Racing barefoot vs. w/ the minimals? Help need advice :-)

Kirsten

Kirsten

Barefooters
Apr 27, 2011
23
0
0
#1
Hi Everyone ~ In a few weeks I am doing my first race!! I LOVE going completely barefoot and feel restricted even in VFFs but the terrain is a bit iffy.

I would love to hear advice from you! My thought was to possibly run the loop and decide from there?

When a race is just on asphalt roads do you go totally barefoot? AND do YOU trail run race totally barefoot?

Would LOVE to hear, thoughts, experiences, suggestions and musings :)

Hugs,
 
#2
How long is the course?How

How long is the course?

How long have you been running barefoot?

Have you raced barefoot before?

Is this course both asphalt and trail?

Have you scouted the route beforehand?
 
#3
TJ's questions are good. I

TJ's questions are good. I would add:

What are your goals for the race?

Because if you want to go fast and you feel faster in minimal shoes, then do that. If you want to enjoy the race and you have more fun running bare, go bare.
 
#4
Hi guys thanks!~ it's a 5K

Hi guys thanks!

~ it's a 5K and I am doing over 3 miles barefoot training pretty easily now. I actually have 2 ~ 5Ks coming up. One has trails and rough asphalt and the other is just road asphalt. I am fine on asphalt since I run like 50% of the time on asphalt and the other 50 on sidewalk. In the next few weeks I am going to do some of my runs on forrest trails too ~ i've done a little trail running barefoot and LOVE it!! I would love to do next years trail runs 5mile and 8milers totally barefoot ~ they are real single track trails in the forrest.

I have not raced barefoot yet. AND I'm thinking scounting the route is going to be key what do you think? The first race I'm pretty sure is on a fireroad (that sounds like lots of gravel to me)

I am not trying to win a medal just want to have fun in the race.

If it's regular road asphalt do you do it barefoot?
 
#5
I run all my asphalt races

I run all my asphalt races barefoot, but I've been doing this awhile. I also don't run for speed though.

Yes, do scout the courses out first. Bring some minimalist footwear with you to carry, see if you can get through it without it, and if you can't you have a backup plan. Some of these gravel roads have side areas you can run barefoot on.

Let us know what you decide and how it goes after the race. Good luck!
 
#6
Going fast barefoot is an

Going fast barefoot is an entirely different animal from normal every day barefoot running. If you haven't trained your 5K race pace barefoot, you need to do so. Otherwise you'll have some pretty hacked up feet.

I will tell you from doing races both barefoot and in VFFs, that I enjoyed the barefoot ones much more. It was just a whole different level of accomplishment. And much more comfortable to do.

My decision whether to use minimals or go barefoot always depends on the terrain. I have no interest in slowing to a crawl during a race because of terrain. So if the conditions are too gnarly, I'd rather be in shoes. But if you don't care about your time so much, that's less of an issue.
 
#7
Kirsten, it's a really good

Kirsten, it's a really good idea to replicate the race (terrain, BF and pace) as much as possible so that you know what you are getting into. All the internet advice in the world won't help you if you haven't done race specific training. Like SP says, racing BF is a different animal.
 
#8
I'm a turtle so "racing" is a

I'm a turtle so "racing" is a relative term for me. I decided last January to run my first BF half-marathon in May this year. I knew the route already from running in shoes the year before, although looking at asphalt is not the same as running it BF. For several weeks before, I went out and ran it BF until I could do the entire route and knew exactly what my feet were facing. Turns out, a mile section was unbearable without shoes so I stashed them. SayPay has a point about speed, but my main goal was BF distance first, then speed.

On a relay race I wore minimalist shoes so as not to thrash my feet on unknown terrain and slow the team down even more. Not worth the risk. Like everyone says, it all depends what you want to achieve. No wrong answers here.
 
#9
I 2nd the advice to check out

I 2nd the advice to check out the terrrain in person. You'll either find the asphalt just like your practice runs and be golden or find the famous "chip and seal" out there ready to eat your feet.

Race day adrenalin can overwhelm good sense sometimes and you end up with damage. (See gross pic thread and Naked Sole Nate's most horrible pics for and example NO ONe need ever emulate.)

BF racing can be a delight, but use your good senses! Have a wonderful time!
 
#11
This is all really really

This is all really really helpful! I appreciate it. I am thinking this first race has lots of unkown terrain so I'll wear the VFFs ~ it seems there are some fireroads with gravel for half the time ~ not accessible for checking it out beforehand.

However, I'm pretty sure I'll run the second race barefoot since it's just on neighborhood roads ~ but I'll run it a week before and see how it goes.
 
#12
You can also bring the VFFs

You can also bring the VFFs and decide then, or if you're not trying for a PR, carry them and put them on if need be. I don't have VFFs, but I understand they can take a second to get on, so I'm not sure about that one.
 
#13
What about some slip-on

What about some slip-on huaraches? They are quick to get on and get going again.
 
#14
My first barefoot race was

My first barefoot race was all chip n seal...I had no idea. I didn't bring my VFFs cause I didn't want an out. I'd been telling my wife for weeks that I wanted to run on gravel...that wish was also granted that day! I'd run a 6.2mil long bare, but that was all on standard smooth concrete. I was not ready for how tired I'd be from tensing up and reminding myself to relax over and over for 3.1 miles! I will freely admit, I looked for grass, concrete drive ways and soft lawns the last half mile or so, but they were few and far between. It was fun...but it was tough also! I got one bruise that is in the final stage of healing now, over a month after. Got me right in one of the small bones on my right foot! Sneaky sneaky!

My advice is, take your shoes with you...unless, like an old guy pointed out to me this weekend, you, like me, "have more guts than brains!" ;o) I learned a lot that day! In the end, my feet were sore from the bones articulating around the rocks that were either loose or frozen in tar. My form is better for it, but it was a baptism by fire!!!

-Jonny
 
#15
Jonny ~ yikes a crazy story

Jonny ~ yikes a crazy story on the first experience but sounds like something I would do :)

TJ ~ Excellent reminder because I've been thinking about getting some huaraches ~ it really feels like that may be the answer because the feel is supposed to be very close to barefoot on foot strike etc. I think I'll order the kit
 
#16
Where do you put your back up

Where do you put your back up "shoes"? Do you put them in you waist band of your shorts/skirt? I have tucked mine into my waist band of my shorts on longer runs on questionable terrain but end up with chafing over my butt. Hurts like a raw nipple once your in the shower so i'd rather find a alternative.

Soft Stars Run Amoc are the shoes. Too big for pockets and they would flop around.



I was thinking of some soft material and wear them on my back like a backpack but I think after 4hrs+ my armpits would have been sliced through:(



Would love to hear some ideas.



Thanks
 
#17
If they have any loops on

If they have any loops on them, like VFFs and huaraches, you can use a belt, and strap them over the belt.
 
#18
My friend Eric uses a fanny

My friend Eric uses a fanny pack and keeps his rescue shoes in there along with a few items like gels. The only problem is...then you're wearing a fanny pack.
 
#19
If there's gravel roads, I'd

If there's gravel roads, I'd go minimalist. They're my enemy. But otherwise I would go BF. Yes, I know I go slower BF, but I enjoy the experience, the challenge, the freaked out people calling me hardcore.

I carried my VFFs on my first BF marathon, just one in each hand. Ended up not using them and carrying them the whole way. Didn't have anybody with me to hand them off to.

Sounds like your feet are toughened up for the length, but again, gravel? Yucko.

Cheers
 
#20
Kentox ~ I carry my VFFs on

Kentox ~ I carry my VFFs on some runs ~ I strap them to my "Fuel Belt" and they don't get in the way at all. Oh and how do you like the Run Amocs I was thinking of them.

stjohnthegambler ~ yea I'm not down with gravel totally agree!
 
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