A long time holdout now running barefoot

I have been friends with Jason Robillard from Barefoot Running University for many years now. I watched as he created his company and how his miles increased up to 100 mileultra marathons. We talked for hours about barefoot running, but I was of yet ready to go there.

I didn't run much, truth be told. I was (and am) into Functional Fitness. I added some words to Jason's 2nd edition of his book, "The Barefoot Running Book," and he encouraged me to write my first ebook and start my blog, http://kemmefitness.com.

Still...no barefoot running.

I knew I had bad form when I did run. I once broke my thumb and could not do a great many exercises, so I stuck to running mostly. After two weeks, I was almost paralyzed by an IT Band flare. I got back into my cross training and just figured I was never going to be a runner.

so no barefoot running either.

Then I forgot my shoes one day at the gym and worked out barefoot. It felt great! That was about 8 months ago. I bought a pair of Aqua Socks (I'm cheap) and worked out in them for protection.

Warm weather came and I have been leading Urban Runs once a week with coworkers through downtown Grand Rapids. I would do those in Aqua Socks and it felt great!

Still not barefoot...and still not really running (Urban Runs involve a lot of bodyweight exercises and not tons of running).

Then again - an accident. I forgot my Aqua Socks when my wife and I went to visit my parents and were planning on a short run in early August. I felt the difference immediately. Aqua Socks is not barefoot.

My Urban Runs are now barefoot, and I have caught myself sneaking in a day or two here and there with a barefoot run downtown or at home out in the country. It feels great!

This Saturday I am running my first race barefoot. I will be running along side of my father (he will be shod) in the Oktoberfest race in Spring Lake. His pace will be slow, so I will not be going fast. But that is not what running is about, is it!

Thank you for letting me join BRS. I promise to continue to promote the benefits of proper running form to others, both in person and on my website.

Comments

Welcome, Pete. I also started only when forced to by injuries and as a skeptic. BFR may not be for everyone in every situation, but it lets me run again when the best orthopedic surgeons around said that my 2 options were hip replacement or no more running. I'm up to 5-7 miles a day now, 5-6 days a week, and it feels much better to run as well as being a much more enjoyable process all around. Glad you've discovered this secret too.
 
Great story Pete

It is offen an attendant combined with awareness that brings people to BFr.

All the best with your race

PB
 

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Pete Kemme
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