Chennaiites are running barefoot for better health

Right from Shivnath Singh, one of India’s most renowned long distance runners, several of our athletes took to running only barefoot. Also known as natural running, this form of physical activity involves no footwear for the sake of reaping health benefits, including strengthening foot muscles and avoiding the stress induced by shoes on knees and calf muscles, etc. Several of Chennai’s runners are not shying away from ditching their shoes, even in the summer season, as they run barefoot across the city’s streets, public parks and grounds.

Fifty-five-year-old Kesevan VS, an advocate at Madras High Court, is among those braving the city’s lanes barefoot. “Each time I run shoeless, I feel the Earth and it helps me stay grounded while giving a sense of pleasure. I start my run each day at 5.30 am around my apartment complex in Velachery. Ever since I have been practising running barefoot, I don’t want to go back to wearing shoes again,” Kesevan tells DT Next.

Beginning his first shoeless run in 2017 on the International Barefoot Running Day, marked on May 5 each year, Kesevan has been doing the same for the past two years. He also joins the community of Chennai Barefoot Runners during a few marathons. “Many give up on running because they feel lazy to put on their shoes each morning. Running barefoot, on the other hand, takes away the laziness. With feet being in contact with the ground, it also has acupuncture kind of effect, healing pains and stiffness in muscles,” he adds.

City-based marketing professional Rajkumar N began running shoeless when he had blisters on his toes. “Initial phase of running without shoes can be a bit uneasy. But over time, one’s soles get harder and gain the ability to withstand any kind of hard surfaces. One, however, has to be cautious about glass pieces which might be on the roads,” says Rajkumar, 39, who runs every day on the city’s highways, streets, stadiums and college grounds. He has also done marathons up to 45 km on foot.

“I have made it a habit to run with no shoes in any city I travel to. Apart from Chennai, I have also been running in Coimbatore, Thanjavur and Bengaluru,” he adds.

Fitness expert from the city, Timothy Bello, says that a human foot is designed in a way to cater to one’s body balance, as per one’s height and other factors, and can provide the best landing while running. “Running with no shoes helps in strengthening one’s foot and calf muscles. People tend to pick shoes that are meant for hard surfaces and use them on softer platforms ­­— leading to pains in muscles. It is advisable to start running shoeless first on sand and grass, and not on roads directly. Running barefoot on exercise machines, however, is not safe,” he adds.