it gets the top spot. If any of you experienced minimalist shoe wearers reads this, email me, and tell me if I'm right. Prove to me that it's an absolute thrill to run in barefoot. I already believe it, but I want confirmation. The Lambo is a person whose entire body is masterfully engineered and primed for performance. Interestingly enough, such performance also makes the person look the best shape of their life. Yes, barefoot people are more attractive... and one of the reasons for this attractiveness is the time and effort they've put in into feeling the ground they've been walking and running in, and perfecting their own bodies to run like absolute works of mechanical art. I'm not saying that normal footwear users can't achieve that level, but you have to admit that barefoot can only peak higher ;) and they be looking like Baki characters like my boy Pickle.
The future
Everyone who wears barefoot must look at their future, because wearing these shoes is a long term game. It's an investment into an un-grasped yet reality, into a what could be. If you're new to it you might feel nervous. You might feel like you've downgraded your ability to use your legs and feet, like you've gone from driving a Porsche to something that you can't even control, but you have to understand that in due time not only will you be driving a Lambo, but you'll be the Lambo. Maybe you could even be the Bugatti!