After advice from my fellow barefoot runners on here I decided to go full BF for this half marathon. Before I did this race I wasn't sure if I should go barefoot as I wasn't sure about the course. If I'm not familiar with a route I'll wear my huaraches. I was really planning on PRing for this half but did not know how my feet would deal with the distance and unknowns. But I decided to just go for it BF and not worry about a PR and just enjoy my first big race in a long time.
The start felt good I was pacing a friend who was going a little faster than I was wanting to start but after two miles I told him to go ahead and kept my pace at around 9 to sub 9. People were genuinely very encouraging about me running BF but there was this one runner who was making snide remarks like get a tetanus shot after but I had already passed him so just kept on my way. Or I heard runners ask what happens if you step on glass? Which I would reply well with I don't try to step on it. Then around mile 7 we entered memorial park and the road was harsh on my feet. I manned up for a bit but I was thinking of saving my feet for the finish so I ran on the grass even though it meant it might add a bit to my distance. The only thing I had to watch for on the grass was various roots and pine cones, which felt like I was running on a trail for those parts.
With a 5k to go I started to pick up my pace and went sub 9's hoping to keep that way to the finish. Then after mile 12 I started cramping up. I should have took two gu's but I opted for just one gu for the entire race. So I started slowing down a bit. Then this other runner started talking to me to not let up and he said at this pace we should have a sub 2 hour finish. That really picked up my spirits and I started running harder. Crossed the line and I looked at my time and I had gotten a sub 2 hour half marathon time. My previous best was 2:07. I'm not sure if its because i'm barefoot but I feel like a stronger runner and my feet held up well. My splits were 8:58, 9:15, 9:14, 9:12, 9:13, 8:58, 8:48, 8:49, 9:00, and 7:35. I'll post pics of the race and my feet later.
The start felt good I was pacing a friend who was going a little faster than I was wanting to start but after two miles I told him to go ahead and kept my pace at around 9 to sub 9. People were genuinely very encouraging about me running BF but there was this one runner who was making snide remarks like get a tetanus shot after but I had already passed him so just kept on my way. Or I heard runners ask what happens if you step on glass? Which I would reply well with I don't try to step on it. Then around mile 7 we entered memorial park and the road was harsh on my feet. I manned up for a bit but I was thinking of saving my feet for the finish so I ran on the grass even though it meant it might add a bit to my distance. The only thing I had to watch for on the grass was various roots and pine cones, which felt like I was running on a trail for those parts.
With a 5k to go I started to pick up my pace and went sub 9's hoping to keep that way to the finish. Then after mile 12 I started cramping up. I should have took two gu's but I opted for just one gu for the entire race. So I started slowing down a bit. Then this other runner started talking to me to not let up and he said at this pace we should have a sub 2 hour finish. That really picked up my spirits and I started running harder. Crossed the line and I looked at my time and I had gotten a sub 2 hour half marathon time. My previous best was 2:07. I'm not sure if its because i'm barefoot but I feel like a stronger runner and my feet held up well. My splits were 8:58, 9:15, 9:14, 9:12, 9:13, 8:58, 8:48, 8:49, 9:00, and 7:35. I'll post pics of the race and my feet later.