Barefoot training for ultra

Davy Dove

Barefooters
Sep 8, 2018
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Hello all, how does one train your barefeet to from soft to hard feet in less than a mere month maybe drill a years worth of barefoot training and increase speed while barefoot for an ultra or moab 240?
 
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Hello all, how does one train your barefeet to from soft to hard feet in less than a mere month maybe drill a years worth of barefoot training and increase speed while barefoot for an ultra or moab 240?
That's not gonna happen.
 
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I should aim even higher. Most people use steroids for the same reason as people over train in the first place even caffeine could be used as a steroid to facilitate.
 
Not only is what you're asking not going to happen it's based on a completely false premise about needing "hard" feet for barefoot. I've been running barefoot for years now and have completed two city marathons completely unshod and my feet aren't "hard" or "tough" at all because human feet simply don't get that much tougher. Over the course of months or years the skin might get a little thicker but if your form involves a lot of horizontal braking forces you'll scrape up that skin and be in needless pain no matter how thick the skin.

To successfully run an ultra unshod you need to learn how to run efficiently in the way only bare feet can teach you. Run too rough on those feet and you'll not only chew up the skin you'll be running so inefficient you won't hope to finish a 1/2 marathon much less an ultra.
 
I should aim even higher. Most people use steroids for the same reason as people over train in the first place even caffeine could be used as a steroid to facilitate.
Well, those people are stupid, aren't they?
 
There is a difference how do you enhance your body. Steroids are bad for your health, there's no question about it. You can build muscles like beef cattle, but the price will be your wellbeing later. My colleague is a "classic bodybuilder" without any steroids; he told me that he won't use as he wants to have babies at some point.
 
Why would you say that? How do you think they have abs? And why would I be stupid for wanting to fully enhance my entire body for?
Are we talking about developing abs or running an ultra in less than a month? This is your opening statement after all: Hello all, how does one train your barefeet to from soft to hard feet in less than a mere month maybe drill a years worth of barefoot training and increase speed while barefoot for an ultra or moab 240?
 
I would have to enhance my entire body to do that and I was referring to the people who use steroids to enhance their bodies. I didn't mean I was going to use steroids either. I figured a month would be adequate training wasn't sure if muscle had rules!
 
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How long did he train for to attain that level of muscle?
It's a process still ongoing. Years, anyway. And yes, I figured that you meant the steroid use as a parable.

But the point of my (and I suppose Barefoot TJ's and trevize1138's, too) comments is that for human physiology it's impossible to speed up the natural development (without extreme tricks as the steroids) very much.

In your opening post, there's no indication of your starting level: how many ultras have you run already? How much you run barefoot today? With that information, maybe the experienced bf runners could give you relevant tips. (I'm just a coach potato, so I can't help you about the actual training)

Anyway, have a nice summer and enjoy running barefoot! :)
 
Nicest person ever; and yes you actually get it all! I have never ran a marathon and will barefoot a lot this summer. I do when I can now mostly inside my families home... and you also have a great summer thanks!
 
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That's not gonna happen.

The simplicity of this response cracked me up.

TJ’s brevity of response is bang on though. It’s not just about toughening up the soles of the feet or utilization of muscles that haven’t been used much, there’s also technique. I’m finding that there’s occasions of ‘sloppiness’ and a sudden realization that I’m doing something like pushing off (did it a little yesterday when I went for a run, the balls of my feet are tenderish today) thus making an interruption in barefoot adventuring. I likely could push through it today for awhile but I’d regret it tomorrow when I go out for a hike and have to put the FiveToes on. I’ll settle for mowing the lawn (I use a reel mower) and doing other chores barefoot.

Barefooting enhances patience.
 
Also wish to add is that I want to strengthen my foot so I have a lot of tenderness so the pain is nonexistent and people tend to think we all on here are stupid because we want to barefoot so either way you can't please people at all anyways. I inherently want what I want!
 
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Also wish to add is that I want to strengthen my foot so I have a lot of tenderness so the pain is nonexistent and people tend to think we all on here are stupid because we want to barefoot so either way you can't please people at all anyways. I inherently want what I want!

Can’t say I’m too bothered to please anyone else in regards to a barefoot lifestyle, it’s simply part of the evolution of me.

The tenderness issue is kind of interesting. At mile 6 of a hike today I simply had to stop and put my FiveToes on. Doing so enabled me to continue- wrapping my feet back up in a foot coffin diminished the sensitivity to something I could manage. A month ago I might have managed a couple of miles...a month from now I’m hopeful to be able to do a couple of more.

I’m not really looking at the tenderness as pain, it’s more along the lines of my feet indicating they’ve had enough for today and that a little protection would be appreciated.

Discovery, particularly of self, is fun :)
 
I went from zero to my first 50 mile run in 9 months - largely through learning how to run again bare. My IT band would assure you that was “too much too soon”.

That said, I was always in shape and always inclined to be barefoot.

We can do more than we believe we can - especially if we are comfortable with risk of injury.

The first time I went over 50, all of my joints seized up at 75ish miles in a new and unpleasant way I’d never experienced.

We can do more than we believe. A couple weekend ago, I finished the 100 mile distance for the 6th time. I attribute my success with being able to run these races without chronic injury directly to the efficient way I re-learned how to run via barefoot. I wouldn’t dream of attempting a 240 at this time.

And by the way, my feet aren’t that tough either - and I wear shoes on the trails.

Good luck!