Barefoot Events to date:

Thought this would be fun to share and it gave me a chance to look back. Looking through my records, to the best of my ability, here is a list of my barefoot events to date.
5K's = 8
10K's = 7
7.5 miler= 1
1/2 marathon's = 2
10 miles of a marathon barefoot
8 miles of a 50K barefoot

I have no idea how many training miles I have logged barefoot. But it is many.
I wear VFF when the trails are too rough for barefoot and in the heart of winter when there is snow on the ground or if the roads are just too cold and wet. I have tried to run barefoot in the snow and it just isn't for me. Going to try to log in more winter barefoot miles this winter than last by following some useful tips form other barefoot runners like: Vaseline or Bag Balm on the tops of the feet, keeping feet warm until just before stepping out, and training my feet for the cold by stepping outside barefoot as much as possible. So far, November has been a great barefoot month here in Maine.

The First 5K

I remember my first barefoot 5 K so clearly. I was nervous. I had started my barefoot adventure about 4 months earlier. I had only run barefoot up to the about 4 miles. It is different to go and jog barefoot, practicing technique and having time to look down at the ground in front of me. I knew that going fast would not allow me time to look down to see what I was stepping on but more importantly I was worried that my technique and running form would be compromised by going faster. Well, the result was that I placed first in my age group and ran a time of 21:39! BAREFOOT! I was very excited. BUT, boy did I pay the price. My calves were screaming at me...but my knee didn't hurt! Lesson number one....too fast, too soon. Not having learned enough about proper form and technique. Back to more research during my 2 week recovery period. I walked and did a bit of slow jogging in the weeks following that 5K. I never regretted doing it. It was like all other life lessons to me...as long as you learn from them your good. I did!

The Beginning

I thought a long time about what my first post should be. Decided, on the advice from my husband, to start at the beginning. Why did I start running barefoot? Well, I had been suffering for years with ITB Syndrome. I knew the sneakers I had been wearing needed to be replaced but I was so frustrated at the thought of spending more money on another pair of sneakers that were not going to help my injury. I was frustrate not being able to run more than 1 mile before stopping and I was angry that I couldn't run. I have been a runner my whole life, thanks to a wonderful person who saw my potential in 6th grade. Running for me is like my therapy. It makes me happy to get up in the morning and start my day by stepping out the door and going for a run. One day I asked my husband what he thought about the idea of not wearing footwear anymore. What if I ran barefoot? I had done research, thanks to google, on other runners who had been running barefoot and the philosophy behind it seemed to make sense. (Thank you Barefoot Ken Bob and Barefoot Ted) My husband said "go for it"! So I studied the technique, I read the pros and cons, read some more, I started walking barefoot everywhere, and one day just "went for it". WOW! Running through the grass for that first barefoot half mile was great. It was freedom! It was fun! And my knee didn't hurt. So here I am 3 years later. Enjoying running again. Running in events that I never would have considered 3 years ago. I love that I can comfortably run. I feel like I have been on that runners high for years. I think the next post will be about the things I learned during my first year of my barefooting lifestyle.