Hi from Northwest Arkansas.

maravillo · May 7, 2012

I'm new to BRS, new to barefoot running (2 months), and new again to running. I ran in high school, then for a year in college (briefly dated a cross-country runner), then for a few months back in 2005. Stopped each time when my knees got too sore.

My son gave me Born to Run for Christmas this year which gave me hope that running barefoot might help with the knee problem. So I read Ken Bob's book, boxed up my $150 Asics and $50 orthotic insoles, and started sneaking around the neighborhood barefoot (hoping my neighbors didn't see me and wonder if I'd lost my mind.)

Now I'm running 3-5 miles per outing, 3 days/week. I always run barefoot except for one spot on the hill behind my house that has rocks from Hell; when I run there I slip on some thin-soled flip flops. Otherwise totally barefoot. I run on streets, grass, light gravel, etc. and love it! I also post my runs on RunKeeper.com through an app on my phone. Very cool. Best of all my knees feel great and my neighbors only think I'm slightly loony, not a total nut-case.

I haven't yet dealt with running in cold weather or running on hot asphalt, so I'm not sure what my plan will be in those situations, but I'm definitely a convert to barefoot running. Hope to meet some fellow barefoot Razorbacks.

Barefoot TJ · May 7, 2012

Well you must, you must push loony with the neighbors to total nut-case this winter when they see you out there barefoot in below freezing temps!

Arkansas needs to step it up a little. Not a very active chapter. Let's hope that changes this year.

Welcome!

Phil Hart · May 7, 2012

Welcome, Maravillo. I'm a Tennessean, which is something like a country cousin to a Razorback, I guess. When it gets cold, I try to run mid-afternoon when the sun has had the most available time to warm the ground; when it gets hot, I try to go early in the morning before the sun has had time to radiate the asphalt. Enjoy!

maravillo · May 7, 2012

Phil Hart said:
Welcome, Maravillo. I'm a Tennessean, which is something like a country cousin to a Razorback, I guess. When it gets cold, I try to run mid-afternoon when the sun has had the most available time to warm the ground; when it gets hot, I try to go early in the morning before the sun has had time to radiate the asphalt. Enjoy!

Great advice, Phil. I hadn't thought about how time of day could help. As far as being country cousins: Arkansas has a town called Toad Suck and Tennessee has Buck Snort, so maybe our states are more alike than we know.

Phil Hart · May 8, 2012

Whoo doggies and yeehaw.

JOofARK · Jun 8, 2012

Hey there, maravillo and Phil.

We also have a town called Possum here in Arkansas, and Tennessee has Bugscuffle. I used to live near the Smoky Mountains, near Knoxville. It's beautiful there. I've driven through NW Arkansas a few times and would love to do some running over there when I am able to do so. Once I've got this stuff down pat, you can be sure I'll be running the Smokies every time we go "home" (my husband is from that area). I want to build my upper body strength as well and hit the ziplines over near you, maravillo.

I'm not sure how old you are maravillo, but at my age, I'm pretty much losing my care factor of what people think of me.

At this point I've got to run. That's all there is to it, and barefoot seems the best way to do it.

I wish you both the best.

~jo

Barefoot TJ · Jun 8, 2012

Jo, there's a place in Kentucky called Monkey's Eyebrow and another called Possum Trot. When people would give directions to Paducah, where I once lived for four years, they would say, "Paducah is halfway between Possum Trot and Monkey's Eyebrow." Silly hillbillies.

maravillo · Jun 8, 2012

Hi Jo (and Phil and TJ and anyone else who reads these messages),
You politely didn't directly ask my age, but I'm 56. And like you, I'm not all that concerned with what others think of me. My primary motivation for running is that I think it's fun (barefoot), followed by my desire to live a long healthy life, followed by competition with my children who run. My 30 year old daughter ran her first half marathon last month; my 28 year old son ran cross country at Vanderbilt and still runs marathons; my 26 year old son runs marathons; my 24 year old son ran cross country in HS; my 21 year old son runs 5 and 10 k; my highschool daughter runs cross country; and I have 3 others who don't run. I figured I better start running to keep up!
I haven't run any races yet. I"m still sort of figuring out the technique of barefoot running plus getting into some kind of running condition. I'm finally getting to where I can run more than 5 miles and actually enjoy the whole run. My maximum was 7 1/2 miles. I just run 3 days/week and have to run at 5 AM so I can get kids to school and make it to work. But I'm really enjoying it (which I wouldn't have believed I would be saying.)
Happy running,
Maravillo

JOofARK said:
Hey there, maravillo and Phil.

We also have a town called Possum here in Arkansas, and Tennessee has Bugscuffle. I used to live near the Smoky Mountains, near Knoxville. It's beautiful there. I've driven through NW Arkansas a few times and would love to do some running over there when I am able to do so. Once I've got this stuff down pat, you can be sure I'll be running the Smokies every time we go "home" (my husband is from that area). I want to build my upper body strength as well and hit the ziplines over near you, maravillo.

I'm not sure how old you are maravillo, but at my age, I'm pretty much losing my care factor of what people think of me. At this point I've got to run. That's all there is to it, and barefoot seems the best way to do it.

I wish you both the best.

~jo

Barefoot TJ · Jun 9, 2012

Who cares about your age? I'm still fixated on the number of kids you got! Hee. :barefoot:

At least soon you will be able to run circles around them...barefoot.

dutchie53 · Jun 9, 2012

Holy Toledo, here I thought that running with 3 (out of 5) of my kids was awesome. Way to go in trying to keep up to them. I can't compete with my kds any more but have a blast trying. We run anywheres from 5k to half marathons. Welcome to BRS.