Running barefoot

My friend at C.Beth Run is running barefoot for over a year now. She got very passionate about it this post. So I have been listening for all this time, and I have been vehemently telling her (and myself) that I am better off with my shoes on my feet. I have been running this way since I started running (on and off) over sixteen years ago. And there are several good reasons, for me, to wear shoes: I just didn't know better, and I like to be clean. The thought of getting my feet all icky sticky and black - just not my idea of running. I was also worried about the soles of my feet.

But after walk/running the 19 miles in that stadium and the hurt afterwards, I have never come back to running as freely as before. I feel more like I am dragging my feet across the asphalt - not a nice feeling, by the way. Having her on my side, not daily, but enough, I started thinking.... and thinking and thinking.... and came to the conclusion of trying it out, barefoot, but with the socks on!

And I so did, last Friday morning. I was told to only run a small block, not a great distance, because one runs with different muscles barefoot than with shoes on, so I was not to get hurt. It was only 0.25 miles that I ran, barely a block. My feet felt so free.... oh, it felt so good. I ran my two mils first, on shoes, and than took the shoes off. Did I mention how good it felt?! Oh, so good.

So this morning, I ran my first mile in 10:30  -a great timing! But after that I just felt tired and it was way too warm, for me, something I am not sure I will ever get used to. So my second mile was more like a disaster, so much that I had to walk for half of it. So I decided that it was time to take those shoes off, the shoes that I had been fighting for for so long, but I took them off. And I ran my first full mile without shoes! Yippy. My pace was bad, of course, but I kept in mind to take it easy at first. I didn't have to stop and take a walk break, I just ran.... ran for that entire mile and felt oh so good....

My dear friend Beth - you might have convinced me to start running barefoot..... it took you over a year, I guess I am not a person to be easily persuaded for what is best for me - I mean it took my hubby a long time to talk me into him and that he is good for me... You did it! You have that effect on me.... thank you! I am so blessed to have you in my life! (and if it is just for that running influence!) Here is the link to a blog she wrote about minimal shoes, something that I definitely have to look into....