People's reactions when you run

Yah, particularly since I made a groundhog quip on the grounding thread a day or two ago. Nice coincidence.
I feel bad for that grounding thread, and I can see why Thom doesn't frequent these boards anymore. I don't believe in it myself, but it irritates barefooters when people say there isn't anything proven about barefeet being better than shod (and believe me there is a ton of people who still believe that), and then we turn around and completely ostracize these others for what they believe makes them feel/sleep better with the grounding stuff. I do believe there is something about being connected to the earth, look at how being barefoot makes us feel, but I don't think it is a known quantity just yet as to what that is that makes being barefoot on the ground that much better than being in even the most minimal minshoe, which I do not believe is the electrons or positrons or whatever it is grounding believers think helps.
 
Did a 5K last weekend. I ran (ok... walked mostly) with my 6 year old niece, near the end she was getting tired, So, I was doing the "run to the next light pole, then we'll walk, run past the truck and we'll walk" thing... as we passed a set of slower runners, they heard me talking to her, one of them cheered her on, "Yeah! you can do it, he's doing it and not even wearing shoes!" After the race, my niece says, "Auntie, those ladies told uncle he isn't wearing shoes." I don't think she even notices anymore.
 
I ran one of my favorite 10K races today. It's a St. Patrick's Day race in a big Irish city and so it attracts about 6,000 runners and the entire course is lined with spectators. I couldn't believe how often I heard "that guy's barefoot" "look, he doesn't have shoes on" etc. from the spectators.

The last 1/2 mile is a straight line to the finish and loaded with folks on either side. I heard a lot of barefoot comments along the way. Finally, 100 ft. from the finish, I thought I'd beat them to it and yelled out "OMG. That guy's barefoot" The runners around me must have been tired of hearing all the comments as well because when I yelled out, it got them laughing. At that point, I picked up the pace and beat them to the finish line! 51:09
 
The runners around me must have been tired of hearing all the comments as well

I ran a half marathon on sunday, ran with a guy I met at km 10, during 6 or 7 km maybe, very friendly,
after hearing so many comments the guy asked me "shit, is it like that everyday for you ?"
 
i got a few comments at sunday's shamrock run also. i ran with one guy in merrells and he was surprised at all the comments which were positive, at the time.

after hearing for the second time women commenting how they wouldn't want to step in glass i turned and put my fingers to my eyes and said "i pay attention". her and her man laughed.
 
No running comments yesterday, but I did get a couple on the golf course. As I'm waiting to tee-off on the first hole a couple of young guys look at my feet and asked whether I golf in bare feet. I said yes that I go barefoot as much as I can and even completed half marathons shoeless. He said that he heard that running barefoot is good for you and that's why the made those shoes that look like gloves for your feet (vff). I just replied why buy them, take your shoes off and you have the real thing. Later on in the round again while waiting on a tee box a lady came and asked why I golf in bare feet. My reply this time was that it feels good and again mentioned I try to go shoeless as often as I can get away with it. Then she asked if I was bothered by all the chemicals and stuff on the course to which I replied there were no problems and that I wash my feet right after I get off the course. She just kind of shook her head in disbelief, then got confused when I mentioned that all that stuff she was concerned about, was on her golf ball ball that was in her hand. I said that her golf ball rolls in the same stuff that is in contact with my feet. I just hope that I did not scare her in never golfing again. :)
 
Last couple of miles of my half marathon today, I picked up the pace and began slowly passing a few people. One fellow had apparently seen me earlier in the race. As I passed he exclaimed in a humorously frustrated voice, "Damn! The barefoot lady!"

Edit: I found out this was someone who reads my
blog, so recognizes me, but I have never met, although we have had some emails. Kind of fun!
 
Last couple of miles of my half marathon today, I picked up the pace and began slowly passing a few people. One fellow had apparently seen me earlier in the race. As I passed he exclaimed in a humorously frustrated voice, "Damn! The barefoot lady!"

Edit: I found out this was someone who reads my
blog, so recognizes me, but I have never met, although we have had some emails. Kind of fun!

Better than being the damned barefoot lady!

I was in the last couple of miles of my long run yesterday, in Xeros, and was being approached by a couple of bicyclists. They could see me better some because the sun was behind them and in my eyes. I put up my hand and said "Hello." The one guy said hello back and then, "Damn, what the hell, look at his feet!" That helped to inspire me to keep going with that bit of a strong closing finish.
 
Yesterday morning, while out on a loop that I frequent, I passed an older guy (looks to be around 70ish, so I was completely impressed) in merrell mins. He looks at me and says "So you belong to the barefoot prints I see out here!" Funny, because I was about to say the same about his merrell prints.
 
I was running a 5K race over the weekend and this 7 or 8 yr. old running next to me asked the best question I have heard yet, "Why did you take your shoes off?"
I was thinking of saying, "Where do I begin? 10,000 years ago....." but then I remembered I was running a race so I just said "Because I like it!"
As a side note, I crushed that kid in the last part of the race and beat him by over 30 seconds!
 
In yesterday's regular run on the city, I approached from an angle to this person in suite, because he didn’t hear me and it was kind of dark he took the scare of his life, he actually turn and try to hit me (instinctively not on purpose), when I realize that happened I feel bad because I didn’t say “sorry” but it only lasted for a minute, then I laughed and enjoyed the moment… :vulcan:
 
In yesterday's regular run on the city, I approached from an angle to this person in suite, because he didn’t hear me and it was kind of dark he took the scare of his life, he actually turn and try to hit me (instinctively not on purpose), when I realize that happened I feel bad because I didn’t say “sorry” but it only lasted for a minute, then I laughed and enjoyed the moment… :vulcan:

Yeah, I just relearned a couple weeks ago to announce myself when I almost got whipped by fishing poles.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dutchie53