My father uses the KSO model. The Vibram shoes are really good and comfortable. I myself am still contemplating whether to get one.
Spjerre: If you're serious about this, be sure to get these shoes; they're just as good as "real" barefoot running. And, with FiveFingers, you can go anywhere (though it may be embarrassing) while still walking "barefoot" without worry of stepping on something harmful/sharp.
Now, onto your actual message, lemme first say that my dad and I are runners at heart and enjoy Cross Country. We also work on technique, specifically concerning the feet. Since I started running with my dad several years ago, I've never walked on my heels, even in tennis/running shoes; you don't have to be barefoot to have good posture and walk "correctly". Knowing that, I also want to make one correction before moving on: never—and I mean never—run on your heels, even when in shoes; you can ask any true good runner and they will tell you that running on your heels with shoes/spikes on will not only make you slower, but also cause damage to your body later in your life. You should always land your feet on the "flat" part of your foot as best as possible.
Anyways, my main point was this: Don't be dumb and think through these things. Don't mean to sound harsh, but barefoot running is unfortunately hard to do nowadays. Running on rough, hot roads is not a good idea when you haven't been barefoot running for a long time.
Our bodies have become so accustomed to shoes by the time we're ages 3 or 4 that our feet start to "forget" how to walk "like they did for our ancestors." In order to train your feet into a good state for barefoot running, go to a park or any place with a lot of grass/soft terrain. If the ground's bumpy, that's okay. What you're looking for is cushioning for your feet. Thus, also keep in mind that your feet can only take so much of this barefoot running during the first few months. If your feet are hurting really bad (meaning that they're sore, but necessarily hurting for a burn ;] ), then stop, get home as quickly as home, give your feet a break, and wear shoes for the rest of the day when you need to. You can resume your training the next day.
Moving on, the basic idea for training oneself into barefoot running is:
First run on soft terrain so that you can build calluses and get your feet used to the idea of barefoot running. You want to do this for about a month, maybe slightly less or slightly more than. For example, go to a local park and run barefoot there on the grass or anything soft, avoiding sidewalks or concrete unless you're walking.
When your feet have stopped aching and when you can run for a (very) long time barefoot on soft terrain, slowing move onto roads and other hard surfaces. Like how you spent a long time training your body to run without shoes on soft places, it's time you did the same on hard surfaces. Also make sure your have good posture and good running form with your feet (e.g., you run on your balls of the feet instead of the heels). Running incorrectly on hard surfaces will not only hurt short-term, but will damage you in the long run.
If you do it correctly, your feet should eventually become tough enough and "shaped" properly where you can run anywhere barefoot without a lot of pain or issues. Just remember to have "grow" those calluses and take care of your feet!
There is a book that has some good info on this subject. The book also goes further into depth than I have here and will explain things much better. Here's the wiki page.
And, here's something that NPR did with that author about running (etc.) that I heard awhile ago on the radio. There was an hour-long show with Chris on my local station last month, but I unfortunately cannot find it.
Oh! One more correction. Barefoot running is not new. Not at all. It's been around for a long time. The only reason many are thinking that it's "new" is because the "movement" has been picking up momentum over the past 5-10 years. Why? Because, like how people are trying to eat healthier after decades of fast food, people are trying to return to the "natural human state-of-being" where our feet don't rely on shoes. Oh, and because there are many benefits to barefoot running, the pros definitely outweigh the cons.
Sorry, Potshot. But if you train correctly, ringworm won't be an issue after some time. Why did our ancestors never have serious issues (or, for that matter, never die) from things like ringworm when they ran barefoot?
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All criticism aside, I hope you succeed in this goal, man! It's a great new lifestyle to achieve and I wish you best of luck. Feel free to PM me if you ever have any questions, need advice, etc.
Sincerely,
A Running Enthusiast
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