Not wanting to be annoying... but...

ladycheshire5

ladycheshire5

Barefooters
Aug 16, 2011
91
1
8
#1
I am coming up with more and more questions. I'm thinking I might need a book to read, Barefoot Running Step by Step is one on my list but not gotten it yet. I hope I'm not being too annoying here...

Family and friends have expressed concerns about me running BF and not being "protected". On a recent walk BF, I stopped at a park to let the dogs play, standing in grass I was stung/bit by an ant... not the end of the world just a little uncomfortable - glad it wasn't a bee or wasp! I shouldn't mention these things to my friends or else I'll get a tongue lashing. :-/ I was pondering also the upcoming cooler months - I'm lucky to be in So.Cal and not have to worry about frozen ground but it will get wet and cold, does this pose a problem for anyone? I did see a post about running through some sludgy stuff... doesn't stop anyone, right?

Also, I live in a very hilly area. Now that I'm in my right mind and starting over - slowly - with the BFR thing, one friend said that I should seek out flat territory to begin with. Does this really make a difference when starting out?



Thanks for putting up with me. :)
 
#2
When starting out, relearning

When starting out, relearning how to run with proper form, it is best to find a flat, hard surface where you can best learn by repetition how to place your feet, where to place your feet, and how to distribute your weight evenly over the largest footprint possible.

Also, I used to live in Southern California, and I can say, if I can run down to 27 degrees F here in Georgia during winter, you will be able to acclimate to the SoCal winters barefoot. You have to want to do it though. Pony up time.

And I'll take an ant bite on every run compared to the foot hell shoes have put me through.

You'll be okay, Lady. But you really have got to want this.
 
#3
Absolutely want this! :D  I'm

Absolutely want this! :D I'm not so much *worried* about winter but it crossed my mind and was curious if it inhibits anyone. Mostly, I think, I need to know what to say to those who love me and are concerned about me. OK, flats. Bummer. This will take some effort as I'm used to coming right out my front door and it's a quick steep hill down then longer up hills out from there and reverse coming back. (And I L O V E running up hill)



Thank you!
 
#4
When it comes to friends and

When it comes to friends and family, I've learned that you can only say so much, then you have to just do what you want to, what is right for you. They WILL eventually come around when they learn you are enjoying it and running without the pain you used to suffer with. Besides, if momma ain't happy ain't nobody happy!
 
#5
My wife has never come around

My wife has never come around on my barefoot lifestyle. I will wear shoes when necessary (stores) or when we go to her families because I don't want to cause problem's with inlaws. Other than that she constantly worries that I am going to get worms, disease, nail in the foot, be made fun of, etc... Her list goes on and on. She is happy that I no longer have back pain and am able to be physically active now and am not walking with a cane anymore, but she cannot comprehend why I can't just do this in regular shoes no matter how much I explain to her. I wish I knew what to say to her as well, but I think it's just going to have to come down to me proving to her over a long period of time how much better barefooting makes me feel. Good luck and hopefully your family is more open minded than my wife. :)
 
#6
don't worry about the cold. 

don't worry about the cold. if you are barefoot as the temps drop over the course of the season your feet will acclimate (especially with the balmy winters you must have in southern california!). last winter I got down to -2F barefoot (for a short distance) with minimal discomfort.

if you are really concerned, do a search here at the BRS for "winter barefoot challenge" which should cough up an article that a bunch of us (a few northern USA'ers and a few canadians) put together afer spending the winter experimenting with cold weather.

glad to have you with us!
 
#8
Thank you all for the input

Thank you all for the input and support! I will not be able to "complain" about the winters BFing here... not when you are doing it in 2F!!! I will read up on the Winter Barefoot Challange later when I have a little free time.



About flats... well here's a link to my MapMyRun site and the route I've been walking (was running too back when I lost my mind and hurt my foot). You should see the elevation at the bottom. I'm going to play around with routes... the street at the bottom of the hill that leads out of my complex isn't completely flat but it's the closest thing without me having to drive somewhere. I will run back and forth along the same road if I have to!



OK, Ken Bob's book is a priority and I'll put down the Ultra Marathon Man book (Dean Karneazes) that I just started. ;)



And Family... I'll try to avoid talking about it with them for a while. ;)
 
#9
Another route I did today on

Another route I did today on MapMyRun, this is about as flat as I can get it without having to drive to another location to walk/jog/run I hope this suffices for "flat". I have to take the hill down and out of my complex and back up and into at the end but in between is a long flat slightly down or up hill grade depending which direction you are going. I can extend distance one way but I'd have to go on black top road right next to cars because the sidewalk ends and I tried walking on dirt with little rocks and stickers and stuff and my feet said "uh, HELL NO"!
 
#10
Or like Whitney says, "Hell

Or like Whitney says, "Hell to the No!" Ha!
 
#11
LadyChes, You're doing

LadyChes, You're doing great.

All these questions and concerns on your own and on the part of loving others will just pass on behind you as you build milage and experience. Your questions are all good and worthy. Don't fret. Carefully built experience trumps all.

Most of us here would gladly move in with you to share your "cold" winter. Enjoy it!
 
#12
JosephTree wrote:LadyChes,

JosephTree said:
LadyChes, You're doing great.

All these questions and concerns on your own and on the part of loving others will just pass on behind you as you build milage and experience. Your questions are all good and worthy. Don't fret. Carefully built experience trumps all.

Most of us here would gladly move in with you to share your "cold" winter. Enjoy it!
Click to expand...



Thank you. I can handle one visitor (or two) at a time in my tiny place but y'all are welcome to visit during winter. ;) I promise never to complain about the "cold" Southern California winter. lol

I'm a bit of "Type A" personality so my mind travels at high speeds and I entertain many "what if's"... you're right though, experience is a great teacher and patience is something I need to practice more of.

Thanks again. :)

Laura
 
#14
I was volunteering at a race

I was volunteering at a race today and got an ant bite. I was wearing huaraches. So are sandals dangerous too? My 3-year-old son accidentally stood on a fire ant hill recently. He got probably 20-30 bites on his legs. He was only standing there a few seconds but the ants attacked him. I had to take off his shoes and socks to get all the ants off his feet! I wish he'd been wearing something less than socks and sneakers; it would have been easier! All that to say...shoes don't protect perfectly either.
 
#15
Eeeaaayyaaaa!  Fire ants!  I

Eeeaaayyaaaa! Fire ants! I remember them from when I lived in Houston. Your son will never stand anywhere near an ant hill again, I'll bet! It's the southern equivalent of touching a hot stove. As I recall, the bites persist and itch like h*ll for a week or 10 days.

I think it's not a matter of shoes or not, rather of awareness / reasonble terror.
 
#16
Joseph--Oh yes, he was

Joseph--Oh yes, he was SCREAMING. Which made my daughter scream. Then we realized she had a few ants on her too (though she somehow avoided being bitten--lucky her.) We were in the parking lot of a restaurant, and were meeting people inside, so I couldn't just leave. I had to take all their shoes off and carry one kid on each hip until I could get to one of the outdoor tables to make sure their shoes were ant-free, and put the shoes back on. Mind you, I weigh about 100 pounds, and my kids are 5 and 3 and weigh about 75 pounds combined. I didn't even know I COULD carry them both at once, but I can!

Anyway, I couldn't believe that he didn't complain much over the next few days. I complain for days when I have fire ant bites. But it was probably 6 weeks ago, and he does still have little marks on his legs from the bites; the marks are gradually fading. Poor kiddo.
 
#17
Poor kid.  I've only dealt

Poor kid. I've only dealt with fire ants once, and that was while in basic training at Fort Benning and was forced to jump into a foxhole that apparently had a ton of them in it. Last time I did that without looking in first. I feel for your kid.
 
#18
jschwab wrote:Just on a

jschwab said:
Just on a practical note, running in wet conditions can lead to blisters, but that's really it - just watch out for that.
Click to expand...



Thanks. I suppose you really want to be aware of your foot rubbing or pushing off in wet conditions, therefore concentrating on "lifting" is very important, no getting sloppy! ;) We'll see how it goes when the rain comes.



Laura
 
#19
C. Beth Run. wrote:I was

C. Beth Run. said:
I was volunteering at a race today and got an ant bite. I was wearing huaraches. So are sandals dangerous too? My 3-year-old son accidentally stood on a fire ant hill recently. He got probably 20-30 bites on his legs. He was only standing there a few seconds but the ants attacked him. I had to take off his shoes and socks to get all the ants off his feet! I wish he'd been wearing something less than socks and sneakers; it would have been easier! All that to say...shoes don't protect perfectly either.
Click to expand...



I was standing in grass so I couldn't see what got me, I assume it was an ant because I've been stung by bees and wasps before and the feeling is TOTALLY different. Had the pleasure of encountering some fire ants in Arizona this summer, I was darn lucky, like your daughter, I didn't get bit, but my boyfriend did and he had little red marks on his feet for a long time. It was a BBQ festival type thing and they set up where there were fire ants all around the tents - EVERYONE was getting attacked, it was kinda funny if it didn't hurt. Feel bad for your son. :(
 
#20
I agree w/Beth. As bad as it

I agree w/Beth. As bad as it is to be bitten by an ant while barefoot, it's not as bad as getting some of those buggers in your shoes and being bitten while trying to get the shoes & socks off.

Just like running, your bare foot gives you "immediate" feedback about what's going on.

Cheers!
 
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