Okay...I think the light bulb is finally coming on. Having suffered with TOFP for a couple of weeks now and as I'm reading "Barefoot Running" by Michael Sandler I'm realizing that transitioning strictly to barefoot or minimalist running isn't going to be a sixmonth process for me (already been 5). Especially since I'm required to runas a major part of my job. Not only do I have to do well on Physical Fitness Teststwice a yearbut I have to maintain myendurance and stamina forwhen I'm required to operate in a combatenvironment. Training is continuous. Specifically run training. I can't "learn from the pain" quite as Michael Sandler suggests by stopping the running and dialing back to the beginning and starting over slowly. If I was just a recreational runner that might work fine but that's not the situationso I've got to come up with something else.
So, here's where I'm at. Many of the principles I've learned while researching/practicingbarefoot/minimalist running will benefit me directly as I start to use my runningshoes again. Thiswill allow me to stay in some kindof running shape formyprofession but I'll still continue to build my footstrength/conditioning to eventually run primarily barefoot or inminimalist shoes. Running in my VFFS for themilitary formation run on Friday left me incredibly sore in my calf/Achille's tendon area due to the requirement to way overstride and run at slower tempo. That pace required me to push off using my calves, instead of focusing on lifting my knees,resulting in amazing soreness. This iswhere runningshoes are probably still going to be required so I can run aseveryone else is, run instep withthe rest of the formation,and not hurt myself in the process. This will definitely be required if I get command of a battalion or other large unit nextyear.
Even as I continue to train for recreational runs, such as the GoofyChallenge next January and a 50 miler next March, I'll domy longer runs in shoes intially then finish the last few miles barefoot the betterI get with the barefoot style. I'll gradually increasemy barefoot mileage until presumably that's how I'll do all myruns.
I'mtruly sold on the bareftoot running concept but unfortunately it seems the transition is going to take a bit longer than Ithought.
I'm curious about anyone else's experience that might run for a living.
Semper Fi,
Warren
So, here's where I'm at. Many of the principles I've learned while researching/practicingbarefoot/minimalist running will benefit me directly as I start to use my runningshoes again. Thiswill allow me to stay in some kindof running shape formyprofession but I'll still continue to build my footstrength/conditioning to eventually run primarily barefoot or inminimalist shoes. Running in my VFFS for themilitary formation run on Friday left me incredibly sore in my calf/Achille's tendon area due to the requirement to way overstride and run at slower tempo. That pace required me to push off using my calves, instead of focusing on lifting my knees,resulting in amazing soreness. This iswhere runningshoes are probably still going to be required so I can run aseveryone else is, run instep withthe rest of the formation,and not hurt myself in the process. This will definitely be required if I get command of a battalion or other large unit nextyear.
Even as I continue to train for recreational runs, such as the GoofyChallenge next January and a 50 miler next March, I'll domy longer runs in shoes intially then finish the last few miles barefoot the betterI get with the barefoot style. I'll gradually increasemy barefoot mileage until presumably that's how I'll do all myruns.
I'mtruly sold on the bareftoot running concept but unfortunately it seems the transition is going to take a bit longer than Ithought.
I'm curious about anyone else's experience that might run for a living.
Semper Fi,
Warren
