Barefoot Running

[jessmarimba]

Thanks Knot - can't do any sort of work yet, but it's something to keep in mind. I've always had weak hip flexors so that makes sense. Weak ankles, too, but if the inside of the shoe won't support them maybe they'll strengthen on their own.

I'll just keep walking. At least this brace forces me to have good posture

I'm doing the walking with the VFFs, too, as it makes me pay more attention to my feet. I'm less likely to trip and fall (and hurt myself) wearing them.

[Susan]

I came across this thread last week and read "Born to run" because of it. I always liked being barefoot and was walking barefoot or in Flip Flops all summer since I was a child. Other shoes have always hurt my feet (I hate winter!). I did however never (as a grown-up) try to run barefoot, because I was listening to all those advices about how you need thick cushioned running shoes for overpronation or supination or whatever because otherwise you would hurt knees and ankles and how unreasonable it would be to not use such shoes.

Yesterday it was raining all afternoon and I decided to go for a barefoot walk. Nobody was out there except me and thinking about the book and this thread after some minutes I just had to try to run. I thought I would give it a try for a few steps and just see how it would feel. I was prepared that it would maybe hurt and I wouldn't know the right technique and would have to stop very soon.

I couldn't stop. I'm not a good runner at all, but I ran my whole walking lap thats quite steep in some parts and about 5 miles long. The road was so warm from the hot days last week and so clean because of the rain and the cool water felt so good and it didn't hurt at all. Going uphills wasn't exhausting.

It sounds stupid but it felt so right and was so joyful that I kept telling myself that running for so long isn't recommended at all for the first barefoot-running-experiences but would have been "sad" about having to stop. It actually felt better than walking. Normally I run my lap (a flat 5 k, in shoes) thinking about how long it will take me until it's over because my knees and my toes and my shins start to hurt and I have a hard time hitting 5k. It was so much easier without shoes, which was the last thing that I would have expected.
Yesterday I would have wished that the road would go on and on and on.

I thought I'd have to share - in the end it's your fault that I gave it a try I'm looking forward to my next barefoot-run and will try to stop myself earlier this time.