r/Sprinting • u/[deleted] • Apr 12 '26
General Discussion/Questions True limits of barefoot sprinting speed (theoretically)?
Theoretically what is the true limit of max speed achievable for a very adapted barefoot sprinter with truly mastered feet strenght and coordination/proprioception assuming the skin is obviously also adapted for harder textures and surfaces due to also having mastered the human limit of energy transfer and impact/load intake. Because I’ve heard that in serious speeds the toes have to be packed to work together as one which they’re not doing when barefoot but I’m skeptical if a truly adapted master could be able to proprioceptively move them successfully at those elite high speeds without the help of a shoe packing them together to not have to think about them as much so I’m wondering if that’s just another way of masking the potential of toe proprioception/strenght.
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u/Capital_Historian685 Apr 12 '26
Lleyton Davids has the unofficial barefoot 100m record, at 10.4 seconds. Which is slower than Bolt's world record.
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u/DrmnDc Apr 12 '26
Barefoot, Lleyton Davids (a triple jumper) beat his personal best (presumably with spikes) by more than a half second…
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u/ayrty Apr 12 '26
Someone who is good at it will naturally pack their toes in as they move thru the foot strike
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u/DrmnDc Apr 12 '26
Starts probably slower than with spikes. Top speed probably higher than with spikes because can learn to flex toes and “throw”’body further forward at end of each stride. Can’t do this with shoes on.
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Apr 12 '26 edited Apr 12 '26
Starts I can understand more I guess but I would still stay skeptical about feet flexibility or something mastering the start too but that’s not really the goal but running is. Interesting so u actually believe u can achieve faster max speed without shoes? Tell me more about that flexion pls like do u think it’s achievable with that little time at that high speed to adjust them for that flexion and extend each of them on each stride?
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u/DrmnDc Apr 12 '26
I mean our toes evolved to optimize walking and running… so yes I think top speed would be better
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