Do you feel sorry for shod runners?
- Thread starter Jeepmonkey
- Start date
I run with the McKinney
I run with the McKinney Running club...I was noticing yesterday, at least in the group I run with, most of them run like we do...mid foot landing, great form and faster then me! They all really enjoy running...nothing to pitty there! They've all welcomed me with open arms...great group!
I agree that ego should be thrown out the window in all aspects of dealing with others, but I also know, it's easy to see something that's not there when ideas are conveyed in text. Besides Migangelo and Barefoot Gentile, everyone on here are really good people! Bwaaahahaha!! Just messing with you guys! Payback!! You never know when it's coming!! ;o)
-Jonny
I run with the McKinney Running club...I was noticing yesterday, at least in the group I run with, most of them run like we do...mid foot landing, great form and faster then me! They all really enjoy running...nothing to pitty there! They've all welcomed me with open arms...great group!
I agree that ego should be thrown out the window in all aspects of dealing with others, but I also know, it's easy to see something that's not there when ideas are conveyed in text. Besides Migangelo and Barefoot Gentile, everyone on here are really good people! Bwaaahahaha!! Just messing with you guys! Payback!! You never know when it's coming!! ;o)
-Jonny
I feel sorry for the ones who
I feel sorry for the ones who are hurting but haven't figured out why. I do.
I feel sorry for the ones who are hurting but haven't figured out why. I do.
The vicious circle being
The vicious circle being buying a pair of traditional running shoes, running in them, experiencing pain and injury, not figuring out why, going back to shoe store to buy another pair of traditional running shoes, running in them, still experiencing pain and injury, still not figuring out why, so going back to the shoe store... Yes, it is quite vicious.
How many of us were there at some point or another? Studies show 67-70% of all runners will experience an injury at least once a year that will sideline them, so I can imagine the majority of us have been there at some point.
I have a friend who keeps playing this same game over and over and over again. I have literally lost count how many pairs of new shoes she has tried, trying to figure out why she is injured all the time and can't run without horrible pain. Yes, MY own friend! It is so true that you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. Trust me. I've tried. I've even let her borrow my aqua socks, which she ran in and didn't feel any pain, but for some reason, she still is so in love with the looks or persona of the big, bulky, high-heeled running shoes. Go figure! Yes, I feel so sorry for her!
The vicious circle being buying a pair of traditional running shoes, running in them, experiencing pain and injury, not figuring out why, going back to shoe store to buy another pair of traditional running shoes, running in them, still experiencing pain and injury, still not figuring out why, so going back to the shoe store... Yes, it is quite vicious.
How many of us were there at some point or another? Studies show 67-70% of all runners will experience an injury at least once a year that will sideline them, so I can imagine the majority of us have been there at some point.
I have a friend who keeps playing this same game over and over and over again. I have literally lost count how many pairs of new shoes she has tried, trying to figure out why she is injured all the time and can't run without horrible pain. Yes, MY own friend! It is so true that you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. Trust me. I've tried. I've even let her borrow my aqua socks, which she ran in and didn't feel any pain, but for some reason, she still is so in love with the looks or persona of the big, bulky, high-heeled running shoes. Go figure! Yes, I feel so sorry for her!
sorry TJ, that was for Jonny.
sorry TJ, that was for Jonny. the vicious circle of paybacks continues. but we'll keep it fairly friendly.
Mike
sorry TJ, that was for Jonny. the vicious circle of paybacks continues. but we'll keep it fairly friendly.
Mike
Yes, I thought that too. But
Yes, I thought that too. But I had to say it. A vicious cycle made so much sense here. I had to say why I was sorry for people who are suffering. I don't even run with my friend anymore. I've given up. I don't want to be a nag, and I don't want our friendship to end on an ugly note. It just became too much. Having to listen to her whine through all of our runs about her knee and her hip, yet ignoring my advice. Always the same knee and the same hip. Always wearing some new big, bulky brand on her feet believing this pair will be THE pair. I told her we have reached the point of ridiculousness. The water was right in front of her!
Thanks for letting me rant.
Yes, I thought that too. But I had to say it. A vicious cycle made so much sense here. I had to say why I was sorry for people who are suffering. I don't even run with my friend anymore. I've given up. I don't want to be a nag, and I don't want our friendship to end on an ugly note. It just became too much. Having to listen to her whine through all of our runs about her knee and her hip, yet ignoring my advice. Always the same knee and the same hip. Always wearing some new big, bulky brand on her feet believing this pair will be THE pair. I told her we have reached the point of ridiculousness. The water was right in front of her!
Thanks for letting me rant.
let you? can anyone stop you?
let you? can anyone stop you? it's your party here and we are all having a good time at it. thanks.
let you? can anyone stop you? it's your party here and we are all having a good time at it. thanks.
I guess I should say I don't
I guess I should say I don't really feel sorry for them as much as I feel for them. I still have to run with shoes and I can say my form has def improved since I've started barefoot. Fortunately, I only have to run short distances (2mi) in shoes because I really do enjoy it more barefoot.
However, I've noticed a lot of pretentiosness among the BFR crowd, and I think I may have just added to that. I just had an epifany......talking about BFR vs Shod is a lot like discussing religion! I don't think anyone is right and each one has their advantages/disadvantages.
I guess I should say I don't really feel sorry for them as much as I feel for them. I still have to run with shoes and I can say my form has def improved since I've started barefoot. Fortunately, I only have to run short distances (2mi) in shoes because I really do enjoy it more barefoot.
However, I've noticed a lot of pretentiosness among the BFR crowd, and I think I may have just added to that. I just had an epifany......talking about BFR vs Shod is a lot like discussing religion! I don't think anyone is right and each one has their advantages/disadvantages.
Why do you have to run in
Why do you have to run in shoes, Jeep? I think I missed that somewhere in a previous conversation.
I think those who come off as pretentious the most are the newly converted barefoot runners. They have such exhuberance and excitement over their newfound running style, that they want to share it with the world. We tend to lose a lot of that edge once we've been at this a while and open up to other sides of the discussion.
I try to be supportive of all types of runners be it barefoot, minimal, or traditionally shod. I hope that people will see that we're all in this together, and the majority of us just want to see people running healthier and happier and running in a way that works best for them.
I had the opportunity to truly convert a 5:30 - 6:00 minute mile runner myself. His name is Bob, and I consider him a good friend. He's in my shod running club. He's 57 years old now and been running his whole life, yet he still starts with the elites at every race. He purchased some VFFs about a year ago and at the time, asked me if I had any advice for "breaking them in." Instead, I asked him why he purchased them. Was there something wrong lately with his running? Was he injured? Was he having pain from running? What did he hope to gain by making such a drastic change? He told me that he has no injuries and has no pain. I then advised him it was best he not make the change. I kknow that probably blows most of you away, but it's the only good advice I could give him. I said at this stage in the game, you are an elite runner and have everything to lose by "experimenting" with something that may not work for you and get you injured. He said he had never thought of it that way. He thought that perhaps they would make him an even better runner, from all the "hype" about them and reading BTR. After that talk, he was not going to chance it. I told him to contact our small mom and pop running shoe store where he had purchased them to see if they would give him a refund, since he had not worn them yet, and get something he knew was tried and true, of which he did.
Why do you have to run in shoes, Jeep? I think I missed that somewhere in a previous conversation.
I think those who come off as pretentious the most are the newly converted barefoot runners. They have such exhuberance and excitement over their newfound running style, that they want to share it with the world. We tend to lose a lot of that edge once we've been at this a while and open up to other sides of the discussion.
I try to be supportive of all types of runners be it barefoot, minimal, or traditionally shod. I hope that people will see that we're all in this together, and the majority of us just want to see people running healthier and happier and running in a way that works best for them.
I had the opportunity to truly convert a 5:30 - 6:00 minute mile runner myself. His name is Bob, and I consider him a good friend. He's in my shod running club. He's 57 years old now and been running his whole life, yet he still starts with the elites at every race. He purchased some VFFs about a year ago and at the time, asked me if I had any advice for "breaking them in." Instead, I asked him why he purchased them. Was there something wrong lately with his running? Was he injured? Was he having pain from running? What did he hope to gain by making such a drastic change? He told me that he has no injuries and has no pain. I then advised him it was best he not make the change. I kknow that probably blows most of you away, but it's the only good advice I could give him. I said at this stage in the game, you are an elite runner and have everything to lose by "experimenting" with something that may not work for you and get you injured. He said he had never thought of it that way. He thought that perhaps they would make him an even better runner, from all the "hype" about them and reading BTR. After that talk, he was not going to chance it. I told him to contact our small mom and pop running shoe store where he had purchased them to see if they would give him a refund, since he had not worn them yet, and get something he knew was tried and true, of which he did.
I have to wear shoes when I
I have to wear shoes when I run my APFT (Army Physical Fitness Test). My commander is my running partner, but his hands are tied by the regulation when it comes to letting me do it barefoot.
If it weren't for that I'd probably never run with shoes on again.
I have to wear shoes when I run my APFT (Army Physical Fitness Test). My commander is my running partner, but his hands are tied by the regulation when it comes to letting me do it barefoot.
If it weren't for that I'd probably never run with shoes on again.
I don't feel sorry for the
I don't feel sorry for the shoddies just because they're wearing shoes. If they can run painless while wearing shoes, more power to them.
The folks I feel sorry for are the runners who are like I was before I made the transition - Love running, but it hurts.
As far as the pretentiousness amongst some of our tribe, a lot of it stemms from shoddies refusing to accept that when we took off our shoes, we solved most of our problems. On other barefoot forums, you will read how someone is having difficulties while running in VFFs or another minimalist products and is requesting input. A true barefooter will then recommend that they remove their shoes and work on their form as bare feet act as wonderful teachers. This will illicit a predictable response from the non-believers (on a barefoot forum, no less) that they run fine in minimalist shoes, barefoot running is not the answer and they just need to hire them as a running coach to solve thier problems. Much like a rough seam in your running shorts, this attitude chafes the nether-regions.
Running barefoot might not work for everyone. My wife can run in wooden Dutch shoes with no issues, while I will suffer greatly with the most minimal covering on my feet. Barefoot running has been a minor miracle for me and I am a believer. I respect other people's opinions to the point where they tell me I'm full of $hit.
Cheers,
(please forgive any spelling errors... I can't find a spell-check here...)
I don't feel sorry for the shoddies just because they're wearing shoes. If they can run painless while wearing shoes, more power to them.
The folks I feel sorry for are the runners who are like I was before I made the transition - Love running, but it hurts.
As far as the pretentiousness amongst some of our tribe, a lot of it stemms from shoddies refusing to accept that when we took off our shoes, we solved most of our problems. On other barefoot forums, you will read how someone is having difficulties while running in VFFs or another minimalist products and is requesting input. A true barefooter will then recommend that they remove their shoes and work on their form as bare feet act as wonderful teachers. This will illicit a predictable response from the non-believers (on a barefoot forum, no less) that they run fine in minimalist shoes, barefoot running is not the answer and they just need to hire them as a running coach to solve thier problems. Much like a rough seam in your running shorts, this attitude chafes the nether-regions.
Running barefoot might not work for everyone. My wife can run in wooden Dutch shoes with no issues, while I will suffer greatly with the most minimal covering on my feet. Barefoot running has been a minor miracle for me and I am a believer. I respect other people's opinions to the point where they tell me I'm full of $hit.
Cheers,
(please forgive any spelling errors... I can't find a spell-check here...)
Jeepmonkey wrote:I have to
_______________________________________________________________________________________
I got around this little issue with a note from my flight surgeon that I can't run in shoes. I run the PFT barefoot.
Give it a shot.
Jeepmonkey said:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
I got around this little issue with a note from my flight surgeon that I can't run in shoes. I run the PFT barefoot.
Give it a shot.
I do. In the way that I feel
I do. In the way that I feel sorry for those who have not stretched their boundaries by properly trying something personally different, difficult or challenging (i.e. my lovely wife is scared of heights but didn't let that prevent her from going rappelling. It took her about 15 minutes to come off that ledge, but she is glad she tried it.) In terms of barefoot running by properly I mean not going out and doing Too Much Too Fast. I suppose that would allow for an informed decision.
Gracia y paz,
A
I do. In the way that I feel sorry for those who have not stretched their boundaries by properly trying something personally different, difficult or challenging (i.e. my lovely wife is scared of heights but didn't let that prevent her from going rappelling. It took her about 15 minutes to come off that ledge, but she is glad she tried it.) In terms of barefoot running by properly I mean not going out and doing Too Much Too Fast. I suppose that would allow for an informed decision.
Gracia y paz,
A
I was just talking to my son
I was just talking to my son today about how the things I'm experiencing with my feet now aren't like when I ran with shoes. I have had a couple of blisters lately but they weren't like shoe blisters... shoe blisters were right on the surface and always tore quickly and exposed raw skin. The pain was much worse and the time to recover was longer.
Now, I wait till the next morning and drain it and am quite fine the day after getting the blister. I usually wait one day before running again just to let it bind up. Seems like my BFR blisters are much further below the surface of my skin and only painful after the run that produces the blister and then only for that evening.
I was telling a running friend the other day about how I ran my first race in VFF's not because I'd planned on it but because my regular shoes had given me nastly blisters that would've required me to skip that race date had I chose to run in them. But when I put on my VFF's the rubbing stopped and I was able to run free of pain. That was quite an eye opener.
I remember that after that race I went to the running shoe store and told them I needed a different shoe. They suggested even more support than the first pair they sold me and I told them I was pretty sure the support was the problem and that I wanted a pair with less support. They then sold me on a pair of addidas which worked much better for a barefoot type forefoot landing. The heel is till too high in them though and so now that I'm focused on BFR I don't wear them anymore either.
I was just talking to my son today about how the things I'm experiencing with my feet now aren't like when I ran with shoes. I have had a couple of blisters lately but they weren't like shoe blisters... shoe blisters were right on the surface and always tore quickly and exposed raw skin. The pain was much worse and the time to recover was longer.
Now, I wait till the next morning and drain it and am quite fine the day after getting the blister. I usually wait one day before running again just to let it bind up. Seems like my BFR blisters are much further below the surface of my skin and only painful after the run that produces the blister and then only for that evening.
I was telling a running friend the other day about how I ran my first race in VFF's not because I'd planned on it but because my regular shoes had given me nastly blisters that would've required me to skip that race date had I chose to run in them. But when I put on my VFF's the rubbing stopped and I was able to run free of pain. That was quite an eye opener.
I remember that after that race I went to the running shoe store and told them I needed a different shoe. They suggested even more support than the first pair they sold me and I told them I was pretty sure the support was the problem and that I wanted a pair with less support. They then sold me on a pair of addidas which worked much better for a barefoot type forefoot landing. The heel is till too high in them though and so now that I'm focused on BFR I don't wear them anymore either.
I never considered the
I never considered the difference between shoe blisters and barefoot blisters before. Hmmmm. Something to think about.
I never considered the difference between shoe blisters and barefoot blisters before. Hmmmm. Something to think about.
Meh. I feel sorry for runners
Meh. I feel sorry for runners with really awful form, let's leave it at that. For example, I once had a boss and she was a super nice lady. And I saw her running at the gym one day and it SHOCKED me! Her shoulders were hunched, her lungs compressed, her head down, her back arched like she was running against a huge gust of wind. I really wanted to come over and help her out. I don't know why she ran that way but it didn't look comfortable or very good for her breathing ability. This was back when I was in Mizunos and I've always considered my form to be decent (upright, arms swinging, having a good time heel-strike or no...well...except the foot-slapping shin splints but when you see someone in true pain and yet they keep running it always makes me sad.
I love the quote "Pain isn't weakness leaving the body, it's weakness MANIFESTING itself in the body!!" That goes for barefooters with blisters and completely shredded metetasils from overtraining, or shoddies with achilles tendonitis, bad backs, and knee pain because they thought running was as simple as lacing up a pair of shoes and running the way they're taught to walk, heel-to-toe.
Meh. I feel sorry for runners with really awful form, let's leave it at that. For example, I once had a boss and she was a super nice lady. And I saw her running at the gym one day and it SHOCKED me! Her shoulders were hunched, her lungs compressed, her head down, her back arched like she was running against a huge gust of wind. I really wanted to come over and help her out. I don't know why she ran that way but it didn't look comfortable or very good for her breathing ability. This was back when I was in Mizunos and I've always considered my form to be decent (upright, arms swinging, having a good time heel-strike or no...well...except the foot-slapping shin splints
but when you see someone in true pain and yet they keep running it always makes me sad.I love the quote "Pain isn't weakness leaving the body, it's weakness MANIFESTING itself in the body!!" That goes for barefooters with blisters and completely shredded metetasils from overtraining, or shoddies with achilles tendonitis, bad backs, and knee pain because they thought running was as simple as lacing up a pair of shoes and running the way they're taught to walk, heel-to-toe.
