SO I have been barefooting now for a while. I started back up again maybe what 2 months ago but I have been doing it 3-4 times a week. I have been going between 3-6 miles at a clip and have been switching up underfoot environments as much as I can. There is only so much terrain in these parts and I really don't have much time to look for new routes. Anyways the point of this post has been the new reaction that I have gotten since I have really started doing it. A lot of has been "you do what where???? What about needles and glass and poop" and to that I always say "well I would rather step in poop then the other two, but I really scan where I am running so I DON'T step in any of those." I mean you can see a big pile of something before you get to it and you can also wash it off. you will most likely see a big pile of broken glass as well as a hypodermic needle (although I have YET to see one.) So I barefoot run mostly on tar and tar with loose rocks which yes hurts but as long as you distribute your weight you're fine (for the most part...it really does hurt when you step on them.)
Anyways I noticed something about 2-3 weeks ago when I was running down to the beach. I run in my VFF to the beach (just in case there are broken beer bottles, bad pavement, glass, needles, poop, all of which I have seen except the needle, and because Jeremy is against me running BF in near downtown Bridgeport) and I was noticing that it was getting harder and harder to run in the VFFs. It was kind of weird. The last time I got the sensation was when I was running in highly "supportive" sneakers maybe 5-6 years ago and my time had been great until I put these shoes on. I got to a point and took the VFFs off. There I was fine, my legs stopped tingling, and I started going faster. I felt better.
So fast forward to last week, I go in house to my job in Wooster, OH (Amish Country) and I usually run with a few of my co-workers a couple of times while we are there. So I get up and meet them in the lobby of the hotel and there I am barefoot. One knows and rolls her eyes, one knows and questions me a bit and says, are you sure? Oh yes I am sure. So we go out and I am having a jolly good time running BF through this college campus. The tar is a little rougher then I am use to but oh well there is grass I can jump on if I need to. We get back and a third co-worker takes an opportunity to say, "wow you run barefoot?? Good for you!" It's fun when I get those comments. So I get home and I need to run and I decide I am going out for a long run, 6 miles...or more. What I didn't realize was the obstacle course I would be running through because of downed tree branches and bark all over the ground, and how one way just felt like one continuous hill until the downhill came and it felt like I was running on glass (just bark and loose rocks.) Needless to say it killed, but it doesn't stop me. BF is how I am going from now on. I may throw on the VFF for a race here and there or if I ever get to finally do a tough mudder challenge, but for now, BF for this Genius
