Good Sports
by Budd
Glassberg
Reprinted with permission from the Zionsville Times
Sentinel on April 11, 2007
The Barefoot Shoemaker
“Him that makes shoes go
barefoot himself.” — Robert Burton
Paradoxical as it may seem, I have a
propensity for making shoes while espousing the virtues of going barefoot. Two weeks ago, while in
In the late 70’s, I worked in a sporting goods store resoling running shoes. This was about the same time that the running boom was in full swing. I went from running three years in the same pair of Puma shoes, to purchasing the “latest and greatest” new shoes that were touted as the best by Runner’s World magazine. My old Pumas had almost no midsole, a very hard rubber sole, and were extremely flexible. The newer shoes at the time felt much more comfortable with a spongy midsole and a softer rubber outsole. This was the beginning of the stiff, raised heel, cushy shoes that would correspond with a series of running injuries that would keep me from my sport for differing intervals over the next twenty-five years.
In 2001 after a two year bout with plantar fasciitis, a painful heel injury, I cut back on my speed work and switched to very long distance running. About the same time, I had been reading about a small and Maverick group of runners who were shunning the thick soled shoes and running in minimalist shoes or without shoes at all. Though it might seem counter-intuitive, I discovered that for me this type of running forced me to improve my form which in turn eliminated running injuries. While barefoot is best, there are some surfaces I am not yet able to conquer unshod and winters here demand some foot covering. It is difficult to find shoes with the properties I desire. I need a light, flexible shoe with no midsole, a hard rubber outsole, and the fit for a wide foot with a narrow heel that is not raised above the forefoot.
Puma still made a shoe close to what I needed, although it still had a slight midsole, slightly raised heel and was made more for a narrow foot. My search for the Holy Grail of running shoes included slippers that I ran the last 80 miles in my first 100 mile race, Fell shoes from England, Vibram Five-Finger shoes (kind of a foot glove), ballet metatarsal pads, water shoes, moccasins, and several pair of home-made shoes. Of late I have cut the toes off of two pair of Pumas, This final touch has been quite effective in closing in on what I want.
With more pairs of running shoes that I would care to count, I have experimented with several and found that if I boil the shoe, I can remove the midsole and sole of the shoe from the foot covering using two pair of pliers. I had received some rubber soling material from Vibram, which I cemented to the foot covering. I then cut large holes in the toe box to allow my forefoot to spread and feel the air. Other holes are cut along the side of the foot covering to allow airflow. The result is light, flexible, protects my foot from abrasive surfaces, and yet gives a feel very close to barefoot. They look like sandals an alien might wear. They will get their first real test this Saturday at the McNaughton Park 50 mile race.
I have taken a lot of abuse and teasing about my foray into the cobbler’s world. All of the so called “experts” at running shoe stores think I am wrong and that my ideas about shoes border on lunacy. Likewise most of the medical advice today concerning the proper shoes to run in would not include anything I advocate. Still, sometimes it is the lone adamant nay saying voice that ultimately is proven correct over the multitudes of head nodding majority of professionals spewing the “company line” of current so called wisdom. Every now and then it is possible to be marching in a parade where you are the only one in step.
Budd Glassberg is a resident of Zionsville who is active in the local running community. Visit www.runz.com for reprints of all his columns. You can reach him by email at budd@runz.com.