The Rise and Fall of the Barefoot Running Craze

Mar 28, 2025
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Summary

The 'Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010' sparked by 'Born to Run' led to minimalist shoes and a vocal community, but faded due to lack of evidence and injuries, leaving a lasting impact on lightweight shoe designs.

Key Points

  • The 'Great Barefoot Running Hysteria of 2010' was a movement advocating for running without shoes, fueled by the book 'Born to Run' and claims of injury prevention and performance improvements.
  • The trend led to the rise of minimalist running shoes like the Vibram 5 Fingers and Nike Free, as well as a vocal community of barefoot running enthusiasts, but was met with backlash and criticism due to lack of scientific evidence and reports of injuries.
  • While the barefoot running craze faded, it left a lasting impact on the running shoe industry, leading to more lightweight and minimalist shoe designs that incorporate elements of natural running form.

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