Week 27

• Total weekly miles

Second week of heart rate training – 30.3 miles in total.

• Number of running sessions

4 (2×60 minutes, 1×90 minute, 1x105minutes)

• Total weekly barefoot mile

8 miles.

• Number of barefoot running sessions

2.

• Running terrain

Mostly flat, on a mixture of pavement, dirt tracks and road.

• Ground surface of barefoot runs

Mixtture of pavement, grass and dirt tracks.

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

Lunas when not barefoot.

• Weather for barefoot runs (rain on road?)

One run in pouring rain, others dry but cool.  I ended up having to take off my Lunas in the rain, the footbed just got too slippery and uncomfortable.  I was a bit worried about running barefoot in the rain, I’ve had problems with this before, but my form has obviously improved since the last time I’ve tried it.  I had great fun splashing through puddles!  I even waded through a small flooded area where the water came almost up to my knees!  I would never have done that in my trainers!  That’s part of why I love being able to run barefoot so much.  Your shoes (or sandals) hurt?  Take them off and carry on!  You’re faced with a flood?  Just wade through it and enjoy the water between your toes!

• Condition of skin on feet — hotspots, blisters

Still fine!  Had a bit of a fright when I took my sandals off in the rain, there were red stains on my feet.  I thought I might have cut myself, but then realised it was the red dye from my laces bleeding out in the rain!

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

None, but lots of odd looks (that I interpreted as jealousy!) when people saw me splashing through the rain barefoot!

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

None this week.

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

Still feeling slow this week.  But I think my cadance has increased a bit at a heart rate of 144bpm.  It feels a bit more like my usual/previous running style.

• Injuries incurred, or reduction of existing symptoms.

None.  I’m still a bit shocked and very pleased at this!  30.3 miles in a week is by far and away my highest weekly mileage ever, and to do it and still feel so fresh and uninjured afterwards just blows me away.

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

None really.  I’m still enjoying the distance and discipline this is giving me.  Plus the fact that I can run so far and for so long without tiredness means that I can explore new areas that I would not have been able to reach before.  Got some interesting new running routes lined up for the next few weeks!