Article: Member Blog of the Week - First Barefoot Snow Run By Barefooting Bob
- Thread starter Barefoot Mary
- Start date
-20 is pretty dang cold. Just wondering, did you warm up before going out? So far on my couple of winter runs, I've figured out that if I jog in place around the house with all my winters clothes on until I start to feel like I need to take some layers off, then when I go out my feet are already warm. Otherwise I'll usually have to stop a couple times and warm up my feet with my hands (I probably look really funny running, then suddenly sitting down and holding my feet up in the air.) I haven't had a chance to run through any snow yet, though I am kinda looking forward to it just to see if I can handle it, and I wonder what snow will feel like under my feet.
Danjo, thanks for the comments and I love your enthusiasm about running in snow, it definitely is a interesting feeling (until your toes finally go numb). Anyway to answer your questions, on the this particular run I did not warm up, I more or less got ready to go and just went. I found out this is not recommended, I now warm up for about 5 minutes doing high steps in place to get the blood flowing and hear two pairs of hand knit wool socks over my feet for about half a hour to get my feet core temps up (my staff and co-workers definitely think I'm nuts now). Another little item that I have found that works to help regulate the temperature of my feet, is that I wear wrist bands over my ankles, this seems to help as well not sure why, but what the heck.
Your point about you looking funny sitting down and holding your feet, well, as I say 'Say La Vie', do what you need to do, most people are oblivious to what is going on around them unless it involves themselves, and the others could become a conversation piece, and no publicity is bad publicity.
For your running thru snow, just take it slow only short distances and listen to your body and more inportantly your feet. Also do you have snow in New Mexico, I am assuming you are close to the mountains? Anyway good luck and let me know how it goes.
Your point about you looking funny sitting down and holding your feet, well, as I say 'Say La Vie', do what you need to do, most people are oblivious to what is going on around them unless it involves themselves, and the others could become a conversation piece, and no publicity is bad publicity.
For your running thru snow, just take it slow only short distances and listen to your body and more inportantly your feet. Also do you have snow in New Mexico, I am assuming you are close to the mountains? Anyway good luck and let me know how it goes.
Neil_D
Chapter Presidents
Hi Bob,
You must be made of pretty stern stuff up there. I don't think I could venture out if it is less than 10C. I guess I don't really have to as Adelaide winter temperatures rarely if ever get to below zero.
I have run along the beach when it has been maybe 10C and my feet felt cold enough then. What always worries me is that the numbing effect of the cold stops the feedback from my feet and I can't feel if I have stood on something. Maybe after a few years of barefoot running the confidence of knowing your feet will be ok will help to relax me a bit more.
I'm having the opposite problem at the moment, we are heading into the hot part of the year when the air temperature can get up into the mid 40's and the pavements get well over 50C. If you can't run in the morning by the time the evening comes the roads are too hot, they retain the heat well into the night.
I've learned not to drain blisters but to let them naturally break down. The worst one I had was when I was in a cross country race (wearing spikes) many years ago. I made the mistake of putting vasaline around my toes before putting the shoes on.
Well, during the race the spikes grip the ground extremely well, the feet inside though were slipping all over the place. By the time I finished the race I had a blister about 6cm across, it was huge.
I had to race a 9 mile race the next day and so I drained the blister and bandaged the foot. During the race the pain from the blister was incredible, I ended up having to run on the side of my foot. I was almost too frightened to see what my foot looked like at the end. I think my sock was full of blood. I had a break from training for a few weeks after that.
Regards
Neil
You must be made of pretty stern stuff up there. I don't think I could venture out if it is less than 10C. I guess I don't really have to as Adelaide winter temperatures rarely if ever get to below zero.
I have run along the beach when it has been maybe 10C and my feet felt cold enough then. What always worries me is that the numbing effect of the cold stops the feedback from my feet and I can't feel if I have stood on something. Maybe after a few years of barefoot running the confidence of knowing your feet will be ok will help to relax me a bit more.
I'm having the opposite problem at the moment, we are heading into the hot part of the year when the air temperature can get up into the mid 40's and the pavements get well over 50C. If you can't run in the morning by the time the evening comes the roads are too hot, they retain the heat well into the night.
I've learned not to drain blisters but to let them naturally break down. The worst one I had was when I was in a cross country race (wearing spikes) many years ago. I made the mistake of putting vasaline around my toes before putting the shoes on.
Well, during the race the spikes grip the ground extremely well, the feet inside though were slipping all over the place. By the time I finished the race I had a blister about 6cm across, it was huge.
I had to race a 9 mile race the next day and so I drained the blister and bandaged the foot. During the race the pain from the blister was incredible, I ended up having to run on the side of my foot. I was almost too frightened to see what my foot looked like at the end. I think my sock was full of blood. I had a break from training for a few weeks after that.
Regards
Neil
Thanks Neil, I agree about the heat, it can be as dangerous if not more for barefoot runners. Running on black top or asphalt when it is that hot and sunny can burn your feet very badly. I ran a half marathon in Southern Alberta this summer in 30 degree weather, and my feet were slightly medium rare by the time I finished. I found if you stick to the white painted line on the asphalt (this helps regulate the temperature), the going is not as tough.
Regarding the blisters, for me it kind of depends on how bad they are, or what my schedule is like whether I drain or leave them. I do find if I have a easy rest type schedule, draining the blisters helps the pressure and allows them to heal quicker. If I have a run the next day, I will try to bandage them and leave them alone, and allow them to pop on their own.
Thanks for your imput and I would love to get the chance to run in Aussie land one day.
Regarding the blisters, for me it kind of depends on how bad they are, or what my schedule is like whether I drain or leave them. I do find if I have a easy rest type schedule, draining the blisters helps the pressure and allows them to heal quicker. If I have a run the next day, I will try to bandage them and leave them alone, and allow them to pop on their own.
Thanks for your imput and I would love to get the chance to run in Aussie land one day.
