Barefoot (sort of) Running

Just like everyone else, I have been reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It is an interesting read. Though the book drags a bit at times, and can be preachy and a little loose with the correlation-causation relationships, I am enjoying a new look at my favorite sport. And since I never met a bandwagon I didn't like, I decided to give it a try in a pair of New Balance WT10 Minimus Trail Running Shoes. If anything, I can wear them around and strengthen my footsies. Plus they are light and packable for traveling in the event I need more than flip flops for a trip somewhere warm.

I already run in what is probably a step above racing flats. This is because; a) I don't need to spend $140+ on a pair of running shoes, and b) I don't have any real injuries, aside from an occasionally achy right knee after long or fast runs. I thought I would take to these shoes in an unusually over-achievingly quick way. Never mind that they say start with 5 minutes a day, the next week 10 minutes, and so on. I'll head out for a 5 miler on the country roads by the house.

What happened next is so shockingly predictable. To be fair, this is the kind of thing we all have stories or have heard stories about: I tried a new bike seat/gel/running shoes/jog bra/energy bar/etc. during a race, and it went terribly wrong. I barfed, bonked, bled, whatever....... Yah, this story is so common, it is comical. So you can imagine where this is going. Ah yes - an easy, flat five miles in my new shoes.

The shoes actually quite comfortable and all was great until the last mile where my calves were cramping and the plantar-facsiitis (thankfully dormant for the last 5 years) in my right foot started acting up, NOOOOOOO. Oh and I had a blister on my heel. I am a dumbass. The next morning I had a very sore right foot and tight calves. Lesson learned.

So I will keep you updated on my future forays into barefoot running. I will plan to do only 5 minutes per day next week while in Poland.......awesome.