So, since April I built up BFR conditioning and I'm now running 10Ks on a regular basis without any issues.
Just to be clear: I did run barefoot for a year a couple of years ago and then stopped and started running shod again.
My knees started to have problems lately as I was pushing my speed and distance lately (was running 10ks almost every day and trying to keep it under 55 minutes or so).
So I decided (back in April) to go back to BFR and in fact after about a month I was back to BFR without really any issues.
Had a few blisters initially, but they are all gone and for the past month I've been running an average of 25-30 miles a week, barefoot, shaving off a good 30 seconds from my shod minutes per mile performance to boot.
Although ... I almost feel that I am cheating: I found this GORGEOUS park near my house. The bike path is asphalt but it's smooth and kept religiously clean. 4 laps are exactly 6 and 1/4 miles (10 kms).
There are trees that cover the path so that even in the middle of a hot day, the road surface is mild and covered from the sun.
So ... no problem there, except that if I try to run on any other road surface, other than this park ... it HURTS.
Rough concrete or rough sidewalks or asphalt, is a real challenge.
I have to confess that even back in the day (a couple of years ago) I was running on mostly smooth surface roads but I moved to another town since then and other than this park (which I have to drive to), roads around my new place are rough and a bit messy.
First off, are you guys able to run on rough surfaces?
Second, if you are able to, what is the best way to get to a point where rough surface doesn't bother you anymore? Just do it? Do it until your feet get tough enough and hard enough that it doesn't bother you anymore?
Thanks!!
Just to be clear: I did run barefoot for a year a couple of years ago and then stopped and started running shod again.
My knees started to have problems lately as I was pushing my speed and distance lately (was running 10ks almost every day and trying to keep it under 55 minutes or so).
So I decided (back in April) to go back to BFR and in fact after about a month I was back to BFR without really any issues.
Had a few blisters initially, but they are all gone and for the past month I've been running an average of 25-30 miles a week, barefoot, shaving off a good 30 seconds from my shod minutes per mile performance to boot.
Although ... I almost feel that I am cheating: I found this GORGEOUS park near my house. The bike path is asphalt but it's smooth and kept religiously clean. 4 laps are exactly 6 and 1/4 miles (10 kms).
There are trees that cover the path so that even in the middle of a hot day, the road surface is mild and covered from the sun.
So ... no problem there, except that if I try to run on any other road surface, other than this park ... it HURTS.
Rough concrete or rough sidewalks or asphalt, is a real challenge.
I have to confess that even back in the day (a couple of years ago) I was running on mostly smooth surface roads but I moved to another town since then and other than this park (which I have to drive to), roads around my new place are rough and a bit messy.
First off, are you guys able to run on rough surfaces?
Second, if you are able to, what is the best way to get to a point where rough surface doesn't bother you anymore? Just do it? Do it until your feet get tough enough and hard enough that it doesn't bother you anymore?
Thanks!!