Greetings from Quebec, Canada!

Josh16

Barefooters
Jul 2, 2014
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Val-d'Or, Quebec, Canada
Hi everyone!
I recently joined the BRS and am new to barefoot running in general. I had been running in VFF for about three months before attempting the switch to skin to ground. I used too run 10 km in the VFF.

The reason I ended up running in minimalist shoes in the first place was because I was getting shin splints. I stumbled upon a doctor's website advocating barefoot walking and running and ditching orthotics in favor rehabilitating the muscle imbalances in your legs and feet. That's what I did and I never had shin splints again. Of course I took my time to transition, but it went fairly smoothly.

I'm noticing a few issues in my form, notably there seems to be friction on the ball of my feet causing minor blisters. I'm working on this and it seems to be getting better as I try to lift my foot properly. Something similar is happening under my toes and I'm working on this too.

Actually, I have a few questions. Where I live there are a lot of pebbles on the roads and it kind of hurt even on the ball of the feet. Is this how it is for you guys? Is it just a matter of "toughening" the soles?

Speaking about this, today I experienced something new. I stepped on a rock, and usual, it hurt a bit but I kept going. But after some distance, the pain did not recede as usual. I stopped and looked under my foot and it was bleeding. Nothing was stuck in there so I kept moving. It kept hurting so I retreated back home and treated the wound.

What was I supposed to do, keep running? I don't know. Now the place is pretty sensitive.

How should I deal with these situations?

Thanks everyone!

Josh
 
Hi Josh,

Welcome! Try relaxing your feet - it's easier than toughening them!

Puncture wounds can be trying. Sometimes the entire object can be plucked out easily yet others a small piece breaks off and stays in the skin. I find it quite hard to guage, at the moment of wounding, what the situation really is so I normally apply a topical antiseptic and hope for the best. They are not normally a big deal but, every once in a while, something has to be dug out. The softer your feet are the easier that is! It sounds as though you had the right approach today.
See how the wound feels in the morning and decide what to do from there.
 
I think it just takes time and practice, as with learning other sports. People expect to train long and hard to be proficient at swimming, tennis, basketball, etc.

I can't say that my soles are that much tougher. I will say that my reflexes are quicker, and I automatically shift my weight when I feel something unpleasant underfoot. It's a skill that takes time to develop.
 
Yes many things are different I noticed. The other day I ran a gravel trail I that used to run a lot shod back in the day. I couldn't run for more than 2 minutes at a time. Not so much because of the gravel, but the uneven ground was straining my muscles. So I would just walk, and when I'd feel run a bit again, and then walk.

And I forgot to add, I'm sorry for the grammar and all. I'm french so I do my best! :p
 
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Drummondville, heh? My grandparents live there.

Also, I'd like to share that last week, I went golfing barefoot and it was such an amazing experience. I don't think golf shod ever again.
 
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Salut Sly! :)

A little update :
It doesn't really hurt anymore when I walk and there still doesn't seem to be anything stuck in there. I'm still a little reluctant to go running tonight, but I'm thinking of going for a walk instead.

Edit : I just noticed that the doctor's website I was talking about in my orginal post is Dr. Gangemi aka Sock doc, who apparently posts or used to post on here. XD
 
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Hello Josh,

Where in la belle province are you? The Canada chapter has a handful of members in the Montreal region. Add a post in the Canada chapter and maybe you'll find someone to meetup with.

As for pebbles/gravel ... that does take time to get used to. As mentioned earlier, you will learn to relax. Running/walking on the pointy surface will definitely go a long way to helping you develop good form. Be sure to be very gradual at increasing your distance. Explore a wide variety of surfaces. It will help you strengthen your feet.

Lots of good people here to give you advice.

PS
Ouch ... you did the best thing by stopping your run when hurt (bleeding). It is always best to triage the wound, rather than tough it out and not be able to run for weeks because of an injury
 
Welcome!
 
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Hi,
I live in small town called Val-d'Or, approximately a six hour drive north of Montreal. I've heard from several people there is a barefoot runner in another town an hour from where I live, but he is not on the BRS map. :(

The goods news though is I'm surrounded by nature and trails, which opens up a variety of interesting places to explore barefoot.

As for the wound, I listened to my body and walked back home. It seems to be healing well at the moment. I can walk without pain. I see something dark deeper in the skin, but it might just dried blood.
 
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I worked for a month at a gold mine in La Sarre, back in 1992. Very beautiful territory. Best of luck with your barefoot journey.

The dark spot could be an embedded small stone. This sometimes happens. If there is no pain, I'd recommend just leaving it alone. It will eventually work its way out. I usually try to avoid attempting to dig it out of my skin, as that typically causes more trouble.

Add a couple pictures of your running routes to give us an idea of the terrain and conditions. We love photos here on BRS.
 
I'd like to know, whenever I read about barefoot running, people say "you can avoid glass and pebbles". I can see that being true in some places, but over here, all the roads are pretty much coated in pebbles. You can't take a step without stepping on some type of rock. Sure, the big ones are avoidable but the rest really isn't.

So is it just a matter of time and experience until my body and feet adjust and I'm able to run more comfortably on pebbles and rocks?

I must admit, the puncture wound has made me a bit more wary, and I'm hesitant to go running again. I've been walking a lot, though.

Edit: After stumbling upon some pictures of roads that some members on the forums consider to be "runnable", I don't think I have much to worry about and should just resume running barefoot when the injury has completely healed.
 
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I'd like to know, whenever I read about barefoot running, people say "you can avoid glass and pebbles". I can see that being true in some places, but over here, all the roads are pretty much coated in pebbles. You can't take a step without stepping on some type of rock. Sure, the big ones are avoidable but the rest really isn't.

So is it just a matter of time and experience until my body and feet adjust and I'm able to run more comfortably on pebbles and rocks?
I think a bunch of us sorta, kinda, like develop "eyes" in the soles of our feet! (Either that or we just learn to relax our feet more and the little stones don't cause any lasting discomfort.)

Take your pick ;)
 
Welcome, Josh. Sometimes I did out something obvious and painful if it seems more helpful, but I often give it some time to see if it's actually dried blood or a foreign object. I also will tell you that there are some surfaces I only run on with my VFFs, and some surfaces I don't run on at all either BF or with minimal shoes. Use your best judgement, and I think that Sid, Barefoot YOW and DNE Chris have it right in saying that you learn to relax your feet and to almost infinitely shift the pressure points of your landing when you do come down on something. I also use my VFFs sometimes while recovering from a puncture wound to protect the wound from reinjury or from having more foreign material working its way into the broken skin.

Glad to have you with us.
 
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Just to give an update regarding the puncture wound. There is no pain, there is still a dark spot but it doesn't hurt one bit. The renewing skin underneath is pushing the marks of the injury out, if I can say so. Eventually, there won't be anything left to show for.
 
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