Hello from Lijiang, China

Hey all,

I've been running off and on since 1984 when on the cross-country team in High School. I hated every minute of it but it was really about training for soccer. If there was nobody chasing me then I never saw the need to run. After two back-to-back knee surgeries on the same knee in 97, then an MA and birth of our first child my wife and I started training for a marathon. It was the first time I started to enjoy running while pushing a jogger with my son. When I made it to training to the 15 mile mark at about a 10 min mile I had severe pain in my surgery knee then stopped running entirely. In the past few years I've been experimenting with "barefoot" running in my Luna sandals. I find that even though I'm up to being able to run a slow 6 miles I'm still thinking about form and landing properly.

I don't think I'll every go completely barefoot because of where I live but enjoy minimalist running. Right now I don't have any big goals for running just want to get to and maintain a 10k at a 10 min mile.

Thanks in advance to all of you who post here and provide feedback and help!
 
Hey all,
Right now I don't have any big goals for running just want to get to and maintain a 10k at a 10 min mile.

Thanks in advance to all of you who post here and provide feedback and help!

Welcome to the barefoot running conversation! So sorry you had to go through all that surgery. I've had a minor surgery on one knee, but running barefoot has made it so I can still enjoy running. I'm definitely running barefoot a lot more than I thought I would at first, and I didn't start until I was about 50 years old.

What are you doing in China? We lived in Taiwan for a few months and I've been working on my Chinese language skills ever since. Kind of slow going when constantly surrounded by English, but I'm enjoying it.
 
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Thanks. I'm 44 and here teaching. My entire family is with me. I just didn't want to look back and say, why didn't we.... life is short and my kids are getting an experience of a lifetime and should come away fluent in Chinese - that should help their resume!

minshoes for me is something I probably won't get away from. The sanitary conditions plus the amount of things that are just thrown on the ground would not be pleasing to put onto my feet then to walk into the house with. Needless to say I'd rather focusing on running than worrying about stepping in dog or kid poop :nailbiting:, or whatever else may be thrown from a vehicle or pedestrian on the sidewalk. I don't even wear my shoes in the house because it's just not done. ;)

happysongbird - Chinese is definitely not one of the easiest languages on the planet.

Thanks cgnkiller! will do! I just need to keep reminding myself to stretch more.
 
Welcome, Curtis. Sounds like you're doing it right if you're still thinking about form consciously, which tells me it's not yet been cemented into muscle memory. That means you SHOULD be thinking about it continuously until your subconscious and muscles have it down pat. Enjoy!
 
Hola Curtis!
Bienvenido!!
 
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Welcome! Glad to have you here! :barefoot:
 
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In the past few years I've been experimenting with "barefoot" running in my Luna sandals. I find that even though I'm up to being able to run a slow 6 miles I'm still thinking about form and landing properly.

Whenever you run with any kind of footwear, attention to your form is wise, just too easy to change stride without loads of practice.

I don't think I'll every go completely barefoot because of where I live but enjoy minimalist running. Right now I don't have any big goals for running just want to get to and maintain a 10k at a 10 min mile.

That's what we all say at the start. It's kinda like Karoke that way. You go into the bar thinking you'll never sing...three drinks later you doing Poker Face with a guy who just tried to punch you for being a Patriots fan, but I digress. Point is, give it some thought and perhaps even a read. I favor @Barefoot Ken Bob and his book. He has a good presence here and a good youtube channel. I also read Nicholas Romanov's tutorial and subscribe to his youtube channel and even pay for a premium subscription. Great primers into barefoot running.

Till that time, lots of Luna Sandal lovers in the air around here. Seriously, around IBRD time they're just like a Jodi Picoult novel. So you should find many kindred spirits.

Some links for you:
Romanv's Pose Running: https://www.youtube.com/user/posetv

Barefoot Ken Bob:
 
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