Yesterday I did a longer-than-usual run. 8 miles. I feel really good about it. And my body feels good today - no soreness, no injuries. Just a little blister on the tip of my fourth toe. That spot has been feeling the road more lately. Something in my stride or my foot must have changed. It is worth noting that back in my shod days 8 miles would have left me with a sore muscle somewhere - usually the back of my thigh.
I have to ask myself at this point, why am I doing this? Why run 8 miles when I can run 5? Is the extra distance doing me any good? I have ambitions to run 20 or more. But should I? There is certainly more risk as I go farther. Perhaps I should be content to run 5 miles every day, or most days.
The answer is simple, although I only came upon it recently. I like running barefoot. I especially like disappearing from the world for a long time, onto the road. I like the feeling of exploration - of the planet and the soul. When I am out there plodding along, my concerns are miles away, and I discover new things. Sometimes it is just noticing a house as I go by, or seeing a person walking, or finding a new neighborhood. Even better is a hilltop or a wooded lane, with all the possibilities they present. And sometimes it is a connection within myself - an understanding of the significance of a loved one, or a memory of an old friend.
There is a joy to be had out there after many miles have gone by, that I have not found in many places. So I want to be able to go even farther. I'd like to be able to set out one afternoon and not return for a few hours. To discover what my body can do, to let my worries find their proper places, and to open the possibility of finding something new.
I have to ask myself at this point, why am I doing this? Why run 8 miles when I can run 5? Is the extra distance doing me any good? I have ambitions to run 20 or more. But should I? There is certainly more risk as I go farther. Perhaps I should be content to run 5 miles every day, or most days.
The answer is simple, although I only came upon it recently. I like running barefoot. I especially like disappearing from the world for a long time, onto the road. I like the feeling of exploration - of the planet and the soul. When I am out there plodding along, my concerns are miles away, and I discover new things. Sometimes it is just noticing a house as I go by, or seeing a person walking, or finding a new neighborhood. Even better is a hilltop or a wooded lane, with all the possibilities they present. And sometimes it is a connection within myself - an understanding of the significance of a loved one, or a memory of an old friend.
There is a joy to be had out there after many miles have gone by, that I have not found in many places. So I want to be able to go even farther. I'd like to be able to set out one afternoon and not return for a few hours. To discover what my body can do, to let my worries find their proper places, and to open the possibility of finding something new.
