While it is a little ironic to have a shoe company celebrate barefootedness by titling an ad 'Barefoot is Best,' VIVOBAREFOOT brings up 4 myths of footwear for kids debunking the need for supportive, stiff shoes for our developing children's feet. Terra Plana makes foot health a primary goal with their VIVOBAREFOOT line of shoes, and they have some great options for our little ones.

I've been an advocate for soft, flexible footwear for my children ever since I saw how poorly 'regular' shoes effected my first of four children's gait. Check out the video, and pay a visit to VIVOBAREFOOT's Kids Line.

VIVOBAREFOOT kids - Barefoot is Best from VIVOBAREFOOT on Vimeo.

Hello all,

I decided to step up my efforts to reach more people to spread the word about barefoot and minimalist shoe running by giving away the pdf ebook version of the second edition of The Barefoot Running Book for a short time.  The ebook will be available to download from now until about 8am EST tomorrow (Saturday, April 2nd).  This is the link to the post that explains WHY I'm doing it.  The actual download link is near the bottom of the post.

http://barefootrunninguniversity.com/2011/04/01/why-barefoot-running-university/

This is the full version of the book, not just a sample.  Please share this with anyone you think may be interested (friends, family, clients, customers, etc.)  If you think it would be useful, please consider posting this on Facebook, Twitter, your websites and/or blogs, or any other medium that will reach people that may be interested.  

Each of you have played some role in this movement... for that I thank you!  I sincerely believe this will be the year barefoot and minimalist shoe running really changes the entire running world.  

Best regards,

-- 
Jason Robillard
Barefoot Running University
Grand Rapids, Michigan
http://barefootrunninguniversity.com

Thanks, Jason. You continue to be a fantastic advocate for barefoot running!

I'm not sure why I have not taken the leap prior to now. Twitter looks to be a fantastic resource for connecting with the barefoot and minimalist community and keeping up to date with the latest news and gossip. For example, I found Chris McDougall and Barefoot Ted along with the Barefoot Runners Society, Living Barefoot, the Primal Foot Alliance, toesalad.com, and runbare.com. I also found a number of fellow barefoot bloggers. Cool stuff.

So come for a gander, follow me @inbetweenmytoes, while I figure this social networking out. Time to tweet (text-based post consisting of up to 140 characters).

Stay tuned for some exciting developments.

In the coming weeks:

• Vibram FiveFinger Giveaway!
• Summary of my year exclusively in Vibram FiveFingers... How toe shoes have changed my feet and my life.
• Vivobarefoot Aqua Review
• OeTzi3300 Troop Leather Boot Review

In the coming months:

• Minimalist Running Shoe reviews and comparison (over a dozen models).
• Barefoot Book Reviews.

Merrell introduces the first-ever barefoot running training and education application for the iPhone. The free and funapplication takes enthusiasts on a forty-day adventure into the world of barefoot form. From posture tips, body alignment and barefoot walking, the ultimate challenge for barefoot newbies will end with a 1.5 mile barefoot run.  Enthusiasts are invited to download the free application and start the barefoot challenge.

And, with a launch date of March 1st newbie barefooters will have plenty of time to take the 40-day training program and participate in an International Barefoot Running Day event on May 1st.

-Emily Snayd (HFS Communications)

My first run in my Utilikilt... why not? Running in it in my basement is a safe place to start out, right? Well, not exactly. I didn't have to worry about conservative neighbors spying me in my 'odd for a farm town' get-up, but I did have to worry about chaffing in places I haven't previously. While the kilt was a little on the heavy side, it was comfortable to run in, at lest until about 8 miles. The 8.5 ounce cotton-poly twill isn't the softest fabric to be rubbing up against your privates. Perhaps with a little modification in the way of chamois in the crotch area, my Utilikilt could become great trail running garb.

Over the last, cold month of treadmill use, I digressed to listening to audiobooks while getting in my mileage. Plugging in ear phones had long been taboo during my training when I found them a deterrent to listening to my body and paying attention to my surroundings, but I needed help to get through tedious treadmill mileage. While a buzz in my ear distracted me from the drudgery, I lost the connection with what and how my feet and body were doing. Today, I found a new friend to pull me from the banality without unnecessary distraction... intervals.

Braving the treadmill console, I pushed a few buttons and followed a number of prompts. The belt whirred to life under my feet, and I was off to minute long intervals switching between 6 and 8 miles per hour with some incline undulation. I was no longer chugging for the final, distant goal. My run was divided into exciting, digestible tidbits that flew by. Adios, headphones.

While I made gains by way of exploring treadmill options, I lost ground because of tiny piece of flavor-filled latex called chewing gum.

Innocently, I popped a piece of gum in my mouth as a lazy attempt at battling morning breath before an early a.m. workout. Who wants to pant heavily with crippling bad breath churning back into their face? As the workout progressed, my heart-rate increased, sweat began pooling into large droplets, and the need to [chomp] focus [chomp] on breathing [chomp] became increasingly [chomp] important. Needless to say, the gum was a serious impediment to regulating my O2 intake. I fought through to the end without a garbage can in site and vowed to brush my teeth next time.

So, the moral of the story?

Running intervals or other workouts on a treadmill is a great way to make the 'dreadmill' more tolerable. During long, cold winters, a working relationship with a treadmill is valuable, so get to know what your treadmill can do for you.

Avoid chewing gum. No need to prove that you can multi-task when a commercial grade belt is mercilessly spinning below you. It's better to focus on your body, running gait, relaxing, and breathing without unnecessary distraction.

Running intervals... good. Chewing gum while running intervals... bad.