The Aftermath

It's all fun and games when you feel good and you're high off of the surging endorphins. But the aftermath of running semi-barefoot can be pretty ugly.

Take Exhbit A:



That is the bottom of my foot. And yes, that is a huge bruise/callus/blister on my poor big toe. I have one on the other foot as well (I figured you didn't need to see both of my ugly feet and instead could use your imagination).

Now, I had been getting these types of blisters in that exact same spot since I started running in the Vibrams. Most of the time, they would heal in a day or two and then, inevitably, would reappear the next time I ran. They normally aren't painful either. But after the 10K this weekend, these puppies were screaming for relief. They basically felt like a huge bruise on the bottom of your foot that yelps every time you take a step. I took a few days off to let them heal and they are actually back to normal again.

I think I am getting them because I am landing hard on that area. At the race, there were a couple of downhill parts (which I'm not used to) so that definitely contributed. I am going to be making a conscious effort to try not to land on that part of my foot and instead land more flat-footed and distribute the force.

Exhibit B:

No, this is not part of my body, but it has become my new best friend. It is The Stick, which is a do-it-yourself massage tool. And let me tell you, my calves sing its praises.

Let's just say that my calves are so tight that they cringe every time they see a staircase. I went out for a run this morning and only made it about 10 minutes out before they were crying out in agony. They were so tight that I thought they were going to pull my foot all the way up my leg. They were balled up and didn't want to let any tension out. When I got home, I massaged them out and while they did feel better, they are definitely still tight.

Here's a close up of The Stick cuz I just like it so much:

I need to make a conscious effort to stretch and massage my calves every single day, several times a day. What do I do when I sit in front of the TV after sitting in front of a computer all day? Nothing. What should I be doing? Massaging my calves. I'm sure they'll thank me for it later.

Getting From There to Here

After the mile three water stop, I was in the groove. I was striding well, hit a cadence and was breathing consistently and smoothly. Soon after that, I'm pretty sure I toyed with the line of "the zone," that magic place that runners love to go (besides the local running shop).

I ran the Manhattan Beach 10K this morning and I felt awesome! I finished in a time of 47:41 and after a cruise through the race results, found out that I was 4th in my age group and 419 out of 3555 runners - wow! The coursed meandered through parts of Manhattan Beach and then we hit The Strand for the last mile (after a nice little hill). It was an absolutely perfect day to run -- probably mid-60s at the start, overcast and there were even some raindrops at the end!

This was a big race for me for a lot of reasons:

1. I had never run a 10K before. I've done my fair share of 5K's, but never the 6.2 mile distance. Since I started running barefoot, I've only done three training runs that were over 6 miles, so that is one of the reasons that I feel like I can pat myself on the back.
2. On those long runs, I had been accompanied by a friend of a lot of runners -- Mr. iPod. There's no denying that music while running can be very helpful, and that is why I had been using it on my long runs. But today at the race, I decided to forgo the iPod. I was a little worried that I wouldn't have that same pep in my step without Carrie Underwood and Alicia Keys. But I put mind over the Black Eyed Peas, which was really awesome. Once your thoughts go blank during a race, and all you are doing is checking for vital signs (what hurts, what doesn't), you don't need any bass to back you up.
3. I ran in my Vibram FiveFingers! That in itself, I think, is a huge accomplishment. I saw a few people in Vibrams, so that was comforting that I'm not the only crazy person out there.

Let me back up and say that this race, this point in my running career, the feelings that I had during the race and the high that I felt aftewards, is a long time coming. It was only a few years ago that I was in the most cushioned running shoes I could get my hands on. I had gone through three different custom-made orthotics. Doctors and running specialists said I would never be a real runner, would never be able to run and train normally. My feet were swollen all the time, my knees ached with each step forward, my mind was turning on itself and made me believe, truly, that I wasn't cut out to do what I had been doing since I was young.

Where I am now is a miraculous transformation. I am running on a regular basis, have very little pain (every runner gets aches -- mine are tight calves) and am feeling good about my abilities. My mind believes that I can go that extra 1/2 mile, can push it in at the end of a long run. The change is unbelievable.

Do These Make My Toes Look Fat?

Well, I took the next (proverbial) step in barefoot running and bought the Vibram FiveFingers. It took about 45 minutes and a very patient REI salesperson helping to find the right ones that felt good. I originally wanted the FiveFingers Sprint because they were a little less dorky looking and had a cute Mary Jane strap on the top. But when I tried them on, my feet felt scrunched in them - they were definitely not comfortable. So, the REI guy suggested I try the KSO's (Keep Stuff Out). I hemmed and hawed because those are the ones that are full cover and look more like a shoe (and stand out more). I tried one pair on and the left shoe didn't feel right. Fortunately, they had another pair so I was able to switch them out. And so, I am now the proud owner of a pair of FiveFingers (and I really do think they make my little toes look fat).

The first day I tried them out, they felt really good and natural until about the last five minutes. Then the spot where the strap connects to the shoe on the outside started to rub and I got a teeny-tiny blister on my left foot. This wasn't a huge bummer because I had been able to run longer than I had in the past (barefoot), which was a huge accomplishment for me. Another thing I noticed after a couple FF runs is that my stride is a little different than when I am truly barefoot. I think part of it is mental -- "I have a shoe on my foot, so I don't have to pay as much attention to my form and can land harder than when I am barefoot." It's an easy trap to fall into. So now that I am more comfortable in my FF (and not getting blisters), I have to make a consicous effort to think that yes, I am still "barefoot" and I need to force my body into running lightly.

I am trying to only use my FF when I want to go on longer runs (had a superb one yesterday and felt awesome). I want to continue running truly barefoot and will probably switch off the days that I go barefoot and the days I go FF.

The Next Step - Vibram FiveFingers?

I'm by no means a purist about barefoot running. I don't have any strong feelings for or against the Vibram FiveFingers, but want to do a little exploring first. I like the fact that my body is strong enough to actually run barefoot and can adapt to the changing surfaces. But I went on a run yesterday morning in the rain and I could see how the FiveFingers would come in handy -- no blisters because of the friction between your feet and the water. Right now, I don't run barefoot two consecutive days because my feet are still sensitive after the first day of being barefoot. If I had FiveFingers, I could probably run everyday, switching off between barefoot and "semi-barefoot."

Here's what people around the Interweb are saying about FiveFingers:

"My second barefoot run, on asphalt, went more poorly: I tore up the tip of my fourth toe on the rough surface and spent the rest of my (shod) run bleeding into my sock. That was enough to make the attraction of Vibram’s foot gloves clear: They give you much of the feeling of running barefoot, and give the same workout to your arches, Achilles tendons and calves — except you don’t have to worry about injuries from rough terrain."
- "To Run Better, Start by Ditching Your Nikes" by Dylan Tweney for Wired.com

"I swore I’d never wear them. We called them the Five Fingers of Suck a few years ago and I was sure they were crazy. Friends, I’m here to tell you I was wrong. And I’m sorry."
- "Review: Vibram Five Fingers Classic" by John Biggs for CrunchGear.com

"I arrive home to find the Vibram FiveFinger shoes awaiting me. They look like green rubber gloves, with individual toes and none of the padding or protection found on regular running shoes. I wrestle them on--getting each toe into its little rubber home tests the limits of my podiatric dexterity--and run with my daughters around the block...I hadn't really been aware that I had toes, but there they are, all 10 little darlings, in corpse-colored hot pockets. I vacillate between splaying them out to grab the ground and lifting them up to spare their delicate sensibilities...These odd-looking shoes are worthwhile training tools as long as I don't run too far in them. I walk through my hotel lobby, past people who studiously avoid staring--something I've grown accustomed to while wearing the FiveFingers."
- "Footloose" by Peter Sagal for Runners World


This website, Birthday Shoes, is all about the FiveFingers. There are reviews, a blog, and forum for FiveFinger wearers (users?).

My uncle recently got a pair of FiveFingers and has been trying them out. He has gone on a couple of three-mile runs with them. While he has never gone totally bare, he does say things feel good in them and that there is a free-ness to wearing the gorilla-feet-looking shoes. Maybe later this summer I'll cruise into an REI and try on a pair and see what I think. I'll keep you all posted. Maybe you'll see me running around in funky looking toe-holders soon!

Random ramblings of a (kinda) barefoot runner

I've been MIA lately because of a couple of work trips, so here's just a couple of random thoughts since my last post:

• Sprinklers that make sidewalks wet suck. Then my feet get wet. And then they get sensitive.
• I was able to go out on a barefoot run in New Jersey and it was so cool to be able to explore a city like the old days when I was running a lot. But I think someone did yell, "Put some shoes on."
• On the flipside, a woman here in Redondo Beach told me, "You go girl!"
• When I got back from one of my trips, I went out for an afternoon jog and I didn't realize how warm the pavement gets compared to the mornings when I usually run. I got some crazy blisters and didn't run for about 4 days. I need to keep that in mind for the future.
• After a week of not hitting the pavement, I gave myself a weird blood-blister-looking thing on my first run. I think my calluses got soft and were really sensitive.
• I did some walking in my running shoes with orthotics and I was sore the next day. My body is already shifting and getting used to the more flat-footed way of life.
  
• I've noticed that it almost hurts more to walk barefoot than it does to run barefoot. It's hard to walk on your toes while barefoot and you automatically want to land on your heels.
  

A New Book!

I'm so excited! I got a book in the mail -- "Barefoot Running: How To Run Light And Free By Getting In Touch With The Earth." The book is written by Michael Sandler, the barefoot runner I interviewed. Get this -- the intro says, "One day the Denver Post came out to photograph me chasing down cyclists, uphill barefoot and it dawned on Jessica that I had an important story to share." I specifically remember that photo shoot. Michael indeed was chasing the cyclists and oftentimes, passing them.

So, needless to say, I am really stoked to dive into the book. I will keep you posted on what I learn and the thoughts I have about the book.

Heels vs. Forefront

Lesson No. 1 About Barefoot Running: Get On Your Toes

The main difference between running in shoes and running without them is that in a shoe, we are heel-strikers. This collision between the heel and the ground sends a shockwave through the body that can often lead to injuries. When landing on the forefront of the foot while barefoot running, the motion is springy and "less of the body comes to a dead stop at the moment of impact, so there is less force involved in the collision."

At the same time, when you run more on your toes, your Achilles tendon and calf muscles have to work over-time to control your heel and not let it slap down on the ground. This load on these muscles is one of the reasons people say to start slowly when barefoot running.

I noticed the other day that I am definitely a heel striker, even when walking. I am trying hard to not land as hard as I do on my heel, but it is a really hard habit to break. It feels very un-natural to shift to a forefront strike and I think I do a better job of it when running barefoot because it is so obviously painful to heel strike without shoes on.