Confession Time

Hi Fresca, and have no fears - the "loop" you alluded to is very short, and there are a lot more of us out of it than in.

RP, you have no fears either. The most important thing is to run, and to do it in the way that doesn't hurt your body. You just ignore the purist faction and do what feels right.

...You just don't have to let everybody know about the deep, dark squishy shoes you're lusting after. There's such a thing as TMI in this business.
 
I believe I'll join in with the rest of the frenzied mob demanding that you be drummed out and despised for losing the faith.

But seriously, do what you need to do to have fun and enjoy yourself. If you were to some day discover that thing which makes you happiest and healthy is to run on ginormous stilts and sing songs from The Sound of Music, then do that. If running in dark squishy things makes you feel good running and doesn't cause you injury, then run in those. If you discover that drinking orange juice right after brushing your teeth tastes good, then you're irredeemably weird and forget all I said about doing what you want to do because there's something wrong there with the orange juice and toothpaste.

Ely Dave said:
No no-shoes for me for well over a year, I'm 100% minimalist these days and happy with that, as my growing shoe collection will show.

plus S2G is kinda contra-indicated these days for me.

Based upon what I've learned over the years, I believe there are two major reasons which have led to the prominence of diabetic foot problems and fear of them. The first of course is strongly related to glycemic control and how poor control tends to damage circulation, especially to the finer blood vessels and the most distant ones. So for many years we've had diabetics who because of poor control lost substantial circulation to the feet and without blood flowing to the feet, the tissues don't regenerate and heal well. I don't think that's controversial. But it's important to remember who you are as an individual within the context -- much of our historical data about diabetics is very much skewed towards the results of those who couldn't maintain good control because of the historical diet and insulin programs and lack of testing and adjustment. In that way, those diabetics are not exactly applicable so much to your situation -- a healthy person, recently diagnosed and who is exhibiting good control.

The second factor affecting diabetics and probably a subsequent one because of the glycemic control problem is that of nerve damage and loss of sensation. Someone who can't feel if something got damaged is more likely not to notice and if combined with the lack of circulation to fight off infection and regenerate tissue, the problem is apparent.

I think, unfortunately, this has led to a sort of paradox by the instinct of protect. For years now, diabetics have been told feet must remain inside of shoes. But what happens inside of the shoes we wear? The muscles of the feet go dormant and less blood then circulates to the feet. See what I'm driving at? I've begun to think that a proper line of care for diabetic feet would seek to get feet out of shoes at least some portion of time so the muscles of the feet get used and circulation to the feet is thereby promoted. That doesn't necessarily mean that someone has to go around barefoot all the time, but perhaps there should be some sort of daily activity where the muscles of the feet get some sort of workout. Perhaps it is most appropriate if that workout is done in an environment with minimal risk of cuts or blistering, but there should be daily stimulation of the feet to strengthen them.

I'm just putting that out for you to consider.
 
Hey, don't get me wrong scratch, I go barefoot at home more often than not, and all my running shoes are minimalist. You are quite right in what you say, the diabetes is a risk factor, no more, and I have it under fairly good control (last HbA1c of 46 - just about normal)

I just don't run on tarmac BF, also complicated by Morton's toe.

The fluffiest I've got is a pair of Inov8 Flite 195s, with a 3mm heel to toe differential, generally I love running in my Altra Samsons, but they are just about dead now.
 
The most important thing is to run, and to do it in the way that doesn't hurt your body.

Amen

And to toss out my .02 - shoes vs S2G is a very simple decision when compared to the infinite paths (e.g., plans, schedules, surfaces, etc.) one can take when taking up running, getting back into running after an injury or lay-off, continuing to run and increase distance/speed (not to mention that those paths include whether to stretch--before and/or after the run--, cold baths, nutrition, etc.). Sure with running there is really only one piece of equipment that matters, but all of this other stuff may be what leads to success, or injury (at least in some, though I'll bet - many, cases).

I am trying very hard to get smarter at forgetting about the equipment (or lack there of) and focusing on the 'activity' (whether it be running, cycling, swimming, or any other hobby for that matter. And for me this doesn't mean that S2G is a step in this direction, rather it's the focus on the run itself that is where I'm aiming (and it don't matter what is on or not on me feet).

I'm beginning to see that the decision to not wear shoes, or wear 3mm shoes, is kind of the same as the decision to buy Hoka, Newton, Nike, VivoBF, etc...when my attention should be about running.

Pheww...
 
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Ya, amen.

One reason I'm back to liking running on a nice paved loop sometimes is that I can forget just about everything else and just feel my feet, legs, back, lungs, heart, etc. Running trails is great too, but it's another kind of focus entirely.

There's room for all in the big tent here.
 
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I run in sandals almost all the time.
If the conditions happen to be just so for my delicate nature, then I bf.
Otherwise, I abhor stopping to pick stuff from my feet, shake it off, or whatever. I hate stones and gravel on pavement. Acorns drive me nuts, in the not good way. I'm a sissier sissy than you.
Every now and again I run bf even if the conditions aren't right, just to prove to myself that I can do it but I''m a super sissy.
 
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If you discover that drinking orange juice right after brushing your teeth tastes good, then you're irredeemably weird and forget all I said about doing what you want to do because there's something wrong there with the orange juice and toothpaste.

I ate an orange just before brushing my teeth last night, so I'm half way there. :)

I'm also trying to work out if scedastic just called RP a super sissy. I see what you did there!
 
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If you discover that drinking orange juice right after brushing your teeth tastes good, then you're irredeemably weird and forget all I said about doing what you want to do because there's something wrong there with the orange juice and toothpaste.

Outstanding! Another weirdo on the board! Always a pleasure to meet another twisted mind...
 
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Welp, first, thanks for all the insight, folks. Outside of being called a Sissier Sissy by scedastic, it was good to hear from others about this :D (s'ok, tho: It's a nice change from having Dama call me slow :) ). I keep forgetting that this is not an all or nothing, "you're either for us or against us" proposition. Also, whilst running tonight, I tripped and took the nose cone off of my right big toe and managed to skin my knee in the process (the knee having nothing to do with the lack of shoes, but still, I has an owie). Hell, still would have tripped in shoes, but, I'd still have most of the blood that's now been washed down the shower drain. Point being, I'm thinking that The Universe is encouraging me to look at some shoes.

Thanks again!
 
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WTH, Pirate?! I come out of hiding, at your request, and get no personal acknowledgement of my mockery? Thanks for nothin. I will now let you know that I told the universe to trip you and chop off your big toe (the knee was a happily accepted bonus).

But seriously, shoes won't kill you. Lots of good minimal options out there and I've probably tried on most of them! I hear good things about the vapor gloves, but am personally looking at the road glove or even more cushy bare access. I just love the fit of the Merrells. NB's minimums zero isn't awful, according to others I've spoken to. Or, you know, go completely the other way and check out the Hoka One One's. You'll go from DeVito to Schwarzenegger instantly.
 
WTH, Pirate?! I come out of hiding, at your request, and get no personal acknowledgement of my mockery? Thanks for nothin. I will now let you know that I told the universe to trip you and chop off your big toe (the knee was a happily accepted bonus).

But seriously, shoes won't kill you. Lots of good minimal options out there and I've probably tried on most of them! I hear good things about the vapor gloves, but am personally looking at the road glove or even more cushy bare access. I just love the fit of the Merrells. NB's minimums zero isn't awful, according to others I've spoken to. Or, you know, go completely the other way and check out the Hoka One One's. You'll go from DeVito to Schwarzenegger instantly.

Gah! Yes, I was tending an injury and forgot. So, yeah - thanks for the hug, but the pat on the ass was uncalled for. If I've told you once, I've told you 1000 times: You're not supposed to touch the parts that are covered by the bathing suit.

As for the tripping, thanks for sicking the Universe on me. I hope you get VD. I will not abide another toe.

Hoka One One? Mother of God...
 
True story: I openly mocked the Hoka rep at the Portland Marathon expo. Full on pointed and laughed. Could not be helped (even if I wanted).

Nice!

Ps. I hear lemon juice does wonders for cuts. You should try it and report back on your success.

...and I hope the VD burns. This, BTW, reminds me of the time I had a sinus infection and squirted apple cider vinegar up my nose (true story).
 
If you like bouldering, boulder!

Ya know, I haven't been bouldering since earlier this year when I quit the gym (no work = no $$ = no fancy schmancy gym membership. Now that I'm part of the working world, and the GF lives near where I used to climb, I might have to re-open my membership)

But in the meantime: Boooouuuuuullllllderinnnng!
 
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Lomad, welcome back. Kept my eye out for you at Hood to Coast, but really, what would the odds have been to road kill you? (I had over 30 BTW, so much for taking it easy, d**n races) Did you read John's report yet?

Pirate - I'll side with the enablers (sorry Mike), most of you know I have gone back to foot coverings. However, I still love being barefoot and do it as much as possible. I couldn't stand to lose all of that work of foot conditioning. So do what makes you happy, but shoes won't solve your stubbing issues. Instead of a bloody toe and knee, you'll end up with a bloody head. The bigger the shoe, the harder you fall.
 
I don't see why you wouldn't wear min-shoes.In summer I always have them on me,so if I hurt myself I can put them on.I moved recently,where I run now there are a lot of oaktrees,so for the moment there's a lot of acorns.So I run in min-shoes,acorns hurt!I don't get the winterchallenge either(I get trying to see how far you get in the snow) but for me I like to run long distances doing that in winter bare is not an options.I guess everybody should do as they please:D