Hey all! I am a regular runner & have been putting in about 35-40 miles per week for the past five years or so. I read BORN TO RUN, bought some VIBRAMS, & thought I would make a move toward more minimal shoes & mix in some barefoot running.
Here is what I have done so far.
1. Read BORN TO RUN (check)
2. Bought VIBRAMS & wore them all winter to try to strengthen my calves & lower legs. (check. I can walk around in them w/ no pain now.)
3. Read several books on barefoot running (e.g. FOR DUMMIES) & got the gist of it --> curl toes, bend knees way too much, relax calf & foot, increase cadence.
4. Started running on trails concentrating on footstrike & cadence. IT FELT GREAT. Started thinking that the transition may not be so bad because I was improving my running biomechanics.
4. Changed my regular running shoes to a more minimal shoe as a step toward mixing in VIBRAMS and barefoot and.....BANG --> intense pain in right calf. I ran through it in the middle of a one hour run. Took several days off. Ran again & felt pain after running 25 mins so waited 4-5 days. took a week off & just went on a run a few days ago. 9 mins & 45 secs --> pain.
So I'm taking a week off at least. I am very interested in maximizing my mileage barefoot, but I don't know if I have "the right stuff." Here is my plan. (I am also open to any other suggestions from more experienced barefoot runners who have made the transition.)
1. cross-train. I swim & bike. I am trying to use the biking to partially offset my time running & concentrating on the "upswing" when pedalling to keep that feeling of "lifting your feet" when barefoot running. I am also using the elliptical & focusing on my running form while on there (i.e., "lifting" w/ hamstring vs "pushing" w/ quads). I have also added yoga to my list of things to do since I read somewhere that it strengthens your feet & should help me to develop muscle groups & core strength to build up my barefoot running.
I have an on-line running log & it is depressing to see how this injury bug has taken me down.
2. be patient. (this is the hardest for me). I am going to try to wait two weeks before trying running again. I read Barefoot Ken/Bob's book & he suggests a MWF plan that has you run barefoot 5 mins, 5 mins, 10 mins week 1 (& moves up from there over a period of time). Anyone else have any alternate training plans? I want to get on track but I am very frustrated right now.
Barefoot running was supposed to protect me from injury and I need to work through this calf pain to get back in the swing of things. I also have some pain behind my right knee & when I do yoga I can feel my right hamstring is tighter than my left. Any other suggestions for cross-training? I am going to try jump rope (to strengthen my feet/calves), lunges, & running in place for short periods to get the feel.
This may be way too much info for a newbie, but I could use any and all help. Thanks in advance! shawshank.
Here is what I have done so far.
1. Read BORN TO RUN (check)
2. Bought VIBRAMS & wore them all winter to try to strengthen my calves & lower legs. (check. I can walk around in them w/ no pain now.)
3. Read several books on barefoot running (e.g. FOR DUMMIES) & got the gist of it --> curl toes, bend knees way too much, relax calf & foot, increase cadence.
4. Started running on trails concentrating on footstrike & cadence. IT FELT GREAT. Started thinking that the transition may not be so bad because I was improving my running biomechanics.
4. Changed my regular running shoes to a more minimal shoe as a step toward mixing in VIBRAMS and barefoot and.....BANG --> intense pain in right calf. I ran through it in the middle of a one hour run. Took several days off. Ran again & felt pain after running 25 mins so waited 4-5 days. took a week off & just went on a run a few days ago. 9 mins & 45 secs --> pain.
So I'm taking a week off at least. I am very interested in maximizing my mileage barefoot, but I don't know if I have "the right stuff." Here is my plan. (I am also open to any other suggestions from more experienced barefoot runners who have made the transition.)
1. cross-train. I swim & bike. I am trying to use the biking to partially offset my time running & concentrating on the "upswing" when pedalling to keep that feeling of "lifting your feet" when barefoot running. I am also using the elliptical & focusing on my running form while on there (i.e., "lifting" w/ hamstring vs "pushing" w/ quads). I have also added yoga to my list of things to do since I read somewhere that it strengthens your feet & should help me to develop muscle groups & core strength to build up my barefoot running.
I have an on-line running log & it is depressing to see how this injury bug has taken me down.
2. be patient. (this is the hardest for me). I am going to try to wait two weeks before trying running again. I read Barefoot Ken/Bob's book & he suggests a MWF plan that has you run barefoot 5 mins, 5 mins, 10 mins week 1 (& moves up from there over a period of time). Anyone else have any alternate training plans? I want to get on track but I am very frustrated right now.
Barefoot running was supposed to protect me from injury and I need to work through this calf pain to get back in the swing of things. I also have some pain behind my right knee & when I do yoga I can feel my right hamstring is tighter than my left. Any other suggestions for cross-training? I am going to try jump rope (to strengthen my feet/calves), lunges, & running in place for short periods to get the feel.
This may be way too much info for a newbie, but I could use any and all help. Thanks in advance! shawshank.