Did I say something wrong?? I
Did I say something wrong?? I didn't mean to offend anyone if I did.
But that shoe ad is pretty much what I'm talking about. We have been programmed for so long that we need to run in "shoes", that we have "unshoes", "barefoot shoes", shoes that supposedly simulate BFR.
But I think it was Ken Bob who said that there is no such thing as a "barefoot shoe", there is running in shoes and there is running barefoot.
And I'm a part of the "now" culture as well. I wanted to run in a race today that my bare feet just weren't ready for, so I threw on my VFFs. What I wanted was to go from running shoes straight to barefoot, with no fall off of mileage or speed.
It didn't take me long (like 1 minute) to figure out it didn't work like that. But a lot of people aren't going to take a step backwards in their running training to change.
After my race today, a lady stopped me and asked about my VFFs. I was telling her how much I liked them and she indicated she might get a pair. But when I mentioned that my real goal was to run barefoot...well, I don't quite know how to describe the look on her face. But I think to her I just became an alien life form.
Last week I was in a running store, and it had been a while since I have been in one. I couldn't believe the amount of display space taken up with shoe INSERTS. I believe there is something wrong with that whole picture.
And I'm not asking anyone to agree, or disagree, with me. But I would like to think we can have differing views of something and still maintain our sense of community. Kind if a "agree to disagree" sort of thing.
I think more people will run barefoot "after" they have moved to minimalist shoes. For me, running barefoot (and the process of getting there) is a journey, rather than a destination. At least that is where I am now.
Sorry for the long post. I appreciate that I have this "place" where others may be going through the same stuff.
Cheers!