Week 12

• 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 my feet occasionally, especially in the wet.  I’m starting to get quite good at brushing my feet along the ground to get them off without breaking stride and more importantly, without scraping my soles on the pavement!  Lots of fallen leaves around now as autumn arrives properly, they feel a bit slippy when I run on them, so I generally avoid them.  You never know what might be lurking in a pile of leaves!

• Changes in your running style that you’ve noticed.

I think I’ll reiterate what I said last week, my running style seems to be getting more comfortable and smoother.  I find I don’t have to concentrate quite so much to maintain good form now.

• Injuries incurred, or reduction of existing symptoms.

I think I was right about the TOFP I had last week, it was just a warning twinge.  By going back down to 1 mile for my runs this week the pain has eased off again.  I had a bit of a sore ankle this week, it started cracking as I was going around a corner in one of my runs.  This used to happen all the time when I ran in trainers, and this is the first time it’s happened while barefoot.  I ran through it (which I always used to do when shod, the pain only lasts a minute at most), and it has been fine subsequently.  Just thought I’d note this down because it’s the first time any of the annoying clicks and cracks in my knees and ankles that I used to get so often as a shod runner has reappeared. 

• Useful tips and nuggets of info you’ve picked up along the way.

Paying attention to your body is my tip this week I think.  As I mentioned, I used to get loads of niggles in my joints when running in trainers.  This week was the first time as a barefoot runner I had a similar thing happen.  I ran through it, because I know from experience that I can carry on without causing any more damage.  So while barefoot running is new to me, I still know my body well enough that I can tell when I need to back off the pace, when I need to stop and when I can carry on.  I knew last week that I had to back off because of the TOFP, and this seems to have worked.  I knew this week that I could press on despite my clicky ankle, and I’ve been proven right.  So even though I’m doing something new, I need to remain confident that I can tell when something is serious and when it’s not.  Barefoot running isn’t just about getting in touch with the ground, but also getting back in touch with your own body.

Next week I think I’ll increase the mileage a bit.  I’ll add 1/4 of a mile to one or two runs, keeping the other at 1 mile.