The First Week

I have done a total of 3 runs in bare feet. All three of them have been in my subdivision on black top pavement. The first run that I did was immediately after finishing the very long chapter 28 of "Born to Run," where it talks about Nike and the way that they are to blame for the growing number of running injuries. Before Nike, all running shoes were basically like socks to protect your feet from debris and what not. They provided a little bit of support, but not enough to blind your feet completely from the world around it. As soon as I read about that, I had to go and try it for myself. I ran once around my block (which is about 600 meters or so) and I felt AMAZING! Really being able to feel what was happening under my feet was an incredible change. I was used to the feeling of running with shoes on and them forgiving my mistakes (that I wasn't even aware I was making). Running that lap around my block really showed me what was wrong with my stride and forced me to fix it instantly. It also helped me to realize how weak my feet really were, because within a couple of hours after my run, my legs were starting to get sore. They were getting sore not only in the feet and calve muscled, but in muscles I didn't know that I had! Obviously this would be different from normal running, but I want different! A little change in pace from what I had been doing for almost 10 years in shoes.

The next day, I introduced this brilliant concept to my sister, and together we ran twice around the block. Well, SHE ran twice around the block and I only ran once, but I did a 5 mile run earlier that same day in shoes.

She loved it too! It has been so hard to pace ourselves since this enlightening experience so we went out again tonight and did almost a mile and a half in our subdivision. It felt great as usual. The longer I go, it seems I get more and more peaceful. I am feeling some pain though in the calf region so I am going to take a day off or so.

I am going to try to trade in a pair of running shoes that I got for Christmas for a pair of Vibram five fingers so that I can continue to run barefoot in the snowy Reno.