Do these children look like they need shoes?

During last year's Barefoot Run at Governors Island I ran into a mother while picking up my packet. She had her two kids with her, around 6 and 8 or so. She had registered for the run. I asked her if they were going to run with her. She told me she they weren't old enough to run barefoot. I bit my tongue.

I've managed to not wear shoes for days now, through walking around town, playing drunken tag, long creekwalks, kayaking, running to and from home, and even at work. I'm lucky my boss is favorable to things like being barefoot and letting my hair and beard go. Before you know it, I'll be catching up to these little fellas.