Impure thoughts?... the lure of shoes.
So Sunday I tried a new trail in the area. It was supposed to be an easy day. I planned a nice relaxing barefoot run. The new spot held promise if it worked out. I had skied it once before a couple of winters ago. It was closer to home than my usual haunts, flatter, and even more scenic too. The day before my run a 5 mile trail race was held on the very course I was to set out on. It was going to be good day.
The head of the trail had some nasty gravel and rocks. No biggie... relax, pick you path and you'll get past it. At every turn I found more and more of the same... gravel and rocks... gravel and rocks... okay this is starting to smart. A mile in and that's when the real doubts began to creep in. As I stepped lightly, in more of a painful ouch walk than even a jog... I started wishing I had something... anything.... on my feet. I passed a hiker in Nikes and thought for one brief moment that even a cushy over built shoe sure would feel good about now.
I also started thinking about Fall. Soon leaves will be covering the trails I run. And even though most are not as gnarly to foot as this one... I still wonder if I will be able to safely run them bare. Under leaf there will be roots and more rocks, stones, and gravel too... and since it will be Fall there will almost certainly be my nemesis... the dreaded ACORN. How will my bare feet handle these hidden dangers? Will the leaf cover help or hurt?
I only did 2 miles on Sunday... I left the trail I had such high hopes for defeated and a little ashamed.
***
Whether or not my fears of Fall trail running prove to be justified... I think it is time for me to start doing some of my training in minimal shoes. If only to have a backup plan for when conditions dictate.
I'll probably never give in to the false promise of comfort and safety that is the modern running shoe. Although It's my hope that BFR is teaching me to run properly... regardless of what I put on my feet. One thing is for sure, since I've only logged about 10 lifetime miles total running in any shoes at all - it will be a new experience.
S. Pimp.
So Sunday I tried a new trail in the area. It was supposed to be an easy day. I planned a nice relaxing barefoot run. The new spot held promise if it worked out. I had skied it once before a couple of winters ago. It was closer to home than my usual haunts, flatter, and even more scenic too. The day before my run a 5 mile trail race was held on the very course I was to set out on. It was going to be good day.
The head of the trail had some nasty gravel and rocks. No biggie... relax, pick you path and you'll get past it. At every turn I found more and more of the same... gravel and rocks... gravel and rocks... okay this is starting to smart. A mile in and that's when the real doubts began to creep in. As I stepped lightly, in more of a painful ouch walk than even a jog... I started wishing I had something... anything.... on my feet. I passed a hiker in Nikes and thought for one brief moment that even a cushy over built shoe sure would feel good about now.
I also started thinking about Fall. Soon leaves will be covering the trails I run. And even though most are not as gnarly to foot as this one... I still wonder if I will be able to safely run them bare. Under leaf there will be roots and more rocks, stones, and gravel too... and since it will be Fall there will almost certainly be my nemesis... the dreaded ACORN. How will my bare feet handle these hidden dangers? Will the leaf cover help or hurt?
I only did 2 miles on Sunday... I left the trail I had such high hopes for defeated and a little ashamed.
***
Whether or not my fears of Fall trail running prove to be justified... I think it is time for me to start doing some of my training in minimal shoes. If only to have a backup plan for when conditions dictate.
I'll probably never give in to the false promise of comfort and safety that is the modern running shoe. Although It's my hope that BFR is teaching me to run properly... regardless of what I put on my feet. One thing is for sure, since I've only logged about 10 lifetime miles total running in any shoes at all - it will be a new experience.
S. Pimp.