Hello from Southern California.

Alan S

Barefooters
Nov 13, 2015
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Greetings Barefooters,

I just started running last May. I was able to take a session with my local guru Ken Bob to learn to barefoot run. I ran the LB 1/2 marathon in minimalist shoes, LEMS primal, in October. I am now signed up for the Surf City 1/2 marathon in February, which I intend to run in VibramFFS KSOs, Xero shoes or barefoot... Not sure yet.
 
Welcome, Alan. I'm originally from SoCal too!
 
Thanks. I have been casually athletic all my life, just not a runner. I never ran beyond a mile unless it was in a soccer, baseball or football game that I was playing. Yet now I am running for fun.

I spend this last summer training for a 1/2 marathon and transitioning to minimalist shoes. I exclusively walked and ran in LEMS. I use them as my daily wear as well. However, I was getting a pain in the ligament that connects to the top of my big toe on my right foot when I would lift my toes up. It was only in the shoes while running. Switching to toe socks, helped this issue. I ran the Long Beach 1/2 marathon and a 10k in LEMS shoes and they were wearing out. I talked to a LB marathon runner at the starting line who was in LUNA sandals and he inspired me to loose the shoes as well. So I got a pair of VibramFFS and Xero shoes as a way to devolve back to bare-feet.
 
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Hi, Alan! Welcome, and congrats on the LB Half! I live in Long Beach and I'm getting back into running after taking a year+ break. I run/walked the LB half this past October in Shamma Sandals (solely to retain my Beach Bum status - I was completely unprepared/untrained so it was a personal worst for me :p !) but I, too, am training for the Surf City Half in February - it will be great to have another BRS-member there!
 
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What part? I'm in Anaheim.

Bred, born, and raised. Born in Hollyweird, raised all over San Diego County, and lived four years in the Bay Area as well.
 
Hi, Alan! Welcome, and congrats on the LB Half! I live in Long Beach and I'm getting back into running after taking a year+ break. I run/walked the LB half this past October in Shamma Sandals (solely to retain my Beach Bum status - I was completely unprepared/untrained so it was a personal worst for me :p !) but I, too, am training for the Surf City Half in February - it will be great to have another BRS-member there!

Do you have a good suggestion for training barefoot? I am just using mapmyrun and Gipis with my phone, but I'm not sure if it's best for a barefooter.
 
Seems so easy to be a barefooter here in sunny Southern California. Props to all you others out there that get real weather.
Unfortunately, although I "ran around" barefoot as a kid much of the time (not all of the time), I wasn't a barefoot runner until I left California. In fact, I wasn't a runner at all when I lived there. It definitely can get tricky running barefoot in the winter out here though. :coldfeet: You guys are spoiled! :barefoot: