My First Barefoot Run: Lesson Learned

What possessed me to go for a run completely unshod today?

My interest in running barefoot is part of the reason I have been wearing nothing but Vibram FiveFingers. In fact I hope to run our local 1/2 Marathon barefoot next May. While googling barefoot running form, with hopes of learning how to better run in my VFF, I came across Barefoot Ken Bob's 2010 Summer Tour. I have been to Barefoot Ken Bob's website a number of times, a wealth of information and experience on the topic of barefootedness. During my last visit I found out that Barefoot Ken Bob would be traveling across the United States providing FREE running workshops along the way, and he would be visiting a location within 3 hours drive of me. The thought of meeting and learning from this famed barefoot runner had me thinking, "I should probably put in some barefoot running time to be ready for this workshop."

After a quick refresher on barefoot running technique I was ready to go, but my GPS was not. I stood for what seemed like an entire weekend waiting for satellites to be acquired. My feet began stinging on the frozen pavement as they slipped closer to numbness. Every time I shifted uncomfortably on them my watch felt the need to search anew for my position. Then, as if given a heavenly thumbs up, I was online.

I began running... well, hobbling... okay, more like torturous staggering. The pavement between my home and the byway, a block or so away, was deteriorated leaving a path of exposed, jagged rocks held firmly in place by receding cement. I looked desperately for a way around or through the affliction. The only other options were sharpened, straw stubble littering the ditch, pikes of impaling doom, or turning back to the comfort of home and soft, shag carpet. Although the carpet was calling my name, I knew that walking around the house wouldn't make for a good blog entry, so I decided to endure the rocks for just a little longer. Besides, I had to prove to myself that I was tough enough to be a barefooter.

Apart from gravel strewn intersections the bypass smoothed significantly, but survival instinct still had me searching for the clearest path. I soon found solace on the white, polished shoulder line and quickened to pace, feeling almost comfortable with running on my unshod feet. I chuckled distractedly when a passing runner questioned, "Where are your runners?" If I wasn't so focused on avoiding pebbles I would have found a smart retort like, "This is all that I can afford." I have to admit that I was probably a sight in my flower print gym shorts, long-sleeved black T, ski cap (affectionately known in Canada as a toque), and bare skin from knees to toes.

At 1.5 miles I was feeling pretty good and thought, "Shoes... I don't need no stinking shoes." I was half way through my predetermined, short training distance, so I turned back. I was kissing the pavement with my feet, taking frequent and quick steps, pulling up my feet before they hit the ground. My form felt right, and I wasn't suffering from any pain... oh, wait. What was that building hot spot in front of the ball of my right foot? Was that a blister rearing it's ugly head? I began shifting my weight slightly to adjust my footfalls in hopes of minimizing friction on that foot. But, as a wise old turtle once taught me, "One meets his destiny often in the road he takes to avoid it." 

Warm spots began appearing all over the fronts and sides of both of my feet, nothing debilitating, but they made for a worry-some final half mile. I pushed through both that last stretch and the gauntlet of sole-shredding street to find my way back to my soft, leather couch. I hesitated warily at pulling up my feet for a closer look. To my surprise my right foot looked rather unscathed; however, my left foot blister count was three. Over the next moments two more blisters boiled into view along the outsides of both soles, and basic movement around the house proved quite painful. Ouch. 

Although I did my best to practice good barefoot running technique throughout the run, I ignored one very important rule, to start slow. FiveFingers may help to strengthen muscles used in barefoot running, but they are not a barefoot substitute. Subtle reactions to sensory input and heightened awareness necessary to minimize pain while barefoot running are gained through experience and time. That is something I will have to learn through introducing barefoot gently and methodically to my training regime. Running barefoot is not a question of being tough enough but smart enough, a painful realization on my part. Lesson learned.

Comments

[Jim Clark]

I found my way to VFFs when barefoot running proved impractical. I suffered a few blisters and other minor injuries to the soles of my feet then ran on "warm" asphalt on a sunny day. As soon as my feet felt a little to warm I moved to the grass but they were badly blistered any way. So I bought some VFFs.

I run part of my regular, four-mile runs barefooted almost every time, weather permitting, to help me maintain good form. But I have never been able to run more than 2 miles barefooted and have my feet ready for another run two days later. Perhaps my form isn't good or perhaps I have not been consistent enough, only time will tell.

[Nathan Smith]

I really like the idea of using barefoot running as a check for running form. I think I will follow your lead and pull my VFFs off on occasion.