Running shoes are used by the vast majority of runners. During the past 2 years you may have watched someone barefoot running on the sidewalk, running track or grass field. Barefoot running differs in a number of ways from runners wearing running shoes. 1.       Barefoot runners adopt a different style of running. A barefoot runner will initially strike the ground with the ball of the foot which is followed by gradual lowering of the heel to the ground. This results in the initial impact force being greater underneath the ball of the foot but is reduced by the gradual lowering of the heel to the ground.   2.       A runner wearing running shoes will initially strike the ground with their heel or mid-foot which is followed by a gradual lowering of the forefoot to the ground. This results in the initial impact being greater underneath the heel followed by an increase in force underneath the forefoot as the heel lifts off ...