Hi All!
So, I'm still fairly new to the whole barefoot running. I mostly wear Xero Shoes when I run outside, though I'm trying to do some completely barefoot.
I'm really interested in doing some trails barefoot. Nothing major, but I have a few concerns and questions.
1. I'm clumsy even on a flat surface. No matter how carefully I watch where I'm walking and pick my feet up, I still manage to trip over my own toes at least once every time I go full barefoot. I trip over the front of the Xeros too sometimes.
2. I'm really sensitive to pain/discomfort. When I finish a walk/jog (mostly full barefoot outside) the bottoms of my feet tend to feel sensitive, prickly and/or itchy for hours afterward. And if I happen to actually come down on a rock or gravel while I"m walking, it's all I can do to get out of it as quickly as possible. I realize it's probably just going to take more conditioning, but will trails be better for this? Especially if I can get on dirt trails? When I was on a trip recently, I spent a lot of time walking on cobbles (excellent practice for deliberate foot placement), but my favorite walk was on some dirt trails where I actually intentionally kicked dirt up over my feet. It felt really good. And my feet were already really tired and sore from days of walking/standing for hours.
3. This is probably my biggest concern - wildlife. Primarily snakes, spiders and anything else that bites. I live in Oklahoma, and we have lots of these critters. How do you stay safe on the trails? I guess now that I'm thinking it through, it's not much worse than hiking in sandals, but it makes me more nervous.
I'm sorry this is so rambling. Questions I've been saving up. With it being summer, I thought trails might be a little more manageable with the heat. I'd really like to work on some more full barefoot, but because it's so hot, I'm doing most of my running inside.
Thanks in advance!
So, I'm still fairly new to the whole barefoot running. I mostly wear Xero Shoes when I run outside, though I'm trying to do some completely barefoot.
I'm really interested in doing some trails barefoot. Nothing major, but I have a few concerns and questions.
1. I'm clumsy even on a flat surface. No matter how carefully I watch where I'm walking and pick my feet up, I still manage to trip over my own toes at least once every time I go full barefoot. I trip over the front of the Xeros too sometimes.
2. I'm really sensitive to pain/discomfort. When I finish a walk/jog (mostly full barefoot outside) the bottoms of my feet tend to feel sensitive, prickly and/or itchy for hours afterward. And if I happen to actually come down on a rock or gravel while I"m walking, it's all I can do to get out of it as quickly as possible. I realize it's probably just going to take more conditioning, but will trails be better for this? Especially if I can get on dirt trails? When I was on a trip recently, I spent a lot of time walking on cobbles (excellent practice for deliberate foot placement), but my favorite walk was on some dirt trails where I actually intentionally kicked dirt up over my feet. It felt really good. And my feet were already really tired and sore from days of walking/standing for hours.
3. This is probably my biggest concern - wildlife. Primarily snakes, spiders and anything else that bites. I live in Oklahoma, and we have lots of these critters. How do you stay safe on the trails? I guess now that I'm thinking it through, it's not much worse than hiking in sandals, but it makes me more nervous.
I'm sorry this is so rambling. Questions I've been saving up. With it being summer, I thought trails might be a little more manageable with the heat. I'd really like to work on some more full barefoot, but because it's so hot, I'm doing most of my running inside.
Thanks in advance!