"Invisible Shoe" Makes Running Barefoot Safer

A Boulder, Colorado couple gives runners the freedom of barefoot running while protecting their feet from harm.

Running barefoot puts less stress on your joints, according to a Harvard University study published in the British science journal Nature on January 27th. Inspired by Chris McDougall''s book, Born to Run, about the Tarahumara Indians who run hundreds of miles without shoes, thousands of runners are kicking off their kicks and raving about how they''ve improved their running, healed old injuries, strengthened their feet and legs, turned flat feet into feet with arches, and much more.

Running shoe sellers counter with warnings like this one, sent in an email blast by Road Runner Sports on the same day as the Harvard study was published: "Barefoot running is a major injury waiting to happen," because of rocks or glass that you might step on.

In late November, Boulder''s Steven Sashen and Lena Phoenix began offering a solution: "barefoot" running sandals they call "Invisible Shoes."

Invisible Shoes use a thin, flexible rubber sole that''s held to the foot with a stylish and colorful nylon/polypro lace. Says Sashen, "Invisible Shoes are a high-tech variation of the huaraches running sandals used by the Tarahumara Indians." In fact, Sashen and Phoenix donate 10% of the sales of their custom shoes to Norawas de Raramuri, an organization that supports the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico''s Copper Canyon.

Marathoner Scott McLean reports, "In Invisible Shoes, my feet feel like they''re completely bare, and the world feels like it has a nice layer of rubber all over."

Barefoot running teacher and co-founder of RunBare.com, Jessica Lee, says, "Invisible Shoes are the closest thing to going barefoot while protecting the pads of my feet."

Co-founder Phoenix adds, "I love walking in my Invisible Shoes because feeling the ground so intimately softens my stride and puts less stress on my body."

How do Invisible Shoes compare to the odd-looking but enormously popular glove-like Vibram Five Finger shoes? Runner Jason Gustafson reports, "The Invisible Shoe is far better, much more like barefoot." Sashen does, though, use a Vibram-made rubber sole. "The Vibram 4mm Cherry sole is just enough covering for protection without losing the feel of the ground."

Visit their website at www.InvisibleShoe.com for free "how to make huaraches running sandals" instructions and videos, Invisible Shoe running sandal kits, and custom-made Invisible Shoes.