Starting from the ground up!

Beckward1

Beckward1

Barefooters
Jan 10, 2013
10
18
3
43
Windsor, NY
#1
Hi, my name is Becky and I'm an injured runner/marathoner who has to start from the ground up with running again. Last year, I had a hip injury that went undetected (by doctors, I certainly knew something wasn't right) for about 6 months. In that time I ran 3 marathons on that injured hip, all the while being told there was nothing wrong. That's "listen to your body" learned the hard way! Just had surgery in December and I'm in PT rehabbing post labral debridment and iliopsoas tendon release. I've always preferred being barefoot to shoes, shoes just never fit right, hurt my feet, or left me with leg pain. So, I lose the shoes every chance I get! I figured since I have to start running again from scratch, maybe this time I'll listen to my body and forgo the whole shoe thing all together. If anyone has any ideas about how to start out, I'd love to get your advice, books to read, pretty much anything! I live in upstate NY, so snow is going to happen. I do have a tredmill in the garage, but rarely use that. I'm hoping to start running for just a few minutes in a week or so. So glad to have found this site! Thanks!!!
 
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#2
Hi Becky!

I'll let some of the graybeards of barefoot running address your starting out questions (I try, but I always get something wrong), but you've learned "Listen to your body" which is a big step.

Welcome to the fray!

P.S. Be forewarned - there's some weirdo's around here...not me...no, never, never...I mean, I'm perfectly normal, but some of the other folks - hooo wheee! :D
 
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#3
Hi Becky. Welcome!

How far upstate? Westchester or Watertown?

Sorry to read of your earlier problems - I hope they are fully resolved now. Enjoy the journey.
 
#5
Hi Becky, nice to have you here!
First of all follow the link that Junkie posted, lots of good info there.
Second of all, stay away from RunningPirate-just sayin'.
And welcome!
 
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#7
Welcome to the BRS, Becky :)

Yeah, where in Upstate NY are you located? I grew up in Rockland County and people in the city thought THAT was Upstate, lol.

When you call yourself "a marathoner", it conjuers up an image of a pretty serious runner. Like, the kind that runs fast, lol. And trains according to scientific training plans. And chooses races on the proper weekend of a training cycle. And tries to win awards... etc.

What I mean is, you might be in a pretty small subcategory of ppl looking to make the switch to barefoot. You also seem like a really good candidate for it, given your dislike of shoes, so I hope you do make the decision to chuck the orthopedic boots and 'start over' again!
 
#8
Welcome to the crew, Becky. Many of us have come here with similar promptings. Take it really slow and easy, build the soles and all the connecting tissues back in your feet, and back off if something hurts. I started with 1/2 mile per day, 3 times per week for a couple of weeks. That was hard as an old soldier and long-time runner who was a 6-day-per-week, hard-charging, all-out runner. I bought myself a stress-fractured left 3rd metatarsal head that way. Learn from my stupidity at no cost to you, and take it slow. I've been BF for about 2 years now and love it. Glad to have you with us.
 
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#9
When I made the switch to running barefoot, I was was also running a lot of miles, a couple marathons every year, and getting into an ultra here and there. I was injured when I made the switch, I just switched because I didn't fell like spending $100 every month on shoes. It took me about a year to build back up to my previous mileage. I could probably have gotten there sooner, except I sometimes pushed myself too hard and would have to take a break and start over again. So you really need to take your time and build up slowly. It took almost another year to start breaking my previous PRs.
 
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#10
Welcome, Becky. You'll find lots of useful advice here, and trust me on this one: there truly ARE no stupid questions. I'm not experienced enough to offer you any advice, except to say that if you hang around here, you're going to learn a tremendous amount and get a great deal of support, guaranteed.

As for Running Pirate being perfectly normal, well, just remember...nobody's perfect.
 
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#11
Welcome, Becky! You're in the right place.
 
#12
Becky, I am relatively new here too. Been lurking for over a year, and finally joined last month. I am a long time barefooter (hiking, etc...), but have only been running barefoot since this summer. The folks here have provided me with lots of good info, and at many times quite a few laughs. You will enjoy it here, Welcome.
 
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#17
Another New Yorker Welcome. I'm up in Spencerport.
Your story sounds like so many of us. I was injured just over two years ago. I decided to try a little BF running on my treadmill, and loved it. I started doing 1/4 mile every other day. If you are like the rest of us you will try to progress too quickly. It takes time to adjust TMTS too much too soon will cause TOFP top of foot pain and possible stress fractures, also the calves and tendons need to adjust to the lack of heel lift. Good luck.:barefoot:
 
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#18
DNEchris said:
Hi Becky. Welcome!

How far upstate? Westchester or Watertown?

Sorry to read of your earlier problems - I hope they are fully resolved now. Enjoy the journey.
Click to expand...
Well, between the two. I'm near Binghamton, about 20 miles ish east, right on the PA boarder, almost to the Catskills. It rural, hilly, and trails are pretty much everywhere. Hopefully, the worst of my hip issues are behind me. I like the idea of just letting my feet and legs do what they would naturally do, seems logical, looks weird, hahaha.
 
#19
Beckward1 said:
Well, between the two. I'm near Binghamton, about 20 miles ish east, right on the PA boarder, almost to the Catskills. It rural, hilly, and trails are pretty much everywhere. Hopefully, the worst of my hip issues are behind me. I like the idea of just letting my feet and legs do what they would naturally do, seems logical, looks weird, hahaha.
Click to expand...
That's a very pretty part of the world! I drove up Route 17 many times when my daughter was at SUNY Binghamton.

Looking weird is par for the course ;)
 
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