People's reactions when you run

At the beginning of my marathon today, my husband heard some people exclaiming about my bare feet. Another person "was in the know" and let them know that "yeah, she's been around. She ran the Shamrock Shuffle and the Great Potato." Dear Hubby says I'm making a name for myself.:D
 
So my daughter was in her lab class (She's in school to be a RN) and the topic was foot care. My daughter mentioned that her feet were a mess due to playing collegiate soccer in new soccer shoes. So somehow the subject changed to running and she mentioned that she runs in VFF's. The teacher for the course also mentioned that she takes part in tri's. Then some how the subject came to be about being barefoot. My daughter mentioned that her dad never wears shoes unless there is snow on the ground. Her instructor then mentioned that it must be a new trend or something because she always sees a older barefoot man running in her neighborhood with a very well behaved black dog. Then a little light went on in my daughters head and asked in what part of town did she live. Once she found out it was our neighborhood my daughter says "oh my god, that's my dad". I still don't know if she was proud or what. But she spend the next 1/2 hour talking about being barefoot. :D
 
While waiting for the race to start there were lots of looks but no comments or questions but this guy standing next to me asking me if I was going to run the race barefooted and when I said yes he goes, you know the road is very rough especially the metal bridge, I told him that there was nothing I could do about it and that I'll give it my best shot, he then said wow, you're my hero now.
During the race I overheard a guy telling his running partner when I passed them " wouldn't you think she could afford shoes" I felt like turning around to asking him if I looked like I couldn't afford shoes and tell him that shoes I could afford but injuries I could not. I thought better of it and let him him live with his ignorance.
Then I passed two girls and one of them pointed out that I was barefoot and the other girl said "yeah, I read something about it being more efficient but I don't buy it" I laughed at that because I left them behind.
The best part was after the race lots of people came to congratulate me with hugs and handshakes.
And that was when I became an AH:happy: and I LIKED IT:)
 
Wow Dama. I would've said something. They're being rude, you're just defending yourself. Which you shouldn't have to do.
 
In years of being barefoot in the local park and sometimes running barefoot on the local paths, I have never had a comment. This morning I went for my first truly barefoot trail run, passing many groups all decked out in their ankle hugging hiking boots and walking poles (just like I used to do, and still do on the occasional multi-day hike). I had 5 comments and many looks of derision.
1 her: "no shoes!" me: "yep"
2 her: "doesn't that hurt?" me: "not really"
3 her: pointing "hey! Look, no shoes!" me: pointing back "hey! Look, bad manners!" Well, that was in my head and I actually just said "yep no shoes"
4 him: (hiking up a mountain in knee length rubber boots - galoshes?) "you trying to toughen up yer feet?" me: "no just keeping them strong"
5 her: "is that like walking on fire?" I was almost back to the car and walking tenderly over the last very stony section so stopped and had a chat for a while about the various sections, how most of the track was ok but the long stony downhill was a bit difficult. She mentioned reading recent research and seemed interested. Just then her friend walked up in all her hiking gear (body armour), gave me a look of disgust and they headed off for their walk.
It was interesting, mostly the women commented and the men glanced and looked away quickly.
 
It was just all backwards. The path was straight for half a mile of visibility. There was me going one direction and a fellow about 30 years old going another. As he got close enough, I could see he was bare footed! I, too, was sans footwear, so I smiled and called out, "That's not something you see every day," refrring to 2 barefoot runners passing each other. His response was tepid and I was disappointed to see a lack of interest in meeting another barefoot runner. In telling of the encounter and recalling his face, I don't think he even saw my feet! I think he just thought he was dealing with another "clever" comment about his bare feet. Next time, if there one, I will say something more defining! How could he not notice, though!? Everyone else does, to the point that they all comment if I wear anything on my feet.
 
One comment I got yesterday was not while I was running but made by a young lady that I was coaching. It seems as soon as I got to the lanes where I coach she noticed that I had flip flops on (I had just come out of a restaurant that was not BF friendly). She looked at me and said with some disappointment in her voice, "Oh, you're wearing shoes". It seems that most of the YBC bowlers out of our center are now used to seeing one of their coaches without footwear.
 
I am in South San Francisco on business so I did my long run on the bay trail. As a shod runner was coming toward me there were a 3 or 4 late teen early 20 ladies. The shod runner said nice shoes, to which I responded thanks. The girls started laughing and one clapped.

Another lady stopped me to ask why and how long etc. She also wanted to see the bottoms of my feet. She was surprised when I told her I was about 10 miles into my run at that point. She was like your feet are not that dirty and they actually look soft.
 
Sometimes a person's initial reaction to seeing me running barefoot is a painful look on their face. I wonder if it is just because I'm running barefoot, or if I look like I'm in pain. I know sometimes when I'm running I probably look miserable. When I feel more relaxed and less like I'm working hard, people tend to receive me better, or perhaps I receive their reactions better. Sometimes that concerned look or comment reminds me to take it easy.
 
After the twin demons of Tropical Storm Faye (I've lived through enough hurricanes to know Faye was a hurricane!) and Hurricane Gonzalo - one week apart - the old railway trail I run on was blocked in so many places with downed trees. It took me 2 1/2 hours to cut a path from my house to the trail - only to discover really big trees prevented any further progress and left it to the pros with the big gear to sort out. So I stopped running.

After 3 weeks I began BF running on the road on a 2 mile loop sequentially with my dogs. Have seen a different group of folks on these runs - the amazing thing is - not one comment about my being barefoot! Ran into one of the folks that I used to see regularly on my trail runs at the dentist - and she advised the trail was open again - and ready for a barefoot runner! I will keep the present route in my training regimen though - it has a long uphill part - a little over 1/2 mile from bottom to top - to try and get the fitness level up again - and get used to running on chip/tar roads. (only got my internet and phone back this morning - after 47 days!)
 
I watched a guy almost get t-boned because he was staring at me running barefoot. He started to pull out into an intersection and then saw me and he just stopped to stare. Right in front of on coming traffic. What an idiot.
Today, a lady making a left turn in her SUV in my neighborhood stared long enough to make me think she might forget to check the intersection. She finally did turn her head. PhEw!!
 
Lady dog walkers: "Are you running in bare feet? Is it better?"
 
Sometimes a person's initial reaction to seeing me running barefoot is a painful look on their face. I wonder if it is just because I'm running barefoot, or if I look like I'm in pain. I know sometimes when I'm running I probably look miserable. When I feel more relaxed and less like I'm working hard, people tend to receive me better, or perhaps I receive their reactions better. Sometimes that concerned look or comment reminds me to take it easy.


Hopefully, I don't look like I am in pain! Most people seem to take it in stride. Though at least on two occasions, runners or dog walkers have warned me of possible broken glass hazards the encountered. Another guy pointed at my bare feet and said "way to go!"

Several neighbors have asked "why?" I can't really fully verbalize why yet. Though I enjoy running more. Is it just being the odd person in the crowd?