Smiles are the best reaction. I got 2 big ones from another runner who was running loops in the other direction at the park yesterday.
People's reactions when you run
- Thread starter mandytheartist
- Start date
Lol. 13-15year old skateboarders today....
"Holy $?#&! He's barefoot!"
Btw. 6 weeks of this, and I don't remember a shod run ever feeling as good as today's barefooted.
"Holy $?#&! He's barefoot!"
Btw. 6 weeks of this, and I don't remember a shod run ever feeling as good as today's barefooted.
Two middle-aged cyclists went by, in full weekend racing kit, one says, "I've been meaning to try that, but I don't know if I have the balls."
I says to him, I says, "A lot of barefoot runners don't have any balls, rather ovaries, and they do just fine."
I says to him, I says, "A lot of barefoot runners don't have any balls, rather ovaries, and they do just fine."
Seems like young women do the most smiling, young men the most commenting. Clearly, this merits another barefoot running study.
I've found that while barefoot running the above theory holds true, but while barefoot walking the men never comment while the women continue to smile yet add comments as well. Parents with kids leave a WIDE berth!
Maybe it's because we're just damn good-looking men?
i passed 3 women on the trail yesterday. the first tried to get as far from me as possible. the 2nd didn't see me and the 3rd smiled. the one who got the comment was my little muddy dog. they all went "awww" and he ran away with his tail between his legs and barked.
Best BF comment I ever heard yesterday! :
Two ladies, each pushing a double stroller, came over the rise just in front of me on the trail. One's face broke into a huge smile and she said
"You look like a Kenyan!"
I called back"...only shorter, fatter, and slower!"
Two ladies, each pushing a double stroller, came over the rise just in front of me on the trail. One's face broke into a huge smile and she said
"You look like a Kenyan!"
I called back"...only shorter, fatter, and slower!"
That is a very satisfying comment! I've just been listening to a book that talks about the Kenyans and it has inspired me in my barefooting!
Two comments this morning:
"Wowww!!!!"
and, a couple of miles later:
"Ya gotta be crazy, bro"
"Wowww!!!!"
and, a couple of miles later:
"Ya gotta be crazy, bro"
Ran a Color Vibe with hubby and daughter almost two weeks ago. I heard a lot of "Oh my gosh, she's barefoot, that's gotta hurt, and she's going to have bad blisters when she's done!" The last comment was my favorite. I think I was the ONLY barefooter in the race. I did see a lot of minimalist shoes, which is better than regular running shoes. We had a lot of fun. I posted pictures to the barefoot savages page on facebook. My daughter and I are signed up to do the Bridge run in December. This morning while out running I heard a "Holy Sh**, she's barefoot!" from construction workers. I laughed and kept going. I hope to one day hear the Kenyan comment.
On the Gun Run 1/2 last Sunday I had at least 4 club runners tell me "Respect" on the way past. That felt pretty good.
Running BF in Red Rock Canyon just outside of Las Vegas. Pretty girl is running the opposite direction. I say good morning. She looks at my feet, give me half a head shake and exclaims "Really?" Not in a nice way either. Oh well, I had a nice run.
Oh well, I had a nice run.
Running BF in Red Rock Canyon just outside of Las Vegas. Pretty girl is running the opposite direction. I say good morning. She looks at my feet, give me half a head shake and exclaims "Really?" Not in a nice way either.
"Yes Really"
Same thing whether running or just being barefoot. People either love it or hate it, no real middle ground.
Sometimes I think other runners react as though we are mocking them with our ease of running barefoot.
And you have to admit, it does offer them a silent challenge.
Optional response: "Shoes? Really?" Shaking head, of course.
Running BF in Red Rock Canyon just outside of Las Vegas. Pretty girl is running the opposite direction. I say good morning. She looks at my feet, give me half a head shake and exclaims "Really?" Not in a nice way either.
I wonder what she would have made of "No. Not really. Busted."
That's really the heart of it right there...it doesn't really register in their mind right off the bat. I would hope the next time they see a barefooter they might think differently.
There is a guy I've repeatable seen over probably 6 - 7 years at Tribble Mill park...the first couple years he always had that WTF look and said nothing anytime I passed by...little by little he has spoke to me over the years but never mentioned barefooting in any kind of way just regular running stuff....this last summer I heard him say to another runner who went by "there's the barefoot guy I told you about" with a nod of acceptance kinda defending me... slow progress but progress none the less.
When a woman barefooter runs by I think that is even more of a challenge to the male shod runners.
Seems like it's only the serious, RW-type, hyper-competitive shod runners who feel threatened or challenged, especially male ones. Recreational runners seem much more likely to smile, acknowledge, or praise. The serious male guys never return a hello or silent wave, not that I can remember anyways. But those pricks look down on all us joggers so it's hard to say if it's the bare feet or just their annoyance that they practice a sport that requires no real skill and have to share their training grounds with us slow pokes, like they're thinking "It may look like we're doing the same thing, but we're not!" When you then do the same thing barefoot, it's like you're retorting, "OK, you're a lot faster, but can you do it like this?"
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