Thanks! (And I didn't mention my knee once ... opps.)Way to go Lee! Sounds like a great run/mix of everything. It's always fun meeting other bfr folks.
I guess it's a trade-off. I have pretty tame surfaces, but the residential scenery is even tamer .I do love my area for running if I don't have to worry about the pain from the pointy bits.
Yes I guess it is. I have this huge huge park with a lot of marsh land just 1.3 miles from the house. Once in the park it is great for bf running until you get past the flooded section about 1/2-3/4 of a mile. Then it gets pointy and that crap hurts, which I just am not going to run bf if I don't have to. I don't enjoy pain. Most of the rest of the park I run barefoot and love it, it's a cake walk and very easy to run without pain and I can run that as much as I want a week bf (within reason that is). That first 1.3 miles down to the park doesn't hurt much to run on, except for a 100'ish foot stretch, but it is really a gritty like surface which running multiple times a week wears down the soles pretty fast. I can only run barefoot on that stretch maybe twice a week. More than that and I get holes worn in my feet.I guess it's a trade-off. I have pretty tame surfaces, but the residential scenery is even tamer .
why does running in shoes have to suck so much.
T-Bear, you're going to have to find out what kind of barefoot runner you are, through experimenting and experience. Are you a purist like Ken Bob? Do you mostly like sandals or Vibrams? Do enjoy focusing on your run more than on your feet? There's a huge amount of variation among us and there's no one right way. Follow your bliss. That will give you the right answer. No one else can.but really i think, i have to work within my limitations... im happy to push myself, but really its not much fun running constantly running on stuff that hurts
thoughts? suggestions?
Technobear, Lee's advice is spot on. I am one of those that tried to go purist for quite a while, but I've found I am more of a minimalist depending on the running surface. If I run in the one half of the park by my house, I love to be barefoot, but if I get to the other side I want my sandals or minshoes. The sidewalks close to my house I prefer sandals or minshoes. You just have to find what works for YOU. I've found I love the feeling of barefoot if the running surface is very easy, but if my feet start hurting at all from running on surfaces like chip seal, then I prefer to run in sandals or minshoes. More power to those who like to run on those surfaces too, but for me it just strips away the fun for me if I am in pain.T-Bear, you're going to have to find out what kind of barefoot runner you are, through experimenting and experience. Are you a purist like Ken Bob? Do you mostly like sandals or Vibrams? Do enjoy focusing on your run more than on your feet? There's a huge amount of variation among us and there's no one right way. Follow your bliss. That will give you the right answer. No one else can.
I think there's probably something to be said for starting out pure barefoot, to learn good form, but I don't really know what your running background is, or what kind of challenges you enjoy. I came to barefoot running as a barefooter, so I didn't have any transition for toughening up the soles. For me, it was mostly about getting back into shape, and then, figuring out that I needed to massage my lower legs to alleviate top of the foot pain. I personally embrace the challenges of running in different temps and terrains barefoot, but I have my limits, and I also like running without thinking about my feet too much. Still, if I go too long without (mild) chipseal, I miss it. The tingling afterwards is mildly orgasmic. But I can see how that's not for everyone. I've also run on pure, gnarly gravel once, and although I could deal with it, I had to go really slow and didn't feel like I got a very good run in, qua run. But perhaps if I ran on it all the time I would speed up. Hard to say, as there's no hard core gravel near my house.Cheers, very sound advice, easy to slip into all or none mentality
... Actually, originally id not planned on BF at all, but ken bobs advice to learn BF then move to minshoes If you wish, makes sense to me, ie bf helps you to get your form right.
( i dont think my form is that bad, as even shod, id given up heel strike/over striding long ago, and ive not had injuries)
I think now, i look to bf as a training exercise, and mix it with pleasurable running in fivefingers
Sound like a reasonable transition plan?
Cheers, very sound advice, easy to slip into all or none mentality
... Actually, originally id not planned on BF at all, but ken bobs advice to learn BF then move to minshoes If you wish, makes sense to me, ie bf helps you to get your form right.
( i dont think my form is that bad, as even shod, id given up heel strike/over striding long ago, and ive not had injuries)
I think now, i look to bf as a training exercise, and mix it with pleasurable running in fivefingers
Sound like a reasonable transition plan?
Way to go Patrick! Keep it up. Eventually you're going to be telling us that you signed up for a tri or a duathalon or something.yesss another full 30-minute BF run, but still only amounted to about 2 miles (2.5 total workout).
That makes 4 days in a row now with some kind of workout, either cycling or running. And I'll be cycling both Saturday and Sunday, and hopefully running again on Monday.