[goofygrin]

Zero drop shoes (altra for my front feet specifically) and Vibram five fingers cured my shin splints. As soon as I switched I went from one mile = deadly pain to 3 miles feeling like an easy walk. Obviously I have some mechanical issue but if a funny looking pair of shoes works... Well great =)

[raamdev]

I can vouch for Vibram FF, or even better, straight-barefoot. I was always told that I had "weak ankles" by doctors as a teenager and I was never able to run more than 3-4 miles regularly without developing extreme shin splints and knee pain that would leave me barely able to walk and require several weeks, if not months, of recovery.

In 2010 I started wearing Vibram Five Fingers exclusively. In 2011, I started wearing Huaraches [1] which are even more minimalist than Vibram FFs (and a lot more natural--when I'm not barefoot, I wear huaraches), then in 2012 I went straight barefoot.

In September of 2012, I ran 17 miles non-stop [2], barefoot (all types of surfaces, including rain). And note that I went from running on average 2-5 miles a day to deciding one day that I'd just keep running.

I had never experienced such freedom and I can now run what feels like any distance, as long as I'm running barefoot (my current goal is a marathon, then an ultramarathon).

As others have mentioned, it takes time to let your body adapt. I've been using a custom-built IKEA standing desk [3] for the past year. For the past few months, I stand 8-10 hours a day at this desk while working (barefoot, of course, on a hardwood floor). But, I also walk 2-5 miles every day (~10k steps).

If you want to start standing at a desk all day, start by walking a lot more so that your body learns what it's like to be on your feet for longer periods of time. Oh, and don't just stand at the desk for 8 hours. I take a break every 2-3 hours and go for a 10-15 minute walk to keep my muscles moving.

[1]: http://shoestringfootwear.com

[2]: http://i.imgur.com/ec7mYgB.png

[3]: https://twitter.com/RaamDev/status/320593781240000514/photo/...

[bendecoste]

If you go this route (which I also recommend), make sure you adjust your striking appropriately, you'll want to land mostly on the balls of your feet or your toes. Landing heel first in zero drop shoes will give you shin splints like you wouldn't believe.

[ambrop7]

I got some zero drop shoes some time ago. I've been running with a forefoot strike ever since, but with those shoes the muscles on the back of my legs start to hurt consistently about 25 minutes into the run. If I continue, the damage could take up to 2 weeks to repair before I can run again.

I still run with the zero drop shoes small distances from time to time, but it doesn't look like I'll ever be able to get the the point where I can run as fast and/or as long as with regular running shoes. Granted, I'm a relatively fast runner (usually 9km in 45min) and it may work better for lighter running.

[Bill_Dimm]

Also, be aware that the muscles you use when running that way are very different (much more calf muscle involvement) and you need to build up to it gradually. I was told once to start off running 15% of the distance you did when heel-striking and build up gradually. Also, speaking from my personal experience, if you start to feel a calf muscle tighten up, stop IMMEDIATELY and stretch it. This may be helpful: http://www.barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu/

[comicjk]

Note to prospective Vibram users: watch your running surface. I had a good few months with Vibrams until I got a stress fracture in the ball of my left foot. If you are going to be doing long distances on a hard surface, you need to build up very slowly or use a softer shoe.

[14113]

More importantly - go to a sports shop where they have trained professionals who can adequately assess your needs, and depend on them for advice - not a stranger on the internet.