Week 3

• Total weekly miles

 1.25 miles.

• Number of running sessions

3.

• Total weekly barefoot miles

1.25 miles.

• Number of barefoot running sessions

3.

• Running terrain

Flat circuit outside my house on pavement, and sandy trail beside the beach on holiday.

• Ground surface of barefoot runs

A mix of smooth and rough pavement, and one run on sandy trails.

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

None.

• Weather for barefoot runs (rain on road?)

Fine weather again for all runs.

• Condition of skin on feet — hotspots, blisters

Still quite good, although my feet seem to have started to shed.  Lots of dry dead skin coming off at the moment, from my heels and the balls of my feet.  However, I’m not sure this is related to barefoot running, it’s something that has come and gone every few months for as long as I can remember.

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

Again, none.  But considering that one of my runs was beside the beach (where hardly anyone was wearing shoes anyway) that’s not really surprising.

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

No problems like that.

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

Deliberately tried to shorten my stride further (as mentioned last week).  It seemed to help a bit, but other than that, no further changed.

• Injuries incurred, or reduction of existing symptoms.

None.  The pain in my right foot seems to have gone (touch wood!). 

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

Not this week…  I did see a couple of barefoot runners on the beach while we were on holiday.  Most of them were obviously shod runners who ran barefoot on the beach because it’s softer.  Their footprints really showed up their bad barefoot form.  Deep holes in the sand at their heels where they heel-struck, then deep holes again at the toes where they pushed off.  I saw one guy who seemed to run with great barefoot form (he was also the only one who wasn’t holding trainers in his hands), his footprints were perfectly level, like he was floating along the sand with no excess pressure at heel or toe.

So I guess I do have a tip after all… Try running on wet sand at low tide if you live on the coast, then inspect your footprints.  It might help to highlight any issues with your form!