Passer byer's remarks

Wideguy, don't be shy about

Wideguy, don't be shy about group runs or races. If you want to go, go. Don't worry about representing anything. No matter how slow you go I promise you will get major props for going barefoot. And when shod heelstrikers see you are enjoying it (or at least not hurting yourself) they will be doubly confused. It's fun to screw with their minds!
 
Today I passed a guy while I

Today I passed a guy while I was wearing Vibrams. He was just walking down the street. He said "What....what are you running in?" I told him. His response, "DAMN!" Gave me the push i needed for the last mile.
 
I don't remember what the 5k

I don't remember what the 5k cost that I did last year, but the mud run my daughter and I just did was $50 each. The 5k I'm doing this weekend was $25. I don't mind the cost if the proceeds go to something good. Otherwise, I just chose not to pay it or run. lol

I ran the AFC 5k last year bare and had a blast. Most of the comments I got were positive or inquisitive with the exception of a small group running behind me once talking about how I must think I was bad because I was running barefoot. hehehe I'm to darn old to give a rats ass about silly stuff like that so I just kept on going with a smile on my face.

I can't comment about passing folks and scaring them because I am in the turtle camp of slow and steady gets me where I need to go. lol Speed is not something I have worried about at all as of yet. For me group runs offer a change of pace and a new way to challenge myself. I only have two goals in mind. The first is to finish and the second is to beat my previous time. The first is the most important to me, I'll work on the second as I do more group runs.

Speaking of being slow. Don't feel bad. I joined the yahoo group of a local running club and was told that they run 9-11 min miles and usually go 6 to 10 miles on their runs. I had already intriduced myself and said I was new to the area and completing the cto5k. The response pretty much said to me "You don't fit in with us." I was sort of glad I didn't mention I run bare/minimal. lol
 
stomper wrote:Wideguy, don't

stomper said:
Wideguy, don't be shy about group runs or races. If you want to go, go. Don't worry about representing anything. No matter how slow you go I promise you will get major props for going barefoot. And when shod heelstrikers see you are enjoying it (or at least not hurting yourself) they will be doubly confused. It's fun to screw with their minds!

EXACTLY! I feel its more about the fun
 
pbarker wrote:All runners

pbarker said:
All runners welcome. If the race is well done there are two runners that get the loudest cheers,, the first and the last.



And the barefoot!
 
Mokie, Cameron, and I ran the

Mokie, Cameron, and I ran the ING Georgia Half together last year. We were interviewed on the morning news just before the race by the starting line area. At about miles 6 and 10 people came running over to us yelling, "Barefoot Runners! We/I just saw you on the news!" Hysterical. We had a traveling cheer squad, it seemed. People kept yelling nice and supportive comments to us the whole way.
 
That's nice, PB.

That's nice, PB.
 
Yesterday Three homeless

Yesterday

Three homeless people noticed my bare feet. "did someone steal your shoes" "Don't need them , tuff as nails" I said. They all smiled and made strong eye contact. Somehow bare feet changes social barriers.

Usually homeless people do not even make eye contact let along talk to me. This is something my barefoot running friend has also commented on.

After getting my lunch and heading back to the office, still barefoot, again a homeless person noticed my feet, made eye contact then looked at my sandwich. "Are you hungry" I asked, "Yes".

I found a new sandwich.