Hey From New Mexico

Refoman

Barefooters
May 8, 2013
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114
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Albuquerque New Mexico
I just finished reading Jason Robillard's The Barefoot Running Book and found this site. Currently running in New Balance Minimus, I've been gravitating toward minimal running for several years. In spite of my whole-hearted belief in barefoot running, I don't know if I'll ever be able to make the final leap from the Minimus to bare foot. My (intellectual) excuses are that I run early (in the dark) and part of my route is along an arroyo (drainage ditch) that has lots of "goat heads" (nasty stickers) and dog poo. I'm almost embarrassed to say I worked in my bare feet a couple of times this week for the first time. Let's just say that it was an interesting experience.

I'm looking forward to talking to other like-minded folks. I'm the only one I know that is even close to this.
 
Welcome, Refo. Take the transition slow and steady to avoid injuries, and keep exploring barefoot. It's as much more enjoyable and valuable than minimal running as minimal running is compared to high heeled running shoe running. And running truly barefoot will really help you dial your form into optimal, which will also benefit your minimal running. Glad to have you with us.
 
Welcome, Refo. Unfortunately, our New Mexico Chapter is quiet these days. Perhaps that will change, let's hope.
 
^^What Phil said. I wear minimalist running moccasins some, but nothing compares to bare feet! Glad to have you around -
Thanks for the welcome. I'm still trying to wrap my head around that last little piece and just go barefoot. I'm thinking I will take my shoes off and maybe add a half mile barefoot after my regular run sometime this week. I know it's the right thing to do. It's just that last little bit...for me.
 
Indeed it is, sir. My next door neighbor here is the sister of one of my former military colleagues from an assignment in Germany 18 years ago. Although I do have to say after 14 recent year stretch in Atlanta, I'm glad I'm not in Charlotte (Atlanta II).
I haven't been there to see them yet (we're not very close). I don't know how I will like it. I'm a card-carrying desert rat. We complain about the humidity when it approaches 30%. And while we have a beautiful (albeit dry--we're having an extreme drought) forest 10 minutes from town, I love the openness and wide vistas of the desert.
 
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I'm a Tennessee hillbilly, and we rejoice on the rare occasion the humidity drops down near 30%. I've spent about a year and a half of my life in deserts, and I'm glad to be back in more comfortable (for me) territory among trees and hills and abundant water. I hope you can appreciate the contrast between your open and free but sparsely populated desert and the closer, damper, overwhelmingly life-filled environment of the deeply wooded south. I will say that you won't find much life or many trees around Charlotte, so don't use that as your gauge. It's something like a cement desert with none of the positives. If everybody loved the ancient hills, or even those newbies out west, we'd all live on top of each other. Variety is a good thing and helps keep us healthy.
 
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Hey Refo - welcome. I too run in the dark - use one of those small but very bright LED flashlights - and it is brilliant for avoiding stones, casuarina berries, (very sharp - from the casuarina, Australian pine or iron tree) doggy doos and horse apples. Glass immediately shines back at you as well. I too thought that I would never run completely bf - but I have now gotten to the point where I have ditched my VFF's and run solely bf. The secret is to take it slow and steady and enjoy.
 
Hi Ronnie, I've got an LED headlight that I use and it works great. I tried my evil plan of going barefoot for a bit after my regular run this morning. I learned very quickly that the pavement on the bike path where I run, is not nearly as smooth as it looks. Its consistency is more like chip and seal (due to the lack of heavier traffic?). It would have shredded my feet had I gone very far. I need to work on toughing up my feet.
 
Hi Ronnie, I've got an LED headlight that I use and it works great. I tried my evil plan of going barefoot for a bit after my regular run this morning. I learned very quickly that the pavement on the bike path where I run, is not nearly as smooth as it looks. Its consistency is more like chip and seal (due to the lack of heavier traffic?). It would have shredded my feet had I gone very far. I need to work on toughing up my feet.

Sensible plan - toughen up. If you run in the dark - you can always do what I did - run a little ways with your running shoes on your hands - then when the soles start to sting - stop and put the shoes on. If you get VFF's - then you can do the same thing except tuck them in the waistband of your running shorts when not wearing them. It certainly speeded up the process for me. Got a few weird looks from the occasional person I saw when running with my shoes on my hands! The funniest was when I stumbled upon a pair of teenagers at 5AM who were getting to know each other a bit better. Not sure who was more shocked - me or them. At any rate - a cheery "Good morning" from me and I kept running!
 
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I like your idea with VFFs. I took off my shoes after this morning's run and walked a bit to get home. I'll try to keep increasing this distance.

The funniest was when I stumbled upon a pair of teenagers at 5AM who were getting to know each other a bit better. Not sure who was more shocked - me or them. At any rate - a cheery "Good morning" from me and I kept running!

This morning I saw a car parked in a weird place then started hearing noise from some bushes just off of the trail (I didn't wear my headlight today--I really don't like wearing it--the less I can wear, the better) and then a man, wearing running attire, steps out onto the trial and gives me a cheery "How's it going?" I said "good" and kept running very glad he went the other way.

You may think I am a nut job saying in my into that I run in the dark, then admit to you that I have a headlight. Please note that those are my excuses for not running barefoot. In reality, there are probably more goat heads in my backyard than along the trail and the dog poo is almost always off to the side. In ten years of running along that path/trail, I don't remember stepping onto anything unsavory.
 
No dude - a nut job is someone who runs in the dark and does not have a flashlight to show on what he is planting his feet! Likewise I learned real quick not to run in puddles where you could not see what was in the puddle or on leaves that could be hiding an upturned rock or piece of glass. Luckily I learned of these dangers through reading other people's misfortunes. I hope the chip and seal roadway is not too rough. I have a rough patch of that stuff that I walk over to get to my running trail. If I had to run on that stuff - not sure I would be barefoot running at all. I only have 11 steps on that stuff and believe me I count them every time I go out for a run! Keep us informed how you get on.
 
I took off my shoes after this morning's run and walked a bit to get home. I'll try to keep increasing this distance.
Barefoot walking is a great way to gradually build up your plantar skin. Mild chipseal is tough in the beginning, but after a while you'll get used to it. Like almost everything else, it just takes time. I ran on gravel last summer for the first time. Not so long ago, I wouldn't have thought it possible, even though I've been a casual barefooter most of my adult life.
 
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Welcome Refoman! I just finished The Barefoot Running Book as well. I dig how simple and straightforward it is. I struggle with excuses too, although mine usually have to do with cold weather :eek: Running is such a mental process.
 
I like your idea with VFFs. I took off my shoes after this morning's run and walked a bit to get home. I'll try to keep increasing this distance.



This morning I saw a car parked in a weird place then started hearing noise from some bushes just off of the trail (I didn't wear my headlight today--I really don't like wearing it--the less I can wear, the better) and then a man, wearing running attire, steps out onto the trial and gives me a cheery "How's it going?" I said "good" and kept running very glad he went the other way.

You may think I am a nut job saying in my into that I run in the dark, then admit to you that I have a headlight. Please note that those are my excuses for not running barefoot. In reality, there are probably more goat heads in my backyard than along the trail and the dog poo is almost always off to the side. In ten years of running along that path/trail, I don't remember stepping onto anything unsavory.

Don't get caught in the "everyday I must go further" line of thought. There are going to be times when you hit a plateau - and you don't feel right about going further. Take a day or two off - give yourself time to recover. I am renovating a cottage - and the last two weekends spent the entire weekend BF - painting, plastering, pouring concrete - walking on all kinds of surfaces. Did the same thing after work last night for a couple of hours - end result - a very uncomfortable run this morning. Felt like all the little rocks in the world had come out to say hello to my metatarsals and heels. If I had had my VFF's with me - I would have put them on! So guess what - if I run tomorrow morning (depends on how much my dogs can make me feel guilty for not running with them with those big brown eyes) it will be in VFF's.
 
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A little late to the party I am, but it is good to see one our 50 is not missing.

Where in New Mexico are you Refoman?

Prior to living here in the Raleigh-Durham area, we owned a home in Eldorado (Santa Fe). My mother-in-law and her s.o. live in San Lorenzo on the Mimbres Hot Springs Ranch, as does my brother-in-law. They all work in Silver City at the hospital or teach (my MIL teaches art).
 
Thanks for the advice and affirmation everyone!

Luckily I learned of these dangers through reading other people's misfortunes. I hope the chip and seal roadway is not too rough. I have a rough patch of that stuff that I walk over to get to my running trail. If I had to run on that stuff - not sure I would be barefoot running at all.

I'm trying to learn all I can from these forums. There's a lot of info here (and cool people!). My chip and seal observation turned out to be a newbe mistake. Apparently, that is the texture of the black top in this part of town--bike trail as well as the street in front of my house. Either way, it's rough. I walked on it several times and I have made a couple short runs on it as well. My feet don't really sting afterwards, but I can feel it. The discomfort disapates fairly quickly, however. I will try to add to length of the run tomorrow--if my feet can stand it. The short runs have been too short to get any feel for form, stride and foot strike.

Welcome Refoman! I just finished The Barefoot Running Book as well. I dig how simple and straightforward it is. I struggle with excuses too, although mine usually have to do with cold weather :eek: Running is such a mental process.

I'm working through the excuses. I'm running barefoot in the dark with a headlight. I'm trying not to think about the cold--yet.

Don't get caught in the "everyday I must go further" line of thought. There are going to be times when you hit a plateau - and you don't feel right about going further. Take a day or two off - give yourself time to recover.

That's good advice--especially for someone who really competes with himself. I try to "listen to my body." I really wanted to run this morning, but I made it a rest day.

I'm excited about tomorrow's run. I've been looking forward to it all day.