Why "Barefoot" will never be part of my name

This post is inspired by Duncan's excellent post here: http://barefootrunners.org/build2/story/member-blog-week-short-runway-duncan and the recent posts by Jason here: http://barefootrunners.org/build2/blog-post/more-thoughts-barefoot-versus-minimalist-shoes-issue-and-difficulty-abandoning-unfulfilled and here: http://barefootrunners.org/build2/blog-post/decision-race-barefoot-or-not

I guess a single sentence would do to explain my stance but how much fun is that, really?
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Anyway, I run. Does that make me a runner? I guess it does. I've always had a hard time defining myself with one word but I guess runner fits nowadays. Also, I happen to prefer running barefoot. Actually, as it is right now, barefoot is my only option since I don't have any shoes that fit and are flexible enough for running, it's one or the other at the moment. Does this make me a barefoot runner? Sure, but I'm no zealot. I'll run in whatever makes it fun. Fun is what motivates me and my idea of fun involves keeping my toes intact so shoes are needed most of the time. Summer is very short where I live, it's now mid-August and fall is on it's way. I might have a month of barefoot-friendly weather left this year, if I'm lucky I'll be able to continue until the end of September but after that it's just too damn cold. By the end of October everything will be frozen. By mid-April the roads and bike paths I run are runnable barefoot again but what would I do for the 6-7 months of no barefooting? Get on a treadmill? Remember when I said fun was my motivation? Yeah, not going to happen. There are to viable options here in my mind. Either I get the most minimal shoe I can that'll still provide some insulation or Ido something else for six months, like cross-country skiing. I'll probably do both.

So where does that leave me on the whole "barefoot" thing? Let's face it, I'll be wearing shoes for most of my runs any way you look at it so it wouldn't really be fair to call myself barefoot anything, would it? Also, the name implies that I've arrived, that barefoot is the only way forward for me. I don't like that. I've said it before and I'll probably say it again, once I find something better it's time to move on. At this point, I have no idea what "better" is but I'm open to the possibility that it exists or might exist at some point. Barefooting is a tool, a tool that's cured me of shin splints and made just about every run fun in one way or another but still only a tool. Then there's the more accurate term, I might call myself "Minimal" something or other as I at this point only use the most minimal solution when picking out footwear. That could work, only the tiny macho man inside me, a very much under-developed part of my personality, starts to shout nasty things at me whenever I consider it. Minimal implies things in other places than my feet and we can't have that, can we? It's the same thing with wearing a kilt when it's cold, it doesn't exactly do wonders for your masculinity...
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Then, there's the whole zealot thing. I've been involved in a few pretty extreme political movements on the far, far left. In some ways it's not too different from barefooting in that it's a niche movement and it'll (most likely) never ever become mainstream. The thing that made me tire of these organizations though was that they always seemed to spend more time debating which bearded old German/Russian guy who had the best ideas and attempting to distance themselves from each other than actually working towards making society better. I've always felt that if these "extremists" could just embrace their similarities instead of focusing too much on the tiny differences between their chosen philosophies they could make an impact on national politics. I fear barefoot running might go down that same road if we try to define ourselves with too much detail. I hope I'm not right but when you start differentiating between "pure" barefooters and those who mix in minimalist shoes and yet again those who even sometimes (gasp!) wear running shoes it's going to do more harm than good. This is why I'm glad to see that the BRS is such an inclusive group. I've very little experience with other barefoot groups but I hope they work this way too for the good of the sport. The problem is, once you start calling yourself "barefoot" whatever, people outside our little bubble will judge you before you even start to speak. I don't want that. I've experienced it before, I've been the crazy communist/anarchist way too many times to want to be that guy again.

To sum things up, I'm a runner, I just happen to prefer to do it barefoot. It really is as simple as that.

Comments

That's what I always say.Do whatever makes you happy, and don't worry about what others think or keeping up with the Joneses. (I hope that translates well.) I also believe in wearing whatever footwear is needed to complete the run safely and happily. I am first and foremost a barefoot runner, but I am not ashamed of putting on some water shoes should the ground be too cold otherwise, and I want to get my run in. You are a barefoot runner too. Some of us just run barefoot more often than others do. Doesn't mean you're not a barefoot runner.

I also agree it would be nice if we concentrate on what binds us; although I must admit, disagreements make for interesting topics of discussion, and it could get boring if we all agreed all the time on everything.

And, BB, I just wonder... if you lived in a more climate-friendly location, would you be Barefoot Blind Boy? Possible. ;-)
 
Possible, yeah. If I could, I would go barefoot all the time but I still don't think I'd use it as my screen name. Being barefoot is not what defines me as a runner. Besides, being barefoot and blind sounds like a pretty bad idea, no? :p

Our differences make it interesting, I enjoy a good discussion as much as the next guy, and if you stop discussing the differences and questioning your own belief system you might as well just join the cult of your choice. I'm just saying that while the tiny details may be interesting to us, the general public couldn't care less. If the mission of the BRS is to get people interested in barefoot running our focus should lie elsewhere. Your average runner still thinks VFFs are barefoot and that Nike Frees are minimal. They're the people we need to convince, or at least get them to broaden their horizons.
 
Great post! I think sometimes the labels make us feel guilty about doing what we need to do. If I'm a "barefoot runner" does that mean Ishould feel kinda bad when I put on huaraches because it's dark and I can't see the road? Staying away from labels might help me just to take it day by day and do what's best for my feet and my body.
 
Think of physically/literally running barefoot as a stepping stone toward a barefoot mindset. Being a barefoot runner, isn't just someone who decides to kick off their shoes and runs. A 'barefoot runner' runs from the heart, runs wise, educates him/herself on gentle more natural form (which is most easily executed when barefoot but not limited to ), listens to his/her body and uses this as feedback to better his/her run, runs wearing a smile. Use what you learn during your short periods of physical barefoot bliss and apply it to the rest of the year in a minimal shoe and you'll find yourself a Barefoot Blind Boy afterall.

Embrace the barefoot within, man ;)
 
You know, that's pretty much my outlook on running and life in general. Also, Imay have found a way to run barefoot in the winter as well. There's actually a 400 meter indoor track in my town and a local running club do most of their workouts there in the colder months so Imay just have to join them.

Another thing, Barefoot Blind Boy doesn't sound nearly as bad as it did before Ifound this site earlier today: http://www.runningbarefootisbad.com/ I'd rather be blind than in pain to be honest.
 

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