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.
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.