So a barefoot guy walks into a running shoe store...

Gkikas

Gkikas

Barefooters
Mar 23, 2011
109
0
16
#1
I attended a question-and-answer session by the Ragnar Relay coordinators for the Florida Keys race in January, which I've commited to running in... HORRAY but that's not the reason for this post.

I walked barefoot into a Fit2Run (a big box running store chain here in the US) and seemed to elicit some chuckles from a clearly teenaged member of their staff, and then (I'm sure) a number of strange glances and hushed whispers. It didn't occur to me until I was standing there in my bare feet that being barefoot HERE, on some level, be construed as confrontational. I didn't feel very welcome. Nothing untoward was said, nor did I get any nasty looks or anything... I just felt out of place.

I wanted to ask, aloud, whether barefoot running was permitted, but I WUSSED OUT and approached the guy afterwards and asked him privately. I had a strong feeling that asking this question, in this setting, with this crowd (it felt) would've garnered me a wave pool I didn't intend to make. Part of me's disappointed in myself, the other part is relieved somehow.

I said, to the guy, "While obviously I'd make this decision at the time, given unknown terrain and definitely I'd wear something protective at night, but is running barefoot permitted? I scoured the Rules and didn't find any mention either way."

"Yes, we even had a barefoot team last year that ran in Vibrams."

"Oh, I mean barefoot barefoot." And I held up my bare foot, to clarify.

"Oh." As if now he get it. "Well," he says, kind of avoiding eye contact with me and, I felt, wanting to minimise this interaction, "I guess nobody's gonna STOP you." I could completely have misinterpreted him, or maybe he's just kinda shy.. Who knows.

"Okay good, that's what I wanted to know," and I grabbed two free gels, turned and high tailed it out of there.

-------------------

This was uncomfortable for me, as I suppose it might have been for you, too. What are your ideas/comments on this, and if you might share similar, "I'm all alone in this" experiences you've had.

Cheers!
 
#2
Interesting that all the big

Interesting that all the big box type stores seem to have this fear of barefoot (actual bare feet) running. I found the same experience up here in Canada. But on the other hand, I feel more than welcome in a small independant running store by the owner's and all that partake in the run club that they have created from that store. To clarify, I am the only barefoot runner in the group, and all have welcomed me as part of the gang (all be it, the little left of centre part of the group). There is some really serious runners in this club including a couple of previous national champions at different distances, and some with PR's of times I can only dream about. But they are still excited about my goals, achievments and are genuinely interested and intrigued by how I run.

It's funny the difference between the big chain stores and the small independants on their ideals and how they view individuality. I am truely more comfortable in the smaller store and community setting.

Have you ever tried going into a smaller independant to do your shopping for gear (minus the shoes of course)?
 
#3
Gkikas wrote:"Yes, we even

Gkikas said:
"Yes, we even had a barefoot team last year that ran in Vibrams."
Click to expand...

This kills me. Seriously.

But yup, totally know where you're coming from. I ran a marathon relay about six weeks ago that I knew was going to be tough, as some of it was on paved roads and some of it was rocky forrest roads. The info on the internet about leg distances was pretty vague, and the map they'd uploaded was just some paper map they'd marked with a pen and (poorly) scanned and posted. My team was trying to figure out what order we were going to run in so that hopefully I'd be able to avoid the nastiest stuff, but I just couldn't bring myself to tell the race director that the reason I was asking was because I wanted to run barefoot. I remember reading a post on BRS a few months back from someone who said that if you needed to ask about the route conditions, you weren't ready for the race yet. (Something like that, anyway.) I was pretty confident that I'd be able to handle it, but I guess I was just figuring there was no reason to massacre myself if I could avoid it. :p To avoid having to mention my barefooting, I ended up carring shoes with me "just in case."

Also, I just ordered a couple of BRS temp tattoos for my next races. After my last race and the funny and skeptical looks, I figured it's maybe better to at least have a silent explaination to show people that, yes, I have done this before. Plus, I think this is a good place to advertise. :)
 
#4
I like to show up for race

I like to show up for race registration barefoot. Yes you get lots of stares but that is part of the fun. At the fitness fares I make sure I talk to all the injury prevention sales people, get on the treadmills, get my gate analyzed, ask the gym reps if they allow barefoot running on their treadmills and generally engage as many people as possible. I actually have a lot of fun the bigger the expo.
 
#5
I think this experience has

I think this experience has made you stronger. You may not see it or feel it now, but the next time it happens, you will have more thought behind it, now having experienced it.

There's no need to confront anyone. They did not confront you. And so you did the right thing and acted in the right way. I'm proud of you.

It's not an us versus them thing, and it would be nice if shod runners would realize this. Many of them tend to get defensive, as though we are challenging them on some level in some way. This isn't about them. This is about ME. This is about YOU.
 
#6
I have had better luck with

I have had better luck with the big stores. City Sports is an East Coast chain and their staff in Phillt explicitly supports BFR, along with minimalist/reduced running. I would never think twice about walking in there barefoot, although I think I have thrown on water shoes I was carrying just to be polite. I was recently at Dick's buying water shoes for a race. All my kids, who are barefoot runners, took their shoes off to run around that little track they have. I talked to the salesman about Merrell's and he said they had had a mandatory presentation about barefoot running (real and Merrell variety). He thought it was cool I wanted water shoes and that I really ran barefoot.
 
#7
Barefoot TJ wrote:It's not an

Barefoot TJ said:
It's not an us versus them thing, and it would be nice if shod runners would realize this. Many of them tend to get defensive, as though we are challenging them on some level in some way.
Click to expand...

well said, TJ!

My feeling is the "us vs. them" attitudes are mostly on the internet. In person most shod runners (in my experience) are either curious or don't care. Last year at a pre race campout I had a pretty long discussion with a manager from one of the local running stores, and she was totally open to my input.

I think the odd encounters with the people who really ARE challenged by it just stick out in our minds and assume more importance than they really deserve. Also they make us aware that a conflict is possible so we start dreading certain scenarios (such as being in the store etc).

Anyway, gkikas, you handled it nicely by doing it privately. You didn't add to the culture of posturing & argument which the internet abets so much. You had... class!
 
#8
I had a couple of

I had a couple of opportunities recently to walk barefoot into a big box sports store. I loved the carpeted flooring, but tile is nice too. If they noticed my feet they didn't let on about it. I think anticipation of ridicule is the worst of it. I try very hard to maintain a nonchalant attitude to everything barefoot, mostly to prevent an overreaction on my part as I have been known to dig in and defend a personal POV before. One day I hope to be barefoot in a store and meet another barefoot person. Should be an interesting event.

John T.
 
#9
Thanks, all, for the

Thanks, all, for the thoughtful and supportive commentary. I think John T hit the nail on the head... it was the fear of ridicule that started my weird head trip that day. It didn't help that the gangly teenager kid gave me the up-and-down-smirk reaction the minute I walked in. In retrospect, I could've glanced at his "beard" and then back to his eyes with a return smirk... but I digress.

Something that occurred to me after mulling over this a while is the idea that this will become easier in time because I'll have a broader experience as time goes by. Knowing that I can (one day) say, at the drop of a hat, "I've been running barefoot for X years," will help with the internal and external confidence. It just doesn't have the same ring to it, the same experiential authority, when you say, 'I've been running barefoot for four months." "Oh, so you're just experimenting with it, then. I bet you'll get injured, or step on something, or you'll change your mind, or it's a fad, or whatever.... " It hands the ball right back to the skeptic.

Granted, we all start somewhere, and if I "waited" to be proud of my barefoot self "until then," well I'd be waiting forever because nobody's going to pin something on my chest that says, "Experienced enough to not be shy anymore."
 
#10
We're getting there, Gkikas. 

We're getting there, Gkikas. We're all getting there. Very slowly, like a snail on concrete, but it's happening. I sometimes wonder what the founding fathers of our nation would think if they saw our country today. Would they be pleased? Would they feel their goals had been met, or would they feel there was more work to be done? So many positive things have come from their sacrifices, yet they are unable to experience it or see it. I'm afraid it will be the same for us. We will be unable to experience it or see it. But we know it will happen. Of course, their vision is much more important than ours; that goes without saying really. But being able to live how you wish, not harming others, without ridicule is also a very important, basic human right.

Enough of the fuzzy talk, back to work.
 
#11
America!  F yeah!  Good

America! F yeah! Good speech TJ. I feel like waiving a foot-shaped American flag.

Gkikas, also check out the Primalfoot Alliance. They have a lot of resources for public barefooting. They are essentially committed to doing exactly what you did, to walk into places where barefoot is taboo and set a positive example to kind of ease the transition for everyone else.

My basic premise when I go anywhere barefoot is to ask for forgiveness rather than permission. If someone says something, I will put shoes on. Otherwise I won't. Don't call attention to yourself, and be polite when someone notices.

Last year I went 5 full days at Disneyworld without shoes, and nobody noticed (the old record is 15 minutes by the way...beat that!). I would have gone six, but someone behind me at the entrance asked if I could really go barefoot into the park....to which the gate personnel said no. But when no one said anything, I walked right past park staff all the time without incident.
 
#12
Ha!I once put a pair of

Ha!

I once put a pair of flip-flops in my back pocket, then went into a shopping mall in Florida barefoot. It was great. I guess everyone who saw me thought I was having foot pain, which was and is no lie, so they didn't say anything.
 
#13
Good stories.I was running

Good stories.

I was running with a local running group that is organized by a running store. I went in one day to pick up a race package while barefoot. The manager/owner started talking to me and asked if I would run with them. She said they didn't have a "real" barefoot runner. I was pretty happy about it and started running with them once per week. Then, before one of the runs I was standing in the store (barefoot) and talking to a couple of the other runners and I guess some of the runners took offense to me being barefoot inside and complained.

The owner asked me to please keep running with them, but to put on shoes when I walked inside. At first I was a little peeved, but decided ultimately she is there to sell shoes and has to keep the most customers happy. So, I put on flip flops when I walked in the door. Kind of silly, I guess but that seemed to make the haters happy.

I haven't run with them in a few weeks due to an inury, and I'm not sure I'll rejoin them after I heal.
 
#14
I think that was mean of them

I think that was mean of them to treat you that way. You have a choice though. You can ditch them and nothing comes of this, or you can continue running with them, set an example through consistency that your way of running is viable and relevant, let them get to know you, break down barriers, and make a positive impression. It's a difficult decision when we've been outcasted by a group to still hang out with them, but if you do, it shows you've taken the high road and are the better person.
 
#15
I've been mulling over the

I've been mulling over the exact same options you talk about TJ. The do a pretty scenic run for my area, so I'm tempted to stay with it. I need to beat ITBS first however.

You're also right about being outcast by some. Before and after the runs, there are 2 well defined groups. Those talking to the barefoot guy and those trying to move away from him so they don't catch cooties. I just smile at them and try to beat as many of them as I can on the runs. I'm pretty much middle of the pack right now, but I was starting to outrun a few nore of them.
 
#16
I face the same thing in my

I face the same thing in my shod running club. I am the only barefoot runner. We have a new member who is Iranian who runs in huaraches, so that's exciting. I haven't met him yet.

I also do the newsletter and admin the site for this club, so at some point or another they have to deal with me. And, hopefully, respect and appreciate what I do for the club, since it is a huge time sacrifice I put in to get it done, and you all know, time is very short for me around here.

Like you, I've had some embrace me, some overlook me, and two offend me. But I'm going no where, and they know it. The more I run with them, the more they see that I put my words where my mouth is.
 
#17
Walk the talk. One day I

Walk the talk.



One day I was talling to some guys in the locker room about BFR. When they actualy saw me running there were less cold shoulders. Always with a smile. :)
 
#19
I got my teeth cleaned on

I got my teeth cleaned on Monday and the Hygenist was talking to me about my new hobby. (brought up by my invisible shoes.) She said her brother has the VFFs and she'd love to go bare at work, but with spit flying, it might be gross on top of her feet! It was funny, the way she delivered it. She said she'd have to keep her little ones off her legs till she could wash her feet. I had to point out, "But how often do you wash your shoes? ...Yeah...gross!!!" It's food for thought! If anyone brings up sanitary in relation to my bare feet, I just pose the same question...I washed my feet this morning... when's the last time you washed your shoes?!!"

-Jonny
 
#20
Yea, I hope people remove

Yea, I hope people remove their shoes before they head into their homes. You wouldn't believe how many people I know who don't do this. I always remove my shoes out of respect. I was at a new member luncheon my shod running club was putting on a few years back. I was the only one there who didn't wear shoes in the host's house. I had my socks on and left my ASICS outside at the front door. Everyone looked at me like I was a nut, and most of them didn't know I was a barefoot runner in transition at that point. Ha!
 
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