Week 13

• 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 seemed to warm themselves up towards the end of the run.  However, I do tend to have problems with white fingers and white toes.  So I’m slightly concerned that even though my toes feel like they warm up, when I get home a couple of them are white and still numb.  This isn’t good for running barefoot, if I can’t feel the ground, I don’t know if it’s safe to run on or not. 

• 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. 

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

I find now that I can switch off slightly when I’m running.  I don’t have to concentrate on my form so much.  When I run uphill, I make sure my turnover is high to make sure I don’t overstride.  Same going downhill.  The idea is to try and avoid braking as much as possible, because that’s when the shearing forces start on your soles.

• Injuries incurred, or reduction of existing symptoms.

The clicky ankle I reported last week hasn’t reappeared this week.  The TOFP is thankfully staying away even with the increase in mileage this week.  Also, well, this isn’t really an injury, but I feel like my balance has improved steadily over the last few weeks.  I don’t know why.  I think it’s because my feet and legs are getting stronger, I’m more aware of what’s underfoot and because I’m either barefoot or in minimilist shoes I can feel when my balance shifts much better than before.  So, as I said, not an injury, but an interesting side effect! 

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

Not sure I have any tips this week.  Following on from listening to your body last week and my complaints about my numb toes this week, I think I’ll have to start thinking about wearing my RunAmocs when I go out running in cold weather from now on.  The skin on my soles is fine, my feet are fine, it’s just I don’t want to risk doing any damage to my toes while they’re numb with cold.  Having already had to deal with a toe injury, I know how long it can put  you out for and how frustrating it can be.  So I might be doing some (if not all, as the temperatures get colder) of my mileage in minimalist shoes from now on.

I’m away for a few days this week, so I’m going to try and do one 1.5 mile run before I go, then hopefully I’ll be able to get a couple of runs in while I’m away.  We’ll see!