I’m going to work on making this site more of a resource for local trails (in my “infinite spare time”). I’ll try to post some info here in the following weeks. Not entirely close to Royal Oak are Lakeshore Park in Novi and Heritage Park in Farmington Hills. These are my favorite close-by spots, and they’re definitely better than having to drive all the way to the Poto.

I’m not sure if those stores will let you run in them before you buy. Try barefooting somewhere clean and see if the idea kills you or not. If you can take that, FFs will be easier. Not much different in form other than slight protection for your feet.

Good luck!

Yeah, the injury was pretty rough – but PT and gentle running have helped considerably.

I wear FiveFingers on pavement/sidewalks just fine. As much as I endorse real barefoot, I’d probably not do it if I lived in Downtown Detroit (as I used to, Lafayette Towers). FF’s are your best bet if you want to try something in that direction.

Changing my form with barefooting helped me take the pressure off my knees. Try a few barefoot runs and (if you’re doing it right) your calves will feel like they’re about to explode the day after. A lot of the landing-impact goes there, rather than sending the shocks up through your bones and joints. That’s been the case for me, anyway. It’s not a complete cure – using a foam roller (painful, but magical in its effects) and stretching properly has gone a long way too. Truthfully, I’m still recovering.

If you’re iffy about FiveFingers, definitely find a place you can try them on before buying. I know Gazelle Sports in Holland and another place in Okemos might be the closest storefronts to carry them, last time I checked.

Thanks for reading!