Minimalist Running Shoes

Minimalist Running Shoes for the Active Lifestyle

Being and becoming a minimalist is catching on around the world. It’s a way of life that permeates every aspect of your being – from the clothes you choose to wear to the way you spend your money and engage in activities.

Minimalists are much more likely to spend more time and money on themselves because other areas of their lives are simpler and easier to navigate. They are also more likely to exercise and pay more attention to their health.

I love to run and participate in marathons. But, you don’t have to be a runner to appreciate the way minimalist running shoes are designed and manufactured. They’re simple in design, but protect your foot and help build your feet’s strength and endurance.

Here’s a sampling of minimalist running shoes:

Minimalist running shoes are lightweight, sport little or no arch support and maintain a heel drop of approximately 4 to 8mm. They feature a more natural running motion and are very well cushioned and extremely flexible. They also offer a midfoot strike which takes maximum pressure off of other areas of the foot.

These minimalist running shoes should be good to go for up to 400 miles and can be a good transition if you’re thinking of running barefoot. I chose minimalist running shoes because of my desire to live a minimalist lifestyle, but have learned so much about these types of shoes since my decision.

I discovered that while high-tech running shoes have extra cushion and elevated heels, they also carry extra weight. This causes the heel to strike the ground first when running.

Minimalist running shoes help you run in a safer and more comfortable manner by letting you land with a midfoot strike or on the ball of the foot first – before the heel touches the ground. I love the flexibility of minimalist running shoes:

If you’re interested in running barefoot, minimalist running shoes are the best way to transition without racking up injuries and pain. A word of caution though – if you suffer from foot ailments such as plantar fasciitis, check with your health care provider before giving minimalist or barefoot running a try.

As with any type of running, be sure to stretch your arch and calf muscles before and after the run – and pay attention to your body signals. Any pain you feel while running means you should stop immediately.

You may need to gradually transition to the zero drop minimalist running shoes. Zero drop means that they may have a slimmer toe area than a typical running shoe. They may also have more cushioning on the bottom of the shoes, meaning you may have a short time of adjustment.

Even though you may have to get used to how the design of minimalist running shoes affects your performance and the impact on your feet, once you get used to them, you’ll want to wear them all the time.

Next, we’ll chat about how the minimalist mom can simplify her life by creating a minimalist capsule wardrobe she can be proud of and love for its style and durability.