First barefoot run

Maupuia

Barefooters
Jun 14, 2012
33
28
18
62
Wellington, New Zealand
So I did my first completely barefoot run today and DID NOT DIE!

Have been running in VFF since beginning of the year and for the past month or so taking them near the end some runs to finish barefoot. But this was the first time completely barefoot.

I think the hardest thing was the psychological barrier of stepping out the door with no shoes. Well, that and thinking EVERYONE was looking at me. Which, of course, they weren't :)

But, yeah, I survived. And apart from a couple of small blisters on my toes, feel pretty good. Run was just under 5km.

This is how addiction starts, right? :)
 
I remember feeling the same exact apprehension, then excitement at my very first full barefoot run. I was no longer carrying my shoes. I was exposed and vulnerable. It was very liberating. Welcome to the club!
 
I had that strategy last year. It didn't work for me. I kept getting injured and I committed to mostly barefoot miles last February. Some sandal running on the roughest terrain. But that is just my situation. Have fun, use whatever you want to, experiment, and stay injury free. That's the main goal.
 
Hi
Good to see someone else making the transition. I have been blogging my journey and now have a golden rule. I don't run any further in shoes of any sort than I can manage barefoot. The shoes just help me run on terrain that my feet can't handle yet. Problem is, it meant that I had to drop my long runs at first but I needed some sort of limiting factor to keep my progression steady because minimalist shoes are so much fun to run in.
Chris
www.barefootbeginner.com
 
I've been running in VFF since March, I'm planning my first barefoot run this week. I'm on holiday at my parents in London, the pavements are perfect. Where I live we don't have pavements and the road are gravel so this is a perfect opportunity, but I will be running at 6am so nobody sees me. :)
 
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The only time I really feel self conscious anymore is when I am walking down the side of a main road by my house barefoot and shirtless during my warm-up.

After that I realize that regardless of my footwear situation, I am running and anyone who would give me odd looks is not.
 
Did my first completely barefoot run today after running in VFF since March 3 miles, it was slow but I really enjoyed it. Paving slabs seems better than old tarmac, new fresh tarmac is best. All I can say is I won't need to be exfoliating my feet for a while. :)
Thanks Maupuia for the inspiration.
 
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