GROUP OPINION - Should I?

JEFF CT

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Jul 15, 2013
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Hey. I have started going around town and over all types of surfaces barefoot much more since this summer. But, I banged my foot in the pool in July and top of foot still has issues. Healing tendons or ligaments has been slow. Slowed somewhat by my sticking to my streak and going all around barefoot. (it seems)

Anyway - in about 12 days I have my Full Marathon. I havent been able to get all the training I wanted in. This week I completed a 16 mile run as my longest. I may just taper for next 12 days. Longest barefoot run was 12.2. I have done 13.4 in the past. Since keeping my shoes off more, my feet sweat more. So much so that my shoes and socks were soaked after the 16 mile run.

So, my question is. How bad of an idea would it be to run the Full barefoot at this time?
I KNOW I could do a Half bare with this training. Its just the final 13 miles that concerns me. And, there is a time cutoff. My PR is 4:28. The cutoff is 6 hrs. If I can run 10 minute miles and I can walk / limp 22 min miles, I need to run at least 16 at 10:00 to be able to finish at 6 hrs with 22 min pace for 10 miles.
 
If you are asking, you have doubts. If you have doubts, don't do it. You have to be 100% committed (at least 90% sometimes). Respect the distance. Marathons are tough and barefoot marathons are even tougher. I have only done one barefoot and doing another is not even on my schedule. Ask yourself if you really want to be walking / limping in at the end just to finish, being passed by baby strollers and having all the post run goodies picked through (been there, done that twice because I was too stubborn to drop. At least I had a place to sit down:)).

Training - you should have had some 20+ distances shod or unshod by now. 16 is not enough to figure out fueling and hydration. Any bonk issues?

Injuries - Top of foot may be an issue. Was it ok after the 16 miler?

Timing - 12 days is soon. You probably don't want to do another long run at this point. You could do a shorter distance back to back to see if you get sore feet. Don't sit idle for 12 days, you will want to do something to stay loose.

Other options - can you drop to a half option? If not, you could take it nice and easy and see how far you get, be very conservative at the start of the race. Shoes or barefoot, I guess that is your choice, but I don't think your feet will be happy with you if 13 is your longest.

Future - you have a nice base going for future marathons. There is no shortage if you back out of this one. Just keep building, you will do one sooner than you think.

Sorry, don't mean to be a downer, I am not an experienced marathoner, but I have had my share of struggles and I am happy to share my mistakes.
 
Sorry to hear about your injury, I know the frustrations. Everyone responds differently in race atmospheres, I can't tell you how many times the adrenaline of being in a race is what pushed me through if things were not going well. But saying that and your concern, I totally agree with what Rick said as well. Personally for me I would not want to go into a marathon knowing I'm going to walk it, I've been there and it wasn't fun, plus having doubts of making the cut-off time would be just to much pressure and anxiety for me. Other than that, I love to see people prove us wrong as we give advice! Good Luck!
 
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Hello Jeff, I must say: go for it! in my case I rather to regret for something I did that for something I didn't, but have in mind that if you get hurt there's nothing wrong with a DNF, good luck!
 
Slowly back away, as far away as possible from the race. There will be more races to run-not this one thou.
 
I'm going to change my tune and say go for it barefoot! The question you asked me had me thinking more about it, don't regret not starting barefoot if you feel you want to. The Hartford Marathon is barefoot friendly as well, there is one part where you run in a park and then have to cross a rail road, there is some gravel around that area and be careful of foot placements crossing the track, other than that course is great.
 
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Hey, at 39 years old you are old enough to know better.

There's no point in injuring yourself further or even just having a sucky race.

As Rick and others have written, there are plenty more races coming along. Why start your first Marathon under a cloud?
 
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hey all - thanks for the advice. Race came and went. The longest run of 16 miles was as far as I got in training. I did some short runs to keep loose. (day 320 of streak?) The forecast kept changing from rain before, to during to after the race. It was light rain the whole morning. I was in the PRE Perks area, (Bushnell Opera House) close enough to see where to line up, but didnt need to stand in the rain before the race long. I kept trying to figure out all morning what to wear. The PRE area also had their own bag check. I thought about going barefoot because it was colder (46-48*) and raining. I have had some good longer runs when the ground was cool. I also kept thinking about how annoying wet shoes would be for 4+ hrs.

I ended up going barefoot. ;)

I met up with a young guy doing his first. He kept talking about taking walk breaks, but I guess I didnt want to be the one to slow us down, and neither did he. We did take a couple breaks. Longest was a 4 minute walk around mile 22 or 23 (the wall?) My FM PR is 4:28. I came in at 4:32:02. Pretty happy with the results. As I came down the final stretch, passed another barefooter. Wished I took a photo with him, but wasnt thinking. Spoke with him and he said he has done many barefoot.

Thanks all for the advice and the concern for my safety. I was mostly worried about not knowing the course. The HM I did last fall, I was able to BF the course 3x before race day. This route, I just wasnt able to get to. Adam, yes, the train tracks were noticable. They laid 2 carpets over them. There was still gravel, but not too bad.

As for the injury on top of my foot (ligaments?) they were nice and numb on race day. Felt it early on, but it quieted down. Last couple days post race have bothered it more as Ive been lifting my big toes (blisters) more than normal.

Its such a great feeling knowing I can do a FM BF. :D
 
Jeff, I will be an Monday ArmChair Quarterback, as I didn't read your post until now. :)

As of yet, I have no idea about how training mileage needs to be adjusted for shod VS barefoot training, but after 20 marathons or so (all shod) and always peaking to 20 miles in my long runs 3 weeks before the race. I have switched to peaking to 16+miles (25kms) in my long run now 2 weeks before the race ... Ben Greenfield Fitness protocol ... with the last 5kms at 90+% effort. I find I finish just as strong and can keep my total kms down & total time on my feet down in training. I have done almost 10 more marathons with this shorter protocol with great results and strong finishes. SO, that is all to say, I think under-trained lower kms is a better option for most people who are experienced in the race - I think a good call to do the race.

I love Tim Noakes and The Lore of Running (besides him overlooking bar footing!!) and he says that many great performances (and records) have happened after an athlete was injured and then had to lower training the weeks before the race ... I think a good call to do the race. He also says that most distance runners have doubts and concerns before & at the finish line ... I think a good call to do the race.

I am not sure if you have other races that are on your schedule soon, but if not a bigger better race coming up ... I think a good call to do the race. I have done 4-5 marathons in a somewhat similar situation (semi-injuried 2 weeks before the race) and I went through with them cautiously and was always glad that I did go ahead.
 
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