No Shoes Required: A Barefoot Runner's Story

Harvard Study

This is what happens when you run in shoes and heal strike! (If you were wondering why your knees hurt... watch this!)

By running barefoot on a hard surface, you can change your form instantly to this.

http://barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu/4BiomechanicsofFootStrike.html

Huarache

This is our new project to improve barefoot running. We went out and got some old used tires from midas, and bought some string to make ourselves some Huaraches! These are the sandles that the indigenous tarahumara tribe wear when they run hundreds of miles through the copper canyons in mexico. It is made traditionally with deer skin as the sole and some sort of string to hold your foot on. We tried to cut up some tire rubber for the sole, but the tire was lined with steel making it almost impossible to cut through. I made a demo pair out of the soles of my old flip flops. I ripped off the tread of my flip flops and then tied some string on! It has already ripped once, but it still helps while running through dirt and rocks!

Me or Pre

Barefoot in Snow

Snow has struck Reno again! For some reason, I love to run in snow. I think that it makes me feel hard core, which is a great feeling. On Sunday, the roads were much too icy to even drive on, but I decided that I wanted to go out for a quick run. I ran along the very small, snow covered shoulder on a road that goes in a loop around the city (McCarran). Something about the snow, whether it be the numbing of my limbs or the beauty of it, makes me want to never stop running. I ended up running 5 (5.05) miles out and 5 miles back, and I did it in around 73 minutes or so. I didnt really want to run more than ten miles, so I checked my watch around 35 minutes in and it was at 4.8. Good timing! I really wanted to pick up the pace on the way home, but it was mostly up hill and I hadnt planned for this run. I am pretty sure that I ate a bowl of cereal and had half a glass of water. I was starting to feel weak near the end, but I kept pushing. There is no greater feeling in the world than doing something you didnt believe you could do. It is quite an accomplishment.

The next day, my roommate Joe invited me to do a loop around the Marina barefoot (2 miles). I knew that I probably shouldn't because of my intense run the day before, but I have a really hard time turning down a good barefoot run. He wanted to do a lap in shoes first which was probably a good idea, but I didn't bring shoes with me. While he was doing his first lap, I decided that I would get warmed up and walk around for 20 minutes barefoot. I was about 10 minutes into the walk when I could no longer feel my feet. There was ice everywhere and I even had to trot through some snow! The temperature outside was probably around 30 degrees and I was freezing! I ended up running back to Joe's car and sitting on his trunk with my feet in my sweats, trying to warm them up again before the run.

Joe got back pretty fast after that and yanked off his shoes so we can start our barefoot run. As soon as we got moving, my feet started to feel a little bit better, but that was because we were on smooth concrete. We had to go through a couple patches of rough pavement with pebbles and ice, and my feet were just cold enough to be tender but not cold enough to be numb. Joe was a champ about it while I was complaining about the pain. I finally took a mental breather and toughened up, and after that I felt great! I wasn't cold anymore and felt very at peace. Surprisingly, barefoot running in the snow was quite enlightening and when I got in the car afterwards, I didn't even feel cold.

Finally

It has been almost a month since my last post, but that is largely due to the poor running conditions in reno. I mean, I have still been running, but not barefoot at all. A lot has happened in this past month, but very few advances in my running.

My roommate, Joe, is out doing a 2 mile barefoot run on pavement right now, and I would be there if I didn't have so much homework to do (which is what I should be doing right now)!

The weather outside today is beautiful! Not a cloud in the sky and temperatures of up to 70 degrees. I ran to school and played a couple hours of tennis, and I broke a sweat because it is so warm! Apparently there is snow in the forecast for later this week, but I don't believe it.

Since school has started, I have been put in a pickle between my pursuit of music and my pursuit of barefoot running. I love them both very much, but with 1 - 2 hours of practicing on my various instruments (tuba, viola, piano) every day along with music theory packets and music history tests, I have chosen music. It wasn't a very hard decision to make, seeing as music is my life, and running is a hobby, but I am sad that i can barely get 15 miles in per week.

I am very glad that I have inspired Joe to start running barefoot even though his doctor said that he shouldn't even be walking around barefoot due to the condition of his feet. I personally think that his doctor, despite how cool he sounds, is full of crap. Barefoot running is going to hurt a lot for him, I am sure, but it will be more beneficial in the long run that cushioning his feet.

I did get a chance to run barefoot a couple days ago, and I chose to alternate between a track and some soft turf. The biggest challenge in barefoot running for me is stopping. Once I get started without my shoes on, I feel so good and lose track of distance. Since I am not strong enough yet, I need to take it easy. I learned this after doing over 2 miles around the track. My calves were in serious pain, but in my eyes, it was worth it. I cant wait to get back out there and run barefoot. Tomorrow's weather looks promising for this, but now I must get back to my homework.

Josh explains Barefoot Running