Shoe Shopping!

The day my mocs got wet was an unpleasant day. Yuck. The feet got wet, cold, and pruny. I took off the mocs as I was finishing my errands. Last stop that day: my son works at the local DQ and I stopped by to pick up an ice cream cake I ordered for a different son's birthday. “Mom you CAN'T go in there barefoot!” I explained to him that I was NOT going to put the mocs back on my uncomfortable feet and if he didn't want me going in there barefoot then he could go get my cake even if it was his day off! Here's a 16 year old male, a chance for mom to buy food, and he'd rather go in alone and forego the food! Yes. Well. He said my barefootedness in that establishment reflected on him. I respected that. He got the cake and I stayed in the car. I few days later I bought my first pair of flip flops in over twenty years! So I've been wearing and/or carrying the flip flops lately. I've received a lot of compliments on my “cute sandals.” Flip flops? Cute? Sandals? Don't sandals have a strap? I think it's the healthy looking feet and polished nails that are eliciting the compliments. A few days ago I posted that I was running a 5k barefoot this month. I was really excited about that. Initially, I was concerned about running an unknown route barefoot. I also posted that I had ordered some NB Minimus Trail shoes. The band across the forefoot was unbearable in less than five minutes of wear so I sent them back. Right now I'm waiting for the Merrill Pace Gloves, but I don't know if I can wear those either. I decided I'd go for it. If I can't run in shoes, I'll just run the 5k barefoot, right? I checked with the race coordinator and asked questions about the “route surface” and received a rather terse reply. He happens to be the ladies' cross country coach at the university in the area of the 5k. I decided to check out the route first-hand. I walked out 10 minutes and it took me 15 to walk back. Is THAT chip & seal? It was worse than the uneven asphalt on my county road! I could NEVER run on that for 3 miles—well, maybe not “never,” but certainly not yet. So I went shopping for shoes for my husband and for me. On Barefoot Runners dot org, you have ALL already heard the comedic interchange—many of you have made jokes, most especially about the forums. I was told that “all barefoot runners” just love the vffs. Or these other shoes are “exactly” like the barefoot experience. I was shown a pair of shoes with a wedgie that would make me look Amazonian in height and was told, “these are the most special ultra lights of the season!” followed by the unbelievably low weight in ounces for the mass held forth for my inspection. I was given the ole' up-down look-over and asked if I had ever run minimalist. “Actually, I've been running barefoot. “Literally barefoot? Like no shoes at all?!?” Yep. At a mass marketer, I tried on a pair of Converse sneakers and realized that the 1” rim around the sole is quite restricting. . . . I brought home a pair of flat Pumas for “worst case scenario” and I'm hoping that I will like the Merrill gloves that will be delivered Monday. I walked a piece of the race track today. I'm not ready to run it barefoot. The Pumas are better than the last pair of shoes I wore, but not as good as barefoot. A compromise? Is that what it's all about? I have never worn the huraches. From the pictures I can't imagine running in them. With the exception of the few book writers, do all the other barefoot runners wear shoes occasionally?