Barefoot Runner

I've just popped out for a short run and thought I'd document it for everyone to share.

First, the planned route:

As you can see, it's not a popular route today, so it should be a nice quiet run.

I set off with good intentions, sadly any chances of actually running were soon stifled by the 9 inches of snow I quickly encountered...

So I turned back and headed for home, leaving nothing behind me but my foot prints.

Yes folks, I went for a run (read trudge) barefoot in the snow. Sadly, it wasn't a long one - all of 5 meters at the very most - and not really running, but it was enjoyable none-the-less. One thing is for sure, I thought my feet were cold before I went out, now they feel positively roasting now I'm back.

That's it, I've decided I will NOT be running in shoes ever again, if I can help it. By shoes, I mean those heavy, expensive things with huge wadges of foam and rubber and laces - not Vibrams or other minimalistic "foot protectors".

The reason is plain and simple: it hurts.

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I've just come back from my first completely barefoot run and WOW!!! It felt fantastic to feel so free and to really feel the earth beneath my feet. It was also very surprising how comfortable it was at first.

I managed to run in my normal style for about 1.5km on tarred pavements before the bottoms of my feet really started to feel uncomfortable with the new surface. I then finished off with another 1.5km or so on grass, just to give myself and feet a good workout.

I think I'll leave it at least a week before I have another go completely barefoot. One thing is for sure, I think it's here to stay.

Just a short update to say I had a glorious 15 minute drills/run session in my Vibrams on Monday and it felt FANTASTIC. Sadly my feet were quite tired the next morning, so I've not been out in them again since. I think I'll stick with once a week in the Vibrams until such time as I'm getting in some good mileage with shoes on, and then I'll start weaning myself off the shoes and back into the Vibrams.