Running Barefoot

People have been running barefoot for a long time, but I'd never really heard of it until recently. Some runners consider it life-changing, touting that it has improved their running form and seriously improved conditions like Achilles' tendonitis, plantar fascitis, shin splints, and so on.

I've had some trouble with one of my knees, and it's kept me from running for the past 4 years--which has been a major bummer to me, because I really enjoy running. I think 4 years of rest is about the best I can do for my knee--that and Glucosamine/Chondroitin. I can't help myself... so I am back to running!

Actually, the running has been great so far (I've been at it about 3 weeks now), but my brand new, more-expensive-than-I'd-like-to-remember shoes have been causing my feet to pronate so much that it's become painfully intolerable. Hoping that running barefoot could give my feet a welcome rest from the pronating money drainers, I tried it this afternoon.

Here's what I came away with, after only one run:
1. Wowsa. Let me tell you--it is embarrassing to run without shoes! I felt like everyone in my neighborhood was looking at me, and more than once I wished I had saved this adventure for some dark, early morning.

2. Running on pavement (or even grass, for that matter) is UNCOMFORTABLE to the virgin barefoot runner's soles! Who knew feet could become so angry? Mine are screaming at me as I type. After only 16 minutes of running/walking, I got 3 medium-sized blisters on my right foot and one on my left. Since my running shoes have only been causing my right foot to hurt and I mostly got right foot blisters, I must run significantly favoring my right foot. Incidentally, it's my left knee that's damaged (torn meniscus).

3. Actually, the running part was pretty nice! Besides the layer of protection from the rocky pavement, I actually didn't miss the cushion of my over-priced pronating (but PRETTY and PINK!) shoes.

4. I could tell I was MUCH more careful running barefoot than I usually am with shoes. With tennis shoes, you tend to put your heel down first, in (some would argue) a "slamming" fashion--but barefoot, I definitely put the ball of my foot down first, and I paid a lot of attention to where each foot landed. I liked the tactile feedback from my feet, and I think it actually did change my form somewhat.

5. If you're thinking of trying it, I can tell you that the skin on my soles lasted a good 8 minutes before they started to hurt (from the rocks, not from the lack of cushion). I've been running about 45 minutes at a time, but I can see I'll need to scale it back if I want to continue. I've read that the skin on your soles build up a "tolerance" to the rough terrain relatively quickly. There have been lots of runners who have completed marathons barefoot.

I intend to try running barefoot a few more times before I decide whether it's crazy or not. People have done much less normal things that turned out to be great ideas in the past--so I'll give it a few more tries.