Barefoot running or minimalist running has been getting a great deal of press.  Such techniques do have merit; however, it is important to understand as much as possible before hitting the road.  For more information on this trend: click here

The linked article fails to adequately educate the reader on a wide variety of critical concepts.  Barefoot running is great, but only if you are highly skilled in proper technique.  Honestly, this minimalist running style can be devastating to an uneducated runner with poor technique.  For those runners interested in improving technique and understanding concepts surrounding injury prevention, Pose Technique is something to study.

Suggestions from the article are posted below with modifications from Dr. Van Anne.

If you’re thinking about shedding your shoes, consider these guidelines:

1. Barefoot training is not for people who are just starting to run or returning from a long layoff—it’s something to slowly incorporate into an existing running regimen. ** False ** - As discussed above, it is more important to have good skill and technique than to have a specific kind of shoe.  Good skill and technique allow a runner to pick which ever shoe he or she desires, because it really doesn't matter when you know what you are doing.  It is better to slowly learn to do something correctly than to get good at doing something really bad.  The latter leads to pain and suffering.
   
2. If you have persistent or serious foot problems, consult your podiatrist first.  ** The podiatrist is an option, but it is important to consult someone who knows something about running technique and has personal experience.  If they don't sound knowledgeable and dodge your questions with confusing or incomplete answers...look elsewhere.  Other options include chiropractors, physical therapists, sports medicine doctors; however, the same criterion applies.
   
3. Ease in slowly. Paul advises starting with a few minutes on a flat, relatively forgiving surface once a week. Grassy fields, smooth roads, and soft trails qualify. Running on sand might be tempting, but barefooting newbies should stick to wet sand at first as the unstable soft stuff puts a lot of torque on your joints and is much harder to run on. ** This is a very good idea!  Taking it a step further, you may want to do walk-jog/run combos that will increase your training time, but decrease the overall wear and tear to the bare foot.  This will also give you recovery time to think about improvements and changes to your technique.
4. Listen to your body. “Barefoot Ken Bob” Saxton, founder of running barefoot.org and finisher of more than 70 barefoot marathons, says, “Luckily, your feet are sensitive, which is a good thing. Listen to them and they'll keep you from doing something stupid.” ** I always cringe when I hear "listen to your body".  It is more important to understand what the body is telling you, specifically the difference between pain and discomfort.  Pain is a stop signal that something has gone wrong and needs immediate attention.  Discomfort is a sign that Pain is near and modifications are necessary.  In other words, if you experience discomfort you need to re-evaluate your technique and try to eliminate the discomfort through more skillful running, instead of stopping at the first scent of difficulty.  I like the term "communicate with your body".