Two months into my marathon training I ran two half marathons in a week wearing minimalist shoes and my feet had had enough. I realized that training for my first marathon and trying to adapt to minimalist running was way too ambitious for a beginner. Since then I have continued my marathon training wearing my old beat up sneakers and mixing in completely barefoot running. Here are some excerpts from my training the last few weeks.
Week 9
May 22nd 10 miles
I ran the first mile out and the last mile in completely barefoot today and the feet felt great. The rest of the run was in my old sneakers… feels strange to be wearing them again… I feel like a lumbering giant or something and have to really focus to keep my stride smooth with midfoot strikes.. miss my EVOs! But the feet are recovering fast so maybe I'll mix them in soon, or just be patient and build up the barefoot miles… I dunno.
Week 10
May 26th 7 miles
On vacation in Mexico!!! I had to run on a freaking treadmill for the first time, blick! I can't see how anyone can stand those things, but I had to do at least one run in-between drinking at the pool and napping on the beach
May 30 15 miles
I'm moving this weekend so I get to run in the am and then haul junk to our new home the rest of the day. I usually get a nap in after my long runs but not today. I had a chill morning run. Got a bit tired around mile 8… need to eat a bit sooner I think. Overall a pretty easy run. I ran the last mile barefoot and it felt good! It's like a massage after having my feet wrapped in those cocoons the whole time. Sure regular shoes are comfy for the foot, but man it feels so much better once I drop them. I can't wait to work up my barefoot mileage.
Week 11
June 2nd 8 miles
I did the first two miles barefoot… got to experience sidewalk, gravely dirt, sand, grass, and asphalt… I think the soles of my feet are adjusting finally. It's amazing how much more engaging running barefoot is. You scope out every pebble, bump, and unidentifiable thingy in front of you every second. It's almost like a video game! And I had just mild discomfort in my right foot.. think it's getting better after that bout of overtaining!
June 3rd 4 miles
Did the first 2.5 miles barefoot! My feet are starting to handle the different terrains better and I've pretty much eliminated pushing off from my stride. At this rate, hopefully I can up the mileage a bit to do my “short” runs completely barefoot!
June 5th 17 miles
I ran a new route today and I accidentally ran a mile more than my training schedule suggests. Oh well, it will make the next run easier. At mile 8 I realized that my route would overlap the “see jane run” half marathon. I was a bit ahead of the lead runner when I got to the course but at the end I got to run against the current of runners, so I just had to rip off my shoes and go barefoot… good advertising!!!! I'm noticing more turned heads lately. I think before i was so focused on the ground in front of me I had no time to notice gawkers. Gawk away I say, maybe some will try it out for themselves.
Week 12
June 7th 4 miles
Today is a historical day, I did my entire run barefoot, woooo! And I hauled booty too with a 7:58 min/mile!! The balls of my feet are a bit tender but not bad and my little toes got a little dinged up. I stepped in some sand and something underneath the surface gave my little toe a scratch… nothing major though, but I'm a little more cautious about sand now.
June 8th 8 miles
Just cruzin today. My feet were a bit raw from yesterday so I stayed shod today
June 9th 5 miles
I went out with my gal last night to a nice Italian restaurant. We got the “chef's choice” 5 course meal and since we were the only people in the place we got his personal attention, which meant great food and about 5 glasses of delicious wine. I was feeling that wine today, and not in a good way. It was windy today and I bonked out hard the first half of the run. It's kind of fun though, feeling like you are floating a few inches above the ground because your blood sugar level is in the basement and not being sure if you are going to wind up face first on the ground. I ran the last 2.5 miles barefoot… my toes are a bit sore but overall it's getting more and more comfortable running barefoot. I think my foot strike is landing more forefoot so my toes are getting a lot more contact with the ground.
Week 9
May 22nd 10 miles
I ran the first mile out and the last mile in completely barefoot today and the feet felt great. The rest of the run was in my old sneakers… feels strange to be wearing them again… I feel like a lumbering giant or something and have to really focus to keep my stride smooth with midfoot strikes.. miss my EVOs! But the feet are recovering fast so maybe I'll mix them in soon, or just be patient and build up the barefoot miles… I dunno.
Week 10
May 26th 7 miles
On vacation in Mexico!!! I had to run on a freaking treadmill for the first time, blick! I can't see how anyone can stand those things, but I had to do at least one run in-between drinking at the pool and napping on the beach
May 30 15 miles
I'm moving this weekend so I get to run in the am and then haul junk to our new home the rest of the day. I usually get a nap in after my long runs but not today. I had a chill morning run. Got a bit tired around mile 8… need to eat a bit sooner I think. Overall a pretty easy run. I ran the last mile barefoot and it felt good! It's like a massage after having my feet wrapped in those cocoons the whole time. Sure regular shoes are comfy for the foot, but man it feels so much better once I drop them. I can't wait to work up my barefoot mileage.
Week 11
June 2nd 8 miles
I did the first two miles barefoot… got to experience sidewalk, gravely dirt, sand, grass, and asphalt… I think the soles of my feet are adjusting finally. It's amazing how much more engaging running barefoot is. You scope out every pebble, bump, and unidentifiable thingy in front of you every second. It's almost like a video game! And I had just mild discomfort in my right foot.. think it's getting better after that bout of overtaining!
June 3rd 4 miles
Did the first 2.5 miles barefoot! My feet are starting to handle the different terrains better and I've pretty much eliminated pushing off from my stride. At this rate, hopefully I can up the mileage a bit to do my “short” runs completely barefoot!
June 5th 17 miles
I ran a new route today and I accidentally ran a mile more than my training schedule suggests. Oh well, it will make the next run easier. At mile 8 I realized that my route would overlap the “see jane run” half marathon. I was a bit ahead of the lead runner when I got to the course but at the end I got to run against the current of runners, so I just had to rip off my shoes and go barefoot… good advertising!!!! I'm noticing more turned heads lately. I think before i was so focused on the ground in front of me I had no time to notice gawkers. Gawk away I say, maybe some will try it out for themselves.
Week 12
June 7th 4 miles
Today is a historical day, I did my entire run barefoot, woooo! And I hauled booty too with a 7:58 min/mile!! The balls of my feet are a bit tender but not bad and my little toes got a little dinged up. I stepped in some sand and something underneath the surface gave my little toe a scratch… nothing major though, but I'm a little more cautious about sand now.
June 8th 8 miles
Just cruzin today. My feet were a bit raw from yesterday so I stayed shod today
June 9th 5 miles
I went out with my gal last night to a nice Italian restaurant. We got the “chef's choice” 5 course meal and since we were the only people in the place we got his personal attention, which meant great food and about 5 glasses of delicious wine. I was feeling that wine today, and not in a good way. It was windy today and I bonked out hard the first half of the run. It's kind of fun though, feeling like you are floating a few inches above the ground because your blood sugar level is in the basement and not being sure if you are going to wind up face first on the ground. I ran the last 2.5 miles barefoot… my toes are a bit sore but overall it's getting more and more comfortable running barefoot. I think my foot strike is landing more forefoot so my toes are getting a lot more contact with the ground.
