So I've been barefooting for about 9 months now (vibrams when it gets below about 45), and i've gotten thru calf strains, TOFP, and now my soles (specifically under the heads of the metatarsals of my 1st and 5th toes on my left foot) are killing me. i think i run pretty lightly and have a forefoot/midfoot strike.
since its been warm, i've been barefoot only for a few weeks now, and trying to do 15 to 20 miles a week, but it seems that if i'm on anything other than the smoothest road or sidewalk those metatarsal heads start killing me. and once it starts, the smallest pebble is pretty frigging uncomfortable. seems like before the winter, i could go 5 or 6 miles on chip seal or gravelly road no problem. now its pretty unpleasant. some friends and i are getting a half marathon fun-run together soon, and i kinda want to do it all barefoot, but i'm getting pretty discouraged.
i really hope the only answers arent "run more lightly" and "back off and start up more slowly" seems like i've gone thru this cycle a bunch of times already, and i'm tired of the loss of conditioning that always seems to go along with it.
since its been warm, i've been barefoot only for a few weeks now, and trying to do 15 to 20 miles a week, but it seems that if i'm on anything other than the smoothest road or sidewalk those metatarsal heads start killing me. and once it starts, the smallest pebble is pretty frigging uncomfortable. seems like before the winter, i could go 5 or 6 miles on chip seal or gravelly road no problem. now its pretty unpleasant. some friends and i are getting a half marathon fun-run together soon, and i kinda want to do it all barefoot, but i'm getting pretty discouraged.
i really hope the only answers arent "run more lightly" and "back off and start up more slowly" seems like i've gone thru this cycle a bunch of times already, and i'm tired of the loss of conditioning that always seems to go along with it.