Left the Vibrams at home today-5 miles BF!

SamanthaEve

SamanthaEve

Barefooters
May 28, 2012
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#1
5 miles in - time to build up that callus!

I'm trying to transition to barefoot running majority of the time...and not just using my Vibrams or running on the beach barefoot, but barefoot on the sidewalks/concrete. In doing this, aside from how wonderful it feels, it is also to improve my form. Today was my first time out in a long time completely barefoot. It felt amazing as usual, but was a little tough on my skin. I already have tough feet, but some of the sidewalks were not as smooth as the others and felt it! Still ran the 5 miles home and my feet weren't that torn up, a new little blister on my small toe and sore on my forefoot. A good step in the right direction!
I definitely felt better with my form too...I feel like I may be on my toes too much in the Vibrams vs. today I was able to stay off them and more on my forefoot. Anyone have any tips on getting the forefoot step down or good youtube videos?? I also noticed that I don't think I'm lifting my knees up enough...should my knees reach a good 90 degree bend in front-if that makes sense!?

Hope you all had a great run today! Thanks:)
 
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#2
I think for how high to lift your knees depends on the person, my main thing I try to concentrate on is keeping the knee bent and not putting my foot down in front of me along with relaxing my body and I also personally have a tendency to grip the road with my toes so I have to concentrate to not do that.
 
#3
Great job! Keep up the good work!

I think that Ken Bob's video demonstrates the technique better than I can describe, though I might say fluid and relaxed.
Barefoot Ken Bob slow-motion on treadmill
 
#5
BG is correct, callouses are for shoe wearers. You will find that the more you challenge your soles, the thicker the underlying connective tissue will become while your surface skin will stay smooth and callous free.
 
#6
good job. no callouses, you'll find any you have will disappear as your skin gets thicker. the knees are a bit tricky. i worry more about picking up my feet enough to clear objects. the knees take care of themselves. i can tell you my stride opens up more the faster i go, behind me that is. look for videos of dr cucazella on here or the natural running center blog for some nice videos on what good bf form looks like.
 
#7
This old thread also shares some opinions on the matter.
To Callus or Not to Callus

Here are the feet of two famous barefoot runners.
Ken Bob
Abebe Bikila
Now, I can't say that whether or not, under the dirt, if Abebe Bikila's feet are as smooth as Ken Bob's.

I've seen people who walk around predominantly barefoot that have thick broad calluses. Perhaps that's what happens to the foot when one walks around at low speeds on hard surfaces. However, many barefoot runners develop the flexible, thickened skin, rather than hard, rigid, inflexible calluses, which might be more associated with poor-fitting shoes.

My own feet seem to have a combination. The thickened, flexible skin at the forefoot, where I land when running barefoot. The more thickened, yet still flexible heels (some might say "callused"), where I land when walking barefoot. Also, have a few areas of more thickened, yet still flexible skin on the tips of a few toes and some outer edges of the foot, possibly from shoes, running or walking barefoot, or all of the above.

Feet are adaptable, and the skin in specific areas seem to change according to use, but attaining calluses isn't necessarily the goal. The feet seem to adapt appropriately for the needs of each person, when using the proper form.
 
#8
NickW said:
I think for how high to lift your knees depends on the person, my main thing I try to concentrate on is keeping the knee bent and not putting my foot down in front of me along with relaxing my body and I also personally have a tendency to grip the road with my toes so I have to concentrate to not do that.
Click to expand...

Thanks Nick! That may be a good start than trying to focus on everything, and the exact angle I'm bending at..haha:)
 
#9
Sid said:
Great job! Keep up the good work!

I think that Ken Bob's video demonstrates the technique better than I can describe, though I might say fluid and relaxed.
Barefoot Ken Bob slow-motion on treadmill
Click to expand...

Thanks Sid! This is great! Not only the actual video, but one of the better descriptions of good barefoot form! Huge help:)
 
#10
Pretty impressive that you could go five miles first time out BF and have minimal blistering!

Check out Natural Running Center and watch Dr. Mark's videos. Those are the best I've seen.

I wouldn't worry about callouses. It depends on your definition. When I used to play double bass I always referred to the (smooth, flexible) pads on my fingers as callouses. I don't know why we, as nonspecialist laypeople at least, wouldn't refer to the build up of the plantar skin as the same thing. Anytime skin thickens or hardens, I think it's calloused. I do agree with Sid, that the callouses on the heel are different than those on the forefoot. My heel gets dry and cracks at the edge, while my forefoot never does, and I've been barefooting, on and off, for thirty years, so perhaps it's just the nature of the beast.
 
#11
This is all wonderful info! Thank you all! It's making me more confident just learning about it more. All of the callous info was really helpful-and when I report back to my boyfriend he'll be happy to learn that too:) Until this I thought I'd end up with the roughest and ugliest feet ever, and that was just a part of it.
I might say this a few times over, but I'm so happy to have found this site and all of you! I feel like I have my old running group again to share and learn with:)

I haven't got out again barefoot since Saturday, but going out again tonight sans shoes. I did a few in my Vibrams since then and a couple in my regular worn down Mizuno's, but still focusing on my new form. It's hard for me to run barefoot every day because I like to run medium distances (5-7miles) at least a couple times a week and then a long run on the weekend of 10+ miles. I've adapted really well since starting, I never ran barefoot then my first time did 2 miles BF and then another 5 in the Vibrams and woke up the next day and did it again no problem, but I am worried to do more miles or every day BF....that I won't be able to sustain BF running every day and still put in 30 or more miles a week. Maybe if I run a mile or two every day BF then put on my Vibe's or regular shoes to get my longer distances in?? Any thoughts or suggestions?? The books or articles I've read all say start really slow and easy and I just don't work that way! My body adapts really well (thank God!) when I go all in, but still get worried about taking it TOO far. I still want to keep my mileage up while running more BF. I'd love to hear how you all handled this-thanks! (p.s. -going to post this on the Barefoot and Minimalist page for everyone!)
 
#12
Bare Lee said:
Pretty impressive that you could go five miles first time out BF and have minimal blistering!

Check out Natural Running Center and watch Dr. Mark's videos. Those are the best I've seen.

I wouldn't worry about callouses. It depends on your definition. When I used to play double bass I always referred to the (smooth, flexible) pads on my fingers as callouses. I don't know why we, as nonspecialist laypeople at least, wouldn't refer to the build up of the plantar skin as the same thing. Anytime skin thickens or hardens, I think it's calloused. I do agree with Sid, that the callouses on the heel are different than those on the forefoot. My heel gets dry and cracks at the edge, while my forefoot never does, and I've been barefooting, on and off, for thirty years, so perhaps it's just the nature of the beast.
Click to expand...

Hi Bare Lee! Nice to meet you! Yeah, thankfully I adapt well to all the crazy running I put my body through:) I bookmarked the Natural Running Center (didn't know about this site until posting this) and going to investigate more. This was all great to hear about how our feet adapt-thanks for sharing your feet too:) That's fantastic that you've been going for thirty years! I hope to say that some day!
 
#13
SamanthaEve said:
Hi Bare Lee! Nice to meet you! Yeah, thankfully I adapt well to all the crazy running I put my body through:) I bookmarked the Natural Running Center (didn't know about this site until posting this) and going to investigate more. This was all great to hear about how our feet adapt-thanks for sharing your feet too:) That's fantastic that you've been going for thirty years! I hope to say that some day!
Click to expand...
Well, when I say 30 years, I should clarify that I've only run barefoot during two separate periods in that time: once 20 years ago for several years as part of my karate training in Japan, and now, starting in 2010, but only consistently since 2011. So I'm by no means a very experienced BFRer, but I have barefooted (walked, hiked, stood, trained, done yardwork, etc.) in a lot of different kinds of environments all over the world.
Anyway, glad to have you on board! Besides the specifically BFR sites you'll come across, I would also recommend Steve Larson's Runblogger site, Steve Magness's Science of Running site, and Alex Hutchinson's Sweat Science column in Runner's World, for general info on running and training. I've learned a lot from them.
 
#14
Be very very careful when worrying about distance when transitioning to barefoot. It's a very slippery slope that can end with a stress fracture or hurt feet. Not sure how long you've been transitioning but it doesn't sound very long. If you must keep up your distance maybe slip the shoes off for the last mile of your runs.

Oh, just noticed you've been running in VFF's. How long have you been running in them? We all on here worry about newb's doing too much too soon and hurting themselves and giving barefoot running a bad rap. It seems a lot of runners can't give up distance and/or speed and then blame the broken foot on being barefoot when it's their fault that they did not take the time to transition properly.
 
#15
NickW said:
We all on here worry about newb's doing too much too soon and hurting themselves and giving barefoot running a bad rap.
Click to expand...
....haha...this is about as blunt as it gets Nick....lol.
Not to mention we care about keeping our members injury free for their own health so that they can enjoy BF running as much and for as long as possible, which is usually pretty long........:barefoot:
 
#16
That was implied with the we all worry about newbs getting hurt, maybe I should have put AND in between those thoughts. I have been told I can be too blunt sometimes. I don't mean it in a bad way I just don't like to tiptoe around things and then my point doesn't come across properly with the proper amount of warning or what have you and the person keeps on in a way that can hurt themselves...
 
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#17
I thought you were just hardcore like that???
:D
 
#18
NickW said:
Be very very careful when worrying about distance when transitioning to barefoot. It's a very slippery slope that can end with a stress fracture or hurt feet. Not sure how long you've been transitioning but it doesn't sound very long. If you must keep up your distance maybe slip the shoes off for the last mile of your runs.

Oh, just noticed you've been running in VFF's. How long have you been running in them? We all on here worry about newb's doing too much too soon and hurting themselves and giving barefoot running a bad rap. It seems a lot of runners can't give up distance and/or speed and then blame the broken foot on being barefoot when it's their fault that they did not take the time to transition properly.
Click to expand...

Hi Nick! I know, I know:) I've read it for BF transitioning, training for marathons or ultras (haven't done one yet, but hoping to next year), getting a better PR, etc. Everyone says take it easy and that's why I'm not going every day or my 10 mile + runs...but with that being said I do want to transition more to BF the best way with keeping my mileage up. I haven't been transitioning that long, well come to think of it, I've done okay...I've had my VFF for almost a year now and have usually done at least one run a week up to 7 miles in them and in addition to that or instead I run on the beach, on the sand at least 1-2x a week and have done up to 4 miles barefoot-then put my shoes back on and go run more. (Knock on wood here:) I have never got injured from all of this and don't feel anything uncomfortable or painful. I've been running since I was a little girl and naturally have always done pretty good, so I may be an exception to the usual training rules. I find I do better actually when I push myself more and don't ease into things...but I don't recommend this for others or newbies! I just know my body and how it reacts by now...I've gone months without running and then decide I want to run 10 miles and do it-no problems (trust me I thank God for this all the time!). So I know that I can handle more than the tiny baby steps most books/programs recommend...but again don't want to push it too far! I think I'll try slipping them off at the end of my run or starting with them.

Just more my philosophy on things in life - if you believe in yourself to do it -you can!:) Try and modify (like all the wonderful experiences and info on this site)...but we don't always have to follow the set program that everybody does (think of typical 18 week marathon training program)...we are all different and I think a lot more capable than we give ourselves credit for:)
 
#19
SamanthaEve, sounds like you're one of those who can transition without problems. Barefoot Gentile was also a veteran runner before taking up BFR, and had no problems transitioning quickly. Like you said, it's a very individual thing, and the secret is to know one's own body, and listen to it, which you clearly already do. I wouldn't over-think this. If you're already doing decent mileage with Vibrams, then the only realy concern is probably building up the plantar skin, and that's the easiest part.
 
#20
Bare Lee said:
... When I used to play double bass I always referred to the (smooth, flexible) pads on my fingers as callouses.
Click to expand...

Yes, when I started playing double bass I would go back and forth between callouses and bloody fingers :eek: But at some
point you get beyond that, my fingers now look pretty normal, but I can play for 2 or 3 hours on those big strings without
any problem... I've often thought the same thing will eventually happen to my feet... Of course, for guitar/bass playing it
took years... sigh :(

I'm running 3-5 mile range now, but the feet still get traumatized in one way or another, just takes some discipline to
keep myself from doing too much.

Keep it up SamanthaEve!
 
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