First Barefoot Mile!
By Pigglies
@Pigglies (9329)
United States
November 25, 2009 12:32am CST
I know, you guys are probably screaming at me through the monitor! Taking a risk before Thursday's race. But let me explain!
Tonight was speed work night, so normally I would wear my Nike Frees. But I didn't want to risk them getting too sweaty and not being good on Thursday since I prefer racing in them. So I wore my New Balance shoes, which are still not broken in all the way. After nearly 3 miles of speed work, I knew I was going to get a blister soon. I thought about skipping the cool down mile. But then I got another crazy idea...
So I start taking off my shoes, then my ankle braces, and then my socks... people are expecting me to put the socks on inside out or something. Instead, I just go for it and run! The track felt really weird. And even at only 60 degrees, my feet were cold. But I know how to hit my foot now and I had excellent stride. I was really slow (10:25 mile) but everyone was cooling down behind me to marvel at my craziness. After the first lap they thought I'd give up on it, but I did the whole mile barefoot. It was like a weird foot massage. My feet still feel a little worn on the bottoms somehow and tingly, but it's way better than getting a blister! I had figured even if I cut my foot, it's better than a blister. So I was pretty happy with my crazy stunt. It was pretty fun. I'm thinking other surfaces are probably better than the track though. But I'd definitely try it again sometime.
2 people like this
3 responses
@ElicBxn (63252)
• United States
25 Nov 09
Barefoot is definitely something you have to work up to. If you have a treadmill you can do some walking on, you might want to do that.
I haven't gone barefoot in YEARS, something about stepping on a nail... and then the first time I tried after that I got cut on a tack... now a days I see to much glass and I've got baby soft feet
2 people like this
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
26 Nov 09
I don't have a treadmill. I was going to buy one but then realized I don't even have a place to put one. So I guess I won't have one for awhile.
I see a lot of glass on the roads out here too. I definitely don't plan to go barefoot all the time, I'm just thinking it would be good to work up to being able to go barefoot for at least a few miles.
I think a mile might have been a bit too much. My feet were killing me today! They have lost almost all of their calluses and are now baby soft. But I still think this beats the blister that I would have gotten. I just hope I still feel that way after tomorrow's race!
2 people like this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
25 Nov 09
It sounds a little scary but as long as you don't hurt yourself, Go For It!
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@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
26 Nov 09
Thanks! Yeah, I think for now I'll have to try this sporadically. I need to wait for the calluses to grow back on my feet! I seem to have worn them all off. Right now I have the softest feet I've had in years. Which is funny because from walking around barefoot so much I usually have lots of tough skin.
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@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
26 Nov 09
Oh weird. I never knew that. That sounds better to not have calluses, but I always just thought that was your only protection. With shoes I have to keep my calluses or I get even more blisters. I seem to be very blister prone.
But despite a slight burning sensation in my feet for parts of the race today, I think I actually did rather well. I'll make a post on it in a few minutes.
2 people like this
@syndibee (799)
• United States
25 Nov 09
Good for you :)
Preposter is right in that barefoot is something to slowly work into. My feet are still tender for the first 10 hrs or so after a run. Well they were before I put my shoes back on. I'm sure I'll have to work back up to where I was in the spring when I take my shoes back off.
My very favorite surface is new asphalt with few rocks in it. That feels like velvet on your feet, so lovely!
10:25 is about my average pace lol. I don't do much speed work yet. I'm starting to lean more towards speed walking over running. I love my long runs but I'm not enjoying the 3 miles on the treadmill twice a week. Hills is easier on the treadmill than speedwork.
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
26 Nov 09
My feet are tender even with shoes on at the moment. Somehow my feet are now baby smooth. Which most women would probably like, but I'd rather they had their toughness back.
I wish I could find some new asphalt out here. But most roads are way too dangerous with all the crazy stuff I could run into.
I like speed walking too, but I don't really practice it. I just kind of use it if I'm going somewhere quickly rather than running place to place. I'm sure I don't have proper form or anything like that though.
I still plan to work up to being able to do 4 miles barefoot for that one race though!
And I'm hoping I'm not kicking myself for this at tomorrow's race, but I still had fun doing that 1 barefoot mile. :)
1 person likes this
