Week 23

• Total weekly miles

11 miles.

• Number of running sessions

3.

• Total weekly barefoot mile

1.5 miles.

• Number of barefoot running sessions

1 (at the end of my 3 mile shod run).

• Running terrain

Mostly flat, on a mixture of pavement and mud.

• Ground surface of barefoot runs

Pavement.

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

Luna Sandals on 2 shorter runs (2 and 3 miles respectively), Moc3s on the 5 miler, which turned into a 6 miler.  I’ve had the Lunas for a few months now ( I bought a DIY kit, which is much cheaper than a ready-made sandal, and much more fun to make!), but only recently got the tension in the lacess right enough for them to stay on for more than a few hundred metres.  Had no problems with them at all while I was running, they stayed on for the duration with no need to adjust the laces.  I’m thinking about wearing them for the 10km…

• Weather for barefoot runs (rain on road?)

Damp and slightly muddy on trails, but nice and dry on pavement.

• Condition of skin on feet — hotspots, blisters

Blisters are still healing nicely.  The dead skin is coming off (I’ve resisted temptation to cut/tear it off and left it to heal by itself), and the new skin underneath is toughening up nicely.  No new injuries or blisters.

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

Nothing.

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

No problems this week.  I thought I had stepped on a glass shard at the end of my barefoot run, but it was just a small tear in the dead skin at the edge of one of my blisters that took a bit of healthy skin with it.  No problems with it subsequently, and I ran the last 1/4 mile home with no problems or pain.

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

Not sure if there are any changes, but it does feel smoother than before.  I think I was right last week in that a barefoot run of over 1 mile each week will really help to keep me honest with my form, rather than doing all my runs in minimal shoes/sandals.

• Injuries incurred, or reduction of existing symptoms.

Again, a bit of calf pain.  Some foot pain after the 6 miler, but I’m putting that down to tiredness, as my feet feel fine today.

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

A six mile run the day after you get back from a stag weekend is painful!  But then again, it’s good penance for all the beer and crappy food consumed over the weekend!  That’s my top tip this week…