It is just about 10 months since I have embarked on this minimalist / BF journey. After reading the obligatory Born to run 'bible' plus a number of 'How TO' guides my partner and I began the transition process from shod to minimalist / BF running during May of 2011.
For me the process was a 'tad' more tentative and done gingerly. My partner took to this like a duck to water and enjoyed, perhaps a bit too much, leaving me in the dust during this period. I am usually faster but this period was appropriately humbling. However within a few weeks we were out there doing short, slow runs, first BF then in huaraches. I think since we gave up wearing shoes with any heel lift at this time and tried to be BF at home as much as possible helped a lot with the transition process.
Within 6 weeks or so I was back to my usual 5K distance and my partner was back running her usual 10K's. This may seem a rapid transition but we were careful to slowly add speed and respect the feedback our bodies sent during these early runs. Since we have encountered no injury and were running pain free it does appear we managed to avoid the dreaded TMTS.
So now I am 10 months, 300K, and one broken toe into this journey. The toe thingy was the result of a run in with a treadmill. Despite being laid up for 6-8 weeks with the toe injury the switch to minimalist / BF running has been pretty seamless (pun intended).
It is nice to enjoy running again and to run without the back pain that had prompted the transition initially. Ultimately, for me, the results speak for themselves. After a lot of running, lots more funny looks and even a race later I can say with some assurance that I am DONE with conventional running shoes.
I do lament the loss of my high heels but at the end of the day it is a small price to pay for pain free running. It may take me a while yet to part with the last of my shoe collection... but I suspect I will survive the separation anxiety that is sure to follow the final purge.
I am really looking forward to where this journey will take me next...
Jenn
For me the process was a 'tad' more tentative and done gingerly. My partner took to this like a duck to water and enjoyed, perhaps a bit too much, leaving me in the dust during this period. I am usually faster but this period was appropriately humbling. However within a few weeks we were out there doing short, slow runs, first BF then in huaraches. I think since we gave up wearing shoes with any heel lift at this time and tried to be BF at home as much as possible helped a lot with the transition process.
Within 6 weeks or so I was back to my usual 5K distance and my partner was back running her usual 10K's. This may seem a rapid transition but we were careful to slowly add speed and respect the feedback our bodies sent during these early runs. Since we have encountered no injury and were running pain free it does appear we managed to avoid the dreaded TMTS.
So now I am 10 months, 300K, and one broken toe into this journey. The toe thingy was the result of a run in with a treadmill. Despite being laid up for 6-8 weeks with the toe injury the switch to minimalist / BF running has been pretty seamless (pun intended).
It is nice to enjoy running again and to run without the back pain that had prompted the transition initially. Ultimately, for me, the results speak for themselves. After a lot of running, lots more funny looks and even a race later I can say with some assurance that I am DONE with conventional running shoes.
I do lament the loss of my high heels but at the end of the day it is a small price to pay for pain free running. It may take me a while yet to part with the last of my shoe collection... but I suspect I will survive the separation anxiety that is sure to follow the final purge.
I am really looking forward to where this journey will take me next...
Jenn
