This training plan is a sure way to get injured for most people. In my experience it takes folks a lot longer to condition their foot and especially calf muscles, which are often weak after years of running with too much support. I have captured my learnings in the 12 Step Program to Run Barefoot: http://bit.ly/cbioml The number one reason people run into problems trying barefoot running is trying to do too much, too soon. Think feet, not miles, for the first few weeks. No need to rush it!

I moved to the 5-finger about 6 months ago. I use the 5-fingers for runs (5 to 10 miles) and more importantly, for hiking (steep climbs). Careful when starting out and not to over do it. I ran four miles the first day and really hurt me achilles tendon not to mention my calf muscle was killing me for a week. But, after you work up to "normality", things change. Your calf muscle becomes very defined. Your strike takes on a whole new look. You will notice a different look to your gait.

I'm hesitant to move to the mid-foot strike running style simply because it doesn't look as cool as the heel strike style.

Thanks for encouraging with appropriate caution the trend toward running with less shoe. When we teach Chi Running we say "it's not running that hurts you, it's how you run." Most people find that "less shoe" inspires and enables a better foot strike and form, but we find more value to say that the primary focus needs to be on how the whole body moves, whatever the shoe. Andy Selters Certified Chi Running instructor

I'm wondering if these shoes are okay for us over-40's people who have thinning of the fat layer on the ball of the foot, and/or previous plantar fascia injuries. I'd love to try them, but I have a feeling they would do more damage than good.

Of many articles on minimalist running that I've read over the last year, this is the most useful. I tried Vibram 5-fingered foot covers 1.5 years ago. Reading before-hand made it clear I had to really pay attention to what I was doing with my feet. First few times, I ran a mile or two only on a treadmill to make sure I wasn't going to do serious damage and to get the feel of mid-foot striking. I've run 5 & 10Ks since, mostly on pavement, with no problems, even though I'm a 60+ year old runner.

This is great advice; make a slow transition from shod to minimal and no shod options. The Nike Free makes a good transition shoe. I made the transition to barefoot style running in an effort to find a solution to my nagging shin splints. Barefoot style running did fix that, but in the process I have suffered a fractured metatarsal and plantar fasciitis. I am a total proponent for barefoot style running, but taking it slow and using extreme caution as you make the transition is very important!

I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, The pain was so bad it hurt to walk. I applied the same ideas to walking first and the pain dissapeared in three days. It sure beats what the dr wanted me to do. Now I can run again My thoughts to anyone thinking of switching, take your time, be patient, it is a whole new way to run. Work on your form, feeling light on your feet, listen to you body. Running barefoot through the grass is good for training.

I've been running in my vibrams for 18 months now and have done 2 half marathons on pavement with them. I'm 55 and these were my first half marathons; and the first one I did under 2 hours. I could do this because of the vibrams and because I use the Feldenkrais method to help me organized my self use. It is amazing and I relied completely on these intellegent movement lessons!

Forget "transitional shoes"! For $15 you can get Jason Robillard's book or Michael Sandler's book... You will have a safe and FUN transition to the way your body was meant to run.

I've been doing barefooting on my Vibram Five Fingers for about 2 months and I've found out that my footstrike is going better than it used to do before; my right foot is more quiet and is not moving as a clapper anymore after the toe off. It seems like a miracle!! I'm doing the transition in a not rush way for avoiding injuries. Even I already started running at cross-country and it's marvelous the way my feet have get acustomed to step on rocks, roots, peebles and all usual stuff you find. :-)

I agree with Clynton Taylor. Even though the article stresses the importance of easing into this style, I think their program is still too ambitious. Obviously the right pace will differ from person to person, but starting out at a mile sounds dangerous. I started at 1/4 mile and worked up at 1/4 mile increments, but got injured at 1.25 miles. It took me a couple of months to be able to go more than 1.5 miles without straining my calf. Although it's a long process, it's well worth the transition. I'm faster and have far fewer aches and pains now.

Was a ballet dancer for many years, and learned early on to land properly; very strong, but soft and quiet, from front of the foot to the back, while doing jumps. I also developed very strong muscles in my legs and feet. I feel very comfortable running barefoot, and find a heavy shoe irritating. Interestingly, I have three sons who wrestled in school, and all of them prefer to run in their wrestling shoes-but they wear out fast! Cross training in an adult ballet class could be very beneficial!

Was a ballet dancer for many years, and learned early on to land properly; very strong, but soft and quiet, from front of the foot to the back, while doing jumps. I also developed very strong muscles in my legs and feet. I feel very comfortable running barefoot, and find a heavy shoe irritating. Interestingly, I have three sons who wrestled in school, and all of them prefer to run in their wrestling shoes-but they wear out fast! Cross training in an adult ballet class could be very beneficial!

Is forefoot striking for everyone? I can't imagine it is, everyone has very different mechanics and our natural world has changed so much since are ancestors that the 'natural' way to move is now quiet 'un-natural' in definition! I think some people are inherently forefoot strikers and other are heel strikers and to change that is possibly harmful! Plus alot of people run forefoot on one leg and heel on the other... Thoughts?

(I think Drew mentioned this as well) Listen to your body! 'nuff said

I made the unfortunate mistake of jumping on the Vibram 5-fingers bandwagon without going through any transition, thinking my life-long running habits had conditioned me sufficiently for anything. It took me about a week of daily 5-mile runs before my strained achilles put an end to that experiment. But it was a glorious and liberating running experience while it lasted--it felt like being a kid again! I have healed up and, having two pairs of 5-fingers, I am determined to return to near bare-foot running. Only this time, I will approach it with a little sanity and a plan to make the transition gradually. Thanks for the article; wish I had read it before I injured myself.

I am wondering if running on the local High School track is a good place to start. It would be easy not to over do the distance and the surface seems apprpriate.