Running Press

News and articles from Running Training Plan

The Barefoot Running Diaries

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.

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Week 1

Total weekly mileage – 46

Barefoot mileage – 1.25

Sessions – 5

Sessions which included Barefoot running – 2

Barefoot running surface – tarmac road

Barefoot run 1 – finished off my interval session with a barefoot cool down jog. A little over 0.5 mile in the dark on rough tarmac – very tentative!

Barefoot run 2 – ended a 3.25 mile run with read more

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Introduction

My name is Bev and I’m 42, (for a little while longer at least!)

I started running 8.5 years ago, but took a year or so out within that time to have my son. He has just turned 6, so I guess I have been running consistently for 5.5 years.

Currently I’m running about 40 miles per week. I’d like to do more, but life is a bit too busy for that at the moment. Most of my runs are on the read more

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It’s been a long winter

Here in the UK the winter of 2009/10 has seemed very long. The lowest temperatures for many years and more snow than many (younger) people can remember or have ever known.

Not good for the rookie barefoot runner then.
This particular rookie is very glad to welcome some slightly warmer weather. Last Friday, 2nd April, I ventured out on my longest barefoot run for some weeks — 2.5 miles on read more

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Week 1

Distance: 33.5

Sessions: 4

BF Sessions: 1

BF Miles: 2

Terrain: Road

BF Surface: Pavement out of town, clean road

Runs in VFF: 4

BF Weather: Clear, dry

Feet Condition: Some blisters, from VFF. No pain though.

Comments: Now that I have began running more outside, I have had three people ask me about the VFF/BF running just this week who have seen me out on the roads.

Nasting Things: The two miles I did were read more

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Introduction – kjkranz

Name: Kyle Kranz

Blog: RunningOnTheWhiteLine.com

Age: 22

Years Running: 3

Typical Weekly Mileage: (When not injured) 40-60

Running Terrain: Road. Out of town and in town.

Experience going barefoot not running: None

Pre-existing Injuries: Many, ITBS and PF. But I feel I am over PF and almost over ITBS at the moment.

Usual running footwear: VFF Classics

Foot Strike: Midfoot

read more

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Week 12: New Route, New Outlook

At the beginning of the week I did what I should have done a month ago when my runs began to reach the 3 mile mark, go find a better course to run barefoot.  I rode my bike around in my VFF’s and found a much smoother road to a neighborhood that must have been repaved in the last year.  The traffic on the road was light, but enough to rid the roadway of any real debris.  Since it is residential read more