I run barefoot only for hills workouts when we run them at this grass park.  It's nice then because it feels nice on the legs especially for early season.

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we have a local runner who does it for every race no matter what the conditions are

Barefoot running improves lower leg strength but what I think is most important is that it promotes proper running form. It seemed to work for Art Lydiard's athletes and more recently for Vin Lanana's athletes at Stanford. Personally I love running barefoot which is why I hate the winter. Now I have to cut back on the barefoot stuff but I'll still do things like cooldowns barefoot on the track through the winter.
The best thing is to try it out.

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I'd like to try that, but I'm too chicken. I'd feel like a loser running with no shoes. Eh, whatever.

I'm bumping this ancient thread because there aren't too many barefoot threads around.

I recently started reading some of this barefoot running stuff, and the book "Born to Run" by Chris McDougall, and I have owned a pair of  vibram fivefingers for a few years. So, I gave it a try...

Running barefoot (or with minimal footwear) is GREAT! I'm a slowpoke normally, (10:00 to 10:20 or so per mile), but my first run with the VFFs was 9:30 per mile! It is really noticeable how little mass is on your feet with VFFs. I stupidly did 3.1 miles on my first run with them... and blistered my feet in a few places, and I'm still fighting that issue, but the callouses are coming in nicely. I've done six runs so far in them, and really like it. I have always had crazy strong calves (like an upside down Popeye), so I may have an advantage, but I'd like to encourage folks to read more about it, and maybe give it a try. I expected it to be hellish, but it is really fun... just go short on the first few!

I'm a recent convert. I'm up to about 3 miles barefoot now. I haven't ever been a runner, I'm on week 6 of couch to 5K. Never ran because my knees "couldn't take it"

I had to take a few weeks off from couch to 5K after injuring my knee while wearing running shoes-transitioned to Vibram FF's and then was advised to go cold turkey in order to refine my form, and I have to say it's great. Friday's run will be the test- previously, I've done great until run 3 of the week and then started limping in pain mid-run. Hopefully my gloating about running barefoot won't bite me on Friday.

I'm still going. 3.2 miles last night barefoot and no twinges until the very end when I was getting tired. (I'm a novice runner)

the big tell is that there is no, literally NO pain today - not mucles, not joints.

I could have gone longer last night, but my form is funny so I get a blister on one toe- that's the only thing holding my distance back.