This summer I decided it was high time I got in shape. Along with yoga and lifting, I wanted to make sure I got in a good running routine. I'm home from college in Wilmington this summer, and I want to make sure I have made running a habit before I get back. So, I was in the bookstore a week ago when I saw Born to Run. I was immediately drawn to it and picked it up and started reading it right there. I was five chapters in when I decided it would be best for me to go ahead and purchase the book, but as I was leaving another book caught my eye: Ken Bob's BR SxS. I picked it up also and decided that if I was going to start running I should start doing it barefoot. Aside from a short two week stint of Cross Country in middle school, I have never been much of a runner. Therefore, I feel it safe to say I am coming into running and subsequently barefoot running entirely fresh.
In Ken Bob's book he has a suggested schedule for how long you should start BR in order to not over do it. It starts with about 3 5-min runs initially. The first one I did I found myself struggling and ended up quitting around the 2:30 marker (a testament to my newness to the activity). Two days later, I was able to push on and comfortably do the whole five minutes, but this time on a treadmill. Then two days after that I got on a treadmill again and started running. I ended up pushing to 15 min--a big achievement for me. I was feeling so good after this that I stepped outside and decided to sprint the hill in front of my house. I felt good afterwards until I went inside and my feet hit the cold hardwood floor. Big painful blisters had appeared on my inner forefoot and big toe. Now, I know I was obviously doing something wrong during my running, and I have reason to believe that it was during the sprint I did outside quite carelessly. I guess what I'm wondering is how should I recover from this small injury. Should I take some time off before I run again (something which will be very hard since with the help of Ken Bob and McDougall I have fallen in love with running)? Also, does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can avoid this pain from occuring again?
My goals are to be able to run 12 miles barefoot by the end of the summer and be able to run a marathon barefoot by next summer. I'm looking for some coaching, if there is any to be found, so that I can achieve these goal and do them with proper technique and form. I guess I'm getting scared because with this blisters I am very tempted to wear some shoes tomorrow, simply so I can get out and move. Now that I look at that idea, and how far I feel like I've come already, I know it is something I should not do.
Thank you to anyone who reads and any advice anyone might have would be greatly appeciated.
In Ken Bob's book he has a suggested schedule for how long you should start BR in order to not over do it. It starts with about 3 5-min runs initially. The first one I did I found myself struggling and ended up quitting around the 2:30 marker (a testament to my newness to the activity). Two days later, I was able to push on and comfortably do the whole five minutes, but this time on a treadmill. Then two days after that I got on a treadmill again and started running. I ended up pushing to 15 min--a big achievement for me. I was feeling so good after this that I stepped outside and decided to sprint the hill in front of my house. I felt good afterwards until I went inside and my feet hit the cold hardwood floor. Big painful blisters had appeared on my inner forefoot and big toe. Now, I know I was obviously doing something wrong during my running, and I have reason to believe that it was during the sprint I did outside quite carelessly. I guess what I'm wondering is how should I recover from this small injury. Should I take some time off before I run again (something which will be very hard since with the help of Ken Bob and McDougall I have fallen in love with running)? Also, does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can avoid this pain from occuring again?
My goals are to be able to run 12 miles barefoot by the end of the summer and be able to run a marathon barefoot by next summer. I'm looking for some coaching, if there is any to be found, so that I can achieve these goal and do them with proper technique and form. I guess I'm getting scared because with this blisters I am very tempted to wear some shoes tomorrow, simply so I can get out and move. Now that I look at that idea, and how far I feel like I've come already, I know it is something I should not do.
Thank you to anyone who reads and any advice anyone might have would be greatly appeciated.