Barefoot Running

[GLC1968]

Yeah, I'm not sure about hot pavement as well. I know that you can build up to it as we used to have to as kids on hot sand, but I have no idea how long it took. The pavement part of the route will be in the shade though (I did pay attention to that) so heat shouldn't be an issue.

I already run on bad pavement and cement barefoot, so I'm not worried about that part, either. I am nervous about the trail part - it's not only rutted packed dirt, but it's also narrow. What if other runners step on my feet? What if I have to jump to the side to allow someone through and there are blackberry brambles there? Oy...maybe this is a bad idea. Maybe I should give my VFF's a try.

One guy was wearing VFF's last week, but I couldn't find him afterward to ask his experience. I don't think my VFF's fit well enough to run in. They are kind of large around the heel area (I needed a bigger size because of my super wide feet) so I think they might rub and blister. My injini socks don't fit real well in the toes either - too cramped - so I have to wear them without socks. Mine are sprints and I tried on classics at REI and they fit better, but I don't have the $75 to spare for a second pair (yet).

You are right though - I need to try the trail with my VFF's on. That would be a smart thing to test out.

[colby]

Yeah, I'm not sure about hot pavement as well. I know that you can build up to it as we used to have to as kids on hot sand, but I have no idea how long it took. The pavement part of the route will be in the shade though (I did pay attention to that) so heat shouldn't be an issue.

I already run on bad pavement and cement barefoot, so I'm not worried about that part, either. I am nervous about the trail part - it's not only rutted packed dirt, but it's also narrow. What if other runners step on my feet? What if I have to jump to the side to allow someone through and there are blackberry brambles there? Oy...maybe this is a bad idea. Maybe I should give my VFF's a try.

One guy was wearing VFF's last week, but I couldn't find him afterward to ask his experience. I don't think my VFF's fit well enough to run in. They are kind of large around the heel area (I needed a bigger size because of my super wide feet) so I think they might rub and blister. My injini socks don't fit real well in the toes either - too cramped - so I have to wear them without socks. Mine are sprints and I tried on classics at REI and they fit better, but I don't have the $75 to spare for a second pair (yet).

You are right though - I need to try the trail with my VFF's on. That would be a smart thing to test out.

I have mixed results running in mine barefoot, I think it comes down to distance, speed, and terrain, along with the fit (of course). I ran in my KSOs once barefoot (concrete/asphalt) and did intervals for 5-6 miles, my feet were marked up on top and bottom on my left foot (wider than my right). Not blisters, more specific (and painful, never again, but maybe if I built up tougher skin there I could take it). I ran a sprint in my Sprints (how appropriate) a couple of weeks ago barefoot and my feet weren't marked up in that way at all. I did have blister-like rubbing, but no different than wearing running shoes with wet-ish feet. I of course had sand in my shoes and my feet were wet. :P

My KSOs are one size bigger than my sprints in mens sizes - I intended to wear the KSOs for distance/running, the sprints for daily wear but I can't run in my running shoes anymore so I sometimes use my sprints. For shoes that were built to be used barefoot, they sure don't seem very well thought through inside (we'll pretend you can't get blisters or hurt your feet, it'll be MAGIC!). I have not tried running barefoot in my Bikila yet, they are womens sized and one size bigger than my KSOs numerically (M39 KSO, M38 Sprint, W40 Bikila). The Bikila are lined inside more like a sock liner so I'm hoping I can run in them barefoot for longer distance, and that the padding will help with running on concrete (the Seattle Marathon has many concrete miles, sigh).

Shade is good. You should be fine on the asphalt, then. Just remember your running posture, sometimes in races I fall back to bad habits as I'm still developing new ones.

So, I'm kind of thinking a few different directions. Maybe if you're uncomfortable being barefoot, you'll overthink things and be too cautious. On the other hand, you won't really know until you try it, and this is a good distance to do something like that. You could try running it in your VFFs if you walk it and decide it's too iffy. You could try running part of it barefoot or in your VFFs ahead of time and see if you can tolerate either of those two. You do have two weeks, so if you can run this course a few times barefoot and/or in VFFs before then, you can learn something about it - and be more confident.