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Oakville runner starts a barefoot business
An Oakville woman’s running style is turning a lot of heads on the trails. While most runners add extra layers in the winter, Sue Kenney is taking one off: “One day I just felt like taking my shoes and socks off to walk barefoot and when I did it, it felt so good.”
Sue Kenney used to spend a lot of time in the woods in hiking boots. But about four years ago, she decided to ditch the footwear.
Kenney: “It’s a different style of running it works your core body your core muscles.”
“What you want to do is actually lift your feet up and land mid stroke, so either on the ball of your foot or kind of down flat.”
Kenney started researching the benefits of barefooting, and found running without shoes did wonders for her soles.
“My posture changed, I felt like I had more energy, more clarity, more flexibility more balance more strength.”
For Kenney, it’s all about connecting with the ground. So while she will run on gravel or pavement she says barefooting is best on sand, snow, grass and of course the mud.
She designed the footwear.
Kenney sells her shoes online. A suede pair will cost you $60, or $25 for neoprene.
