No Barefoot This Week :(

I think I need to skip the barefoot running this week. I have a 1/2 marathon in a few days, so I want my feet good and ready for the race. This is my 2nd half of the summer and my last. I think I'm going to stick to 5-10Ks for the rest of the season. This means I'll also be able to do more barefoot running since I won't be focusing so much on distance.

I'd also like to note that the daily mile tracker that I added is pretty much all "shod" running. I think there's a total of 1.5 miles of barefoot running in those miles.

That's all for now! Another update after the 1/2 this Saturday!

Barefoot Running.....The Book!

So I forgot to post pictures of the book I got when I went to the clinic on Monday. So here it is! I had both Michael Sandler and Jessica Lee sign it. I just started reading it. Although, I'm also in the middle of "Born to Run" so I need to read that too. 

On kind of a side note, when I got home, my Mother-In-Law told me that the daycare asked for shoes for my daughter. She's not quite 9 months old. I told her not unless it's a requirement! That girl will be barefoot as much as possible! And so will I! :D

The Book!

"Grow your strongest feet ever & fly like Wonder Woman!" - Jessica Lee

"Baby steps now to fly over time. Run Free!" - Michael Sandler

Runnin' with the Hubby!

I had planned on just doing a short barefoot run today, but my husband Chris wanted to go for a run with me! Maybe it's because he's running his first 5K in about 10 days and I know a little bit about running races, OR he just wanted to run with me. :) Either way, we did about 4 miles and then I did a short BF run. Just a half mile, but it felt great! I didn't step on one rock and I just love the way the asphalt and concrete feel while barefoot! I did get harassed again before I ran (and a little after too), but I just use it as an "educational opportunity". I'd say another successful run!

Barefoot Running Clinic!

Last night I had the opportunity to see Michael Sandler and Jessica Lee at a small barefoot running clinic. It was a great experience to hear about someone who overcame so much to go from not being able to walk to now running up to 30 miles a day...barefoot! I learned a lot about how to get started and to transition from my Asics Kayanos to barefoot. It will take a long while, but I know I'll get there! I need to start by alternating between the shoes I have and barefoot running. Then I'll need to get some racing flats or something close to that before I can go completely barefoot. I think this will be good for me, for this running season, because I want to keep up some of my good race times and still learn to barefoot! I think by next season I hope to be completely barefoot. But for now...I'll just do a short barefoot run tomorrow morning!

My first two barefoot running attempts

08/16/10

 

1^st barefoot run. Did 0.6 miles on the treadmill just to try to feel out the form of running barefoot. The belt was a little warm, but easy to run on. Then I just ran about .25 around my block. Just before I stopped my right foot found a nice rock. I have a little bruise on my pad just under the big toe. It’s a little tender, but it hasn’t stopped me from doing anything. I put a little ice on it to keep any swelling down. Otherwise a good first experience!

08/18/10

 

2^nd barefoot run. Ran ½ mile, walked 0.3, ran 0.8 totaling 1.5 miles. Felt pretty great! My bruise didn’t bother me at all. I can tell my calves are tight and my feet are a little raw, but not too much. Running felt like stepping on the tar that is put in cracks in asphalt. Surprisingly soft! I could totally tell the difference between concrete and asphalt too. Concrete is way smoother. I had some “hecklers” while I was running. They were telling me to put some shoes on or asking where my shoes were and “You’re going to step on a rock!” comments. It was great! Going to give it a rest for a few days and then back to it.I don't want to go too crazy at first. Don't need any stress fractures! Plus I'm still doing some "shod" running. I have a 1/2 marathon in about 2 weeks. Then we'll see where I need to go from there.

 

 I'm also going to a barefoot running clinic on Monday. I am very excited!! It's with Michael Sandler, author of "Barefoot Running: How to become healthy, fit, and blissful by getting in touch with the earth" and owner of www.runbare.com It's a great site!

  

Until next time...stay bare!

Nice and dirty!

Right after the run!

 

 

 

 

So why blog about barefoot running?

Because everyone's doing it, of course! :P OK really....partly for myself. I want to keep a record of how I started and how I (am hoping) progress. And partly for anyone (be it one other person) else that may come across this journal of events. I want to record what it’s like for someone who’s just starting (aka from complete scratch) to get into barefoot running. Maybe it will help others get into it themselves or just explain why run barefoot at all.

 

How did I get into barefoot running? I myself am not even completely sure! We started talking about it at work and all of a sudden I was researching Vibram Five Fingers and ready to buy a pair. A few days later I had my brand new KSOs on my feet. That’s when the research started. Now I've decided to try running completely barefoot. Those KSOs are great for going places where I have to wear shoes.

Now, I'm no doctor or specialist or professional runner (shod or unshod). In fact, as of this first post, I've only done 2 (very short) barefoot runs. So, this isn't a "how to run barefoot" blog...this is more of a "let's see how it goes" blog.

Enjoy!