Like the subject line says - brand new, from Salem Oregon.
I have run in the past. I trained for and completed a few races leading up to the the Portland Half Marathon in 2014. A week after Portland I tore my left labrum boogeyboarding in Hawaii, a month after that wrecked an ankle in a Turkey Trot (which is still stiff in the mornings), and then while recovering from the surgery on my shoulder managed to give myself a bilateral inguinal hernia which I had repaired about a year ago. It's just now beginning to feel normal again. So it's been a rough couple of years for me injury-wise.
My health and my spirits suffered a bit during that time. I've let my weight get away from me and it's time to take my life back.
I want to return to running, but I don't want to get injured. I'll admit - I'm a bit gunshy after the last little bit. After reading Born to Run, I became interested in bare footing for the same reasons as Chris McDougall - I am actually one of those wierdos that enjoyed running. I want to be able to enjoy it for a long time - injury free.
So I ran out and picked up some VFF's and have been wearing them around as my primary shoe since the middle of October.
I just finished "Barefoot Running Step by Step" last night. That's making me consider putting the VFF's on the shelf from a running standpoint and going out barefoot at first so that I can get my technique down. I can relate to Ken Bob - I have super sensitive feet. I've never been able to walk on gravel, even as a kid. Concrete with small pebbles kills me - so I have a ways to go, but I've been out of running for long enough that I feel like I'm starting over from the ground up - which is a good place to be I figure. I'm here to learn - hopefully pick up enough information that between you guys, the books, and my soles - I'll get it figured out.
If there's anyone on here from Salem, or even Portland - who feels like they've got it down well enough to coach someone - I would be interested in meeting up in the future, just to make sure I'm doing this right before I have to get rid of bad habits I've created.
Looking forward to getting to know everyone, and to soak up the knowledge.
Cheers,
Ben
I have run in the past. I trained for and completed a few races leading up to the the Portland Half Marathon in 2014. A week after Portland I tore my left labrum boogeyboarding in Hawaii, a month after that wrecked an ankle in a Turkey Trot (which is still stiff in the mornings), and then while recovering from the surgery on my shoulder managed to give myself a bilateral inguinal hernia which I had repaired about a year ago. It's just now beginning to feel normal again. So it's been a rough couple of years for me injury-wise.
My health and my spirits suffered a bit during that time. I've let my weight get away from me and it's time to take my life back.
I want to return to running, but I don't want to get injured. I'll admit - I'm a bit gunshy after the last little bit. After reading Born to Run, I became interested in bare footing for the same reasons as Chris McDougall - I am actually one of those wierdos that enjoyed running. I want to be able to enjoy it for a long time - injury free.
So I ran out and picked up some VFF's and have been wearing them around as my primary shoe since the middle of October.
I just finished "Barefoot Running Step by Step" last night. That's making me consider putting the VFF's on the shelf from a running standpoint and going out barefoot at first so that I can get my technique down. I can relate to Ken Bob - I have super sensitive feet. I've never been able to walk on gravel, even as a kid. Concrete with small pebbles kills me - so I have a ways to go, but I've been out of running for long enough that I feel like I'm starting over from the ground up - which is a good place to be I figure. I'm here to learn - hopefully pick up enough information that between you guys, the books, and my soles - I'll get it figured out.
If there's anyone on here from Salem, or even Portland - who feels like they've got it down well enough to coach someone - I would be interested in meeting up in the future, just to make sure I'm doing this right before I have to get rid of bad habits I've created.
Looking forward to getting to know everyone, and to soak up the knowledge.
Cheers,
Ben