A few years back, during the height of the barefoot running trend, you could see joggers with no shoes on their feet coming down the sidewalks of New York dodging dog shit, broken glass, gobs of spit, and other nasty street substances.

The jury’s still out, but some studies have shown shoeless running can reduce injuries. And of course there have been great barefoot long-distance runners, including Olympic gold medalist Abebe Bikila and South African Zola Budd.

We prefer to keep our kicks on when pounding the pavement, but can’t help but salute anyone committed enough to get their exercise while stepping on all the scary crap — literal and otherwise — you find on the pavements of our fair cities.

But you shoeless runners? Marathoner Irene Sewell of Chattanooga, Tennessee, drinks your milkshake! She... Read More