You can get them without the suede footbed to avoid animal products. And yes, they ARE plastic, but way less plastic than regular running shoes.

So it’s like running in flip flops except they can’t fall off your feet.

I definitely don’t suggest running in flip flops. I only wore them down hill to avoid hard impact with pebbles on the trail. Otherwise, barefoot was way more comfortable than flip flops.

Yes, I used mapmyrun.com. Loved it!

I’m so amazed you could run in flip flops. I think I’d trip. I think it would be hard to run and keep them from falling off. The running sandals have a thong but also tie on to your ankle so they can’t come off.

So glad you brought up barefoot running! I actually forgot my shoes when I ran the 10K last weekend, so I ended it up running it half way in my flip flops and half way barefoot. (And I was still the second female finished!). I thought it would hurt, but I loved it! That was my first barefoot running experience, and I am planning to test it out more.

Aside from my newfound interest in barefoot running, I typically wear a pair of sneakers. They are synthetic (i.e. plastic) because I don’t buy leather. I’m usually not too picky about my shoes in general. This pair is three years old, at least. They have a little hole on the fabric in the side, but I think they’ll last me a while longer. I’ll keep the running sandals in mind when I do need a new pair though.

Actually, I have been cursing the running sandals (the ones with the toes). I went to the REI used gear sale a couple weeks ago, and there were SO many pairs of running sandals. They must be relatively new since that fad has just recently took off. I got mad seeing so many because I assume that means there are a lot more people that bought the shoes, don’t really use them, and just keep them in their closet or throw them out. That’s a different rant. I do agree that they are a great less plastic alternative for running.

I am planning on running a half marathon in September. I got into running lately because of the plastic challenge. Long story short, I convinced my partner to participate in the plastics challenge and in return I had to start running with him. Not a bad deal. Anyway, my idea for the half marathon is to get 13 of my friends to sponsor me for each of the 13 miles. Each sponsor will pledge to do something to reduce their plastic footprint, and in return I have to run – not walk – the mile that they sponsored. If I walk, then I owe them something – maybe a bamboo utensil travel kit or something. If I run the whole thing, I will pick a sponsor at random to win a prize. That doesn’t solve my plastic race swag, but I thought it might be a fun way to get people to think about what they can do to reduce plastic waste.

I like the Lush Toothy Tabs. They are not perfect — I mentioned the drawbacks in my post. But I like brushing with them. But soap is probably the least impact if you can stand the taste. A lot of people like it.

I know all about the racing swag. I used to run races too. After I started the no plastic thing, I would just take out the race number (which itself is of course plastic, but I collected them for my scrapbook) and maybe the shirt and hand the rest of the stuff back. I don’t know what they do with it, but I felt like I was making a statement that all that unrequested crap was not always wanted. I never wrote to the race organizers, but that would be a good idea too.

Glad to see you back!