Hellllllooooo!

Thanks for all of the comments about my PR yesterday! I appreciate it! I figured that a PR would make me feel like I’m on the top of the world, but I certainly don’t feel that way. I’m more sore than I have been in years and I’m miffed that my official chip time says 2:01:17. There was NO mat to run over at the beginning of the race, so they just started timing when they blew that horn. Upsetting, but I can’t do anything about it. I started my Garmin when I crossed the line, so I am counting that time!

I’d also like to draw your attention to this picture:

And specifically my CALF MUSCLE:

That’s not just any calf muscle, friends. And that just isn’t a runner’s calf muscle.

That is a barefoot runner’s calf muscle.

That’s not to say that other runners can’t have a muscle like that, but running alone probably won’t give you that definition. Shoes just don’t let your calves work hard enough.

I’ve also noticed my thighs becoming beefier as I run more and more in minimalist footwear. Barefoot running is NOT for people who are scared to add some girth to their legs and gain some weight (muscle weight, of course).

In an effort to get leg muscles as hardcore as mine, David got his first pair of Vibram FiveFingers.

Because, let’s face it, your wife’s leg muscles should never be bigger than your own!

He tried on the Sprints and the KSO’s and decided on the KSO’s.

He couldn’t wait to run in them! Since returning from the beach at the beginning of August, Dave has been having some knee pain—feeling like it was twisted or something like that. He even felt pain when simply walking so he’s been avoiding any kind of running. Excited about his new “shoes”, we went for an easy run/walk mile in our FiveFingers and he didn’t feel any pain at all! Believe me when I say that there is some true weight behind the science of barefoot/minimalist running.

I was surrounded by a lot of runners this weekend and I heard a lot about shoes and a lot of opinions on barefoot running. A lot of people are so curious about it, and they ask questions that show that they don’t know much on subject or science of it, and then quickly say that “it’s not safe.” I’m not an expert on barefoot running, or running in general, but I do a lot of research. And more importantly I try barefoot running.

As I was explaining the science behind barefoot running to a number of people in the port-a-potty line yesterday, I got some questions about why I was still in sneakers. That’s easy—I’m not an idiot! I’m up to a little over four miles in my FiveFingers and despite the dangers that shoes present, running 13.1 (well, 13.29) miles in FiveFingers before I am ready is more dangerous. Barefoot running requires smart, well-aware runners.

When skeptics say that it’s “not safe” or there’s research against it, I hear something different. I hear that they are not open to it. I hear that they are comfortable with their running shoes and not willing to change. AND THAT IS OK. I’m not here to judge people who think I’m crazy for (almost entirely) ditching my shoes. It is a personal choice, and for many seasoned runners, it works for them to be in shoes. But don’t pass judgment on barefoot and minimalistic running if you have neither researched nor tried it.

Of course there are more studies out there promoting shoes. It’s a huge industry, and while barefoot running isn’t a new thing, it’s a new trend, so people are only now looking into the science behind it. Back in the early 1900’s, or even in modern Africa, people didn’t research barefoot running, they just did it. When Nike came along in the 1970’s and presented the modern running shoe, so many people jumped on board and companies were formed. As a nation we became more research-based and technological so time and energy were spent researching how to improve the running shoe, and let’s be frank, to make more money. Of course people wouldn’t stop to think “let’s just get rid of the shoe.” I doubt it even crossed anyone’s corporate mind.

But when Born to Run was released and became a national best seller, people had to stop and think. It became so popular that research had to be done. So of course there’s more research promoting the benefits of running shoes—about 30 years more. But that doesn’t mean that the new research coming out on barefoot running is wrong.

I heard some other things too—things from people standing in their FiveFingers waiting to run. I heard things like, “I had a lot of injuries before I started wearing these”, or “they make my knees feel great!” And truthfully, I trust the rare comments like those over the thousands of comments like “I won’t try it—it’s so dangerous.”

Michael Sandler wrote his book Barefoot Running after coming to a dead end. He was injured and told he couldn’t run anymore. And Born to Run was pieced together during Chris McDougall’s journey to answer the one nagging question: why does my foot hurt? The majority of the running community just hasn’t come to that place yet. And they might never come to that place. But that doesn’t lessen the benefits of barefoot running. Truth isn’t relative— it just eludes people who aren’t willing to seek it.

What are your thoughts? Do you think it’s to dangerous to try it? Or are you willing—and ready—to try it?

Interested in barefoot and minimalistic running and want to know more? Check out these other posts!

Barefoot Running Q & A 
(Ask a question, get an answer!)

The Bare{foot} Essentials Series:

The Bare{foot} Essentials I
The Bare{foot} Essentials II
The Bare{foot} Essentials III
The Bare{foot} Essentials IV
The Bare{foot} Essentials V
The Bare{foot} Essentials VI
The Bare{foot} Essentials VII
The Bare{foot} Essentials VIII
The Bare{foot} Essentials IX
The Bare{foot} Essentials X