News and articles from Running Training Plan
Between July 2009 and April 2013 we ran a project here that welcomed runners to document their experiences of running barefoot.
Twenty six people participated, some wrote only an intro and maybe a post or two, others contributed more detailed reports. One in particular, Soul Man, wrote 74 entries on his journey into running barefoot.
There is no doubt the Christopher McDougall's book, Born to Run, created a huge interest in barefoot running and a major shake-up within the running community, from beginners, to coaches, to shoe manufacturers. Whilst much of the hype has now diminished, the legacy has been a re-evaluation of what it means to run naturally. These posts in this section provide a glimpse into the lives of just a few runners who tried it.
For this next barefoot run I wanted to concentrate on the anatomical, not abrasive, effects of barefoot running on my body, so I decided to wear my Vivo Barefoots to protects my soles, but stick with the distance of once around the Downs – just over 3 miles.
Now this might seem like it’s pushing it for a beginner and in all truth, it might be. But my feeling is that from all the hilly
Is that wearing Vivo Barefoot shoes, or actually walking around barefoot, after training sessions and races is really helping with the recovery of any tiredness and niggles?
It shouldn’t be that surprising, as every bone, joint and tendon in your foot, ankle and leg is getting a continuous yet sensitive workout.
Just one of those observations that makes stunning sense in hindsight.
The time has come to either bite the bullet and buy more road shoes or give them up altogether and stay with the neutral off-roaders. The title to the post tells you what I have decided, but can I pull it off?
Today I will attempt my first ‘Park and Stride’ with off-road shoes, despite most of the route being on hard, manmade surfaces. Park and Stride was one of my strategies for building
Total weekly miles: 12
Running sessions: 4
Total barefoot miles: 2
BF sessions: 2
Surface: asphalt, grass, gravel
Runs in minimalist shoes: all
Weather: 89-95 with 75%-90% humidity
Feet condition: Calloused but not bad at all. I was able to wear flip flops this weekend.
Saw most my relatives this weekend for my cousin’s wedding. Good time. Every time I’d sit to talk with my aunts or
Total distance about 8.5 miles, over 2 runs, mainly off-road, hard grass footpaths, trails, some pavements, mainly sunny and dry
3.5 miles barefoot, 1 run, grass and pavements, sunny and dry, sore pads, limp and first big blisters.
Start slowly, for your own sake!
The blister from my 2nd barefoot run seems like it’s no longer filled with fluid and it might reattach – at least I’m not limping anymore.
I had a little achilles tendon tension very first thing on the day after but luckily that soon went. The same is true of a little tightness in the ankles.
But today is our first day at Glastonbury – great weather, very sunny, very dusty.
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