The Barefoot Running Diaries

• Total weekly miles

 3.75 miles.

• Number of running sessions

3.

• Total weekly barefoot mile

3.75 miles.

• Number of barefoot running sessions

3.

• Running terrain

Mostly flat circuit outside my house on pavement.  Now the distances are increasing a bit more, it’s becoming impossible to find a flat circuit.  So an element of (gentle!) hill training is creeping in!

• Ground surface of barefoot runs

A mix of smooth and rough pavement and road.

• Runs in minimalist shoes, e.g. Five Fingers.

None.

• Weather for barefoot runs (rain on road?)

Two chilly and wet, one cold and dry.

• Condition of skin on feet — hotspots, blisters

Good.  Some numbness again on the cold, wet runs, but again the toes read more

• Total weekly miles

 3 miles.

• Number of running sessions

3.

• Total weekly barefoot mile

3 miles.

• Number of barefoot running sessions

3.

• Running terrain

Flat circuit outside my house on pavement.

• Ground surface of barefoot runs

A mix of smooth and rough pavement and road.

• Runs in minimalist shoes, e.g. Five Fingers.

None.

• Weather for barefoot runs (rain on road?)

Two chilly and wet, one warm and dry.

• Condition of skin on feet — hotspots, blisters

Good.  Some numbness again on the cold, wet runs, but again the toes seemed to warm themselves up towards the end of the run. 

• Interesting/amusing comments received during the week: e.g. ‘You’ve got no shoes on!’

Still no comments.  More funny looks though.    

• Treading on nasty things: e.g. glass, thorns, poo — how you dealt with any

No problems this week.  Sticks, stones and so on get stuck to read more

• Total weekly miles

 3.25 miles.

• Number of running sessions

3.

• Total weekly barefoot mile

3.25 miles

• Number of barefoot running sessions

3.

• Running terrain

Flat circuit outside my house on pavement.

• Ground surface of barefoot runs

A mix of smooth and rough pavement and road.

• Runs in minimalist shoes, e.g. Five Fingers.

None.

• Weather for barefoot runs (rain on road?)

All chilly, one wet.

• Condition of skin on feet — hotspots, blisters

Good.  Again, some numbness in my toes when running in the cold.  However, they started to warm up slightly as the run went on.  I’ve read about this, apparently the initial cold causes vaso-constriction, so less blood gets to your feet, causing them read more

• Total weekly miles

 3 ish miles.

• Number of running sessions

4.

• Total weekly barefoot mile

3ish miles

• Number of barefoot running sessions

4.

• Running terrain

Flat circuit outside my house on pavement.

• Ground surface of barefoot runs

A mix of smooth and rough pavement and road.

• Runs in minimalist shoes, e.g. Five Fingers.

None.

• Weather for barefoot runs (rain on road?)

All dry, some chilly.

• Condition of skin on feet — hotspots, blisters

Good.  No issues from running, although my toes began to go numb a couple of times due to the cold.  Went walking in my Mocs during the week, about 3 or 4 miles with no socks.  I had a couple of hot spots from walking because I usually wear socks with my read more

As I said in my last post, I’ve been away over the last week on holiday.  I had a lovely time, catching up with family I haven’t seen for a few months and relaxing after a hectic last couple of months.  Week 8 was spent at home, following much the same routine as the last few weeks.  Week 9 was my holiday week, which I spent mostly barefoot, playing a couple of games of tennis, walking read more

tried to train a bit too hard and felt a growing pain in my left foot, later a physio diagnosed it as a stress fracture of the 3rd metatarsal! no running for 8 weeks! 🙁