After an absence of quite a while now I'm back again. The long time knee issue has settled down now, it started by and accident then became a biomechanical issue that took a long time to fix. I went on a barefoot run with fellow barefooter David who has been running with me on a monthly basis for around 9 years now. We did a short 6km run around a lake yesterday and were lucky to get some glorious winter sun. It is a bit harder to get runs in during the week as a long commute to and from work means I get back just as the sun is setting and darkness and cold is creeping in. I spend the week at the gym doing core strength exercises, deadlifts, squats, lunges and this I believe has helped with the knee issue. I need to get my distance up again but that will probably happen towards the end of winter. Cheers Neil
Thanks TJ and Dana, I'm almost hitting my 10th year anniversary of barefoot running. It was a spring day in September 2009 when I last ran in bouncy built up running shoes and got shin pain. On that day I took off the shoes and walked the 1km back home and the pain eased off. I had a good 12km run today from Seacliff to Glenelg along the beach then back on the road. The only problem I face while on the beach is that I seem to attract all the dogs that think I am a thing they should chase as I'm running. Regards Neil
Hey Neil, I've been on a forum hiatus for a while (busy life!) but good to see you're up and running again! -Larry
Hi Larry, Yes indeed life is far too busy. I'd much rather be running than doing the 2.5 hour commute to work each day and not really enjoying that when I'm there either. I guess it's typical of a large proportion of the population. Up at 5.15am and getting home at around 6pm, running confined to the weekend at this time of year. Neil
Yeah, it gets that way sometimes with work in the winter. I've also got a 5 month old baby that demands a fair bit and I need to keep my 10 year old daughter happy at the same time. Running is very sporadic, but when I get the chance I'm out the door in a flash! The Aussie winter isn't making it any easier either, but on the bright side we're past the winter solstice and the last week has been somewhat mild down here. We got a bit of that winter sunshine you mentioned yesterday and I managed to go out for a trot around with my little one riding her bike so that was a plus!
Around a month ago I was running along the beach and feeling really good (which is usually a warning sign) then I get calf strain. I don't know what causes it. It isn't a tear but just pain like a cramp that leaves the calf sore. I usually slow down to stop when I feel calf issues coming on but it is very frustrating as they take a month to heal and you don't know its fixed until you run and it doesn't go again. Neil
The long time knee issue has settled down now, it started by and accident then became a biomechanical issue that took a long time to fix. Scientific studies has show that repetition leads to running injuries. Most people get running injuries from running too often, not from spraining ankles or falling. I have run for 15 years with trainers and now I am running for about the last 2 month bare feet. In my opinion and this is just my opinion, it is better to take too many rest days than too few rest days. I have learned is that you never train on sore muscles or slightly sore muscles, you must take enough rest days until your legs feel perfectly fine then only go for another run. I don't believe what the experts say after 48 hour rest your muscles to fine to train again. It all depends on the person. No one training program suits everyone.
I don’t miss lengthy commutes to work (used to be a contractor in Calgary)- too much time behind the wheel was destructive to my soul (and soles). I appreciate the mile long walk to and from work (barefoot) that now comprises my commute.
Hi TJ, I may have been running on the soft sand when it started to ache. I know that it is not a tear as I have not done anything traumatic to it. It must be a fatigue issue. The calf is the smallest of the leg muscles and probably most likely to be the one that has an issue. It feels ok now but if I start running on it again it may cramp again. Hi Charlie, That is the exact same scenario with me. How long did it take sort out your biomechanical issue? I have found that my knee feels better if I strengthen the hip adductors (inner thigh muscles). The outer quads must be too strong and pull the kneecap slightly the wrong way. I have to keep doing the exercise of else it reverts back. Running is addictive so its hard to stop once you are on a roll. Hi BFH, I think most of use spend doing too much time doing things we don't enjoy just to fund our lifestyle. I would rather work fewer days per week and exercise more and get paid a little less. We have to get off the consumer treadmill. Regards Neil
Well, you know soft sand beach running really taxes the calf muscles. It seems to me and my experience that the calf muscles take a long time to heal once they've been strained or pulled. It will just take some time for you. Be careful going forward and baby them.
Hi there, I took the calves out for a run around the sports field across the road from where I live. I did around 6 x 600m laps then decided to try a few sprints. I did 2 x 200m and I could feel a bit of an ache so stopped at that point. I'll do this for a while to see how I go. Calves are very frustrating because you only feel them after you start running for a while. Slowly slowly. Regards Neil
Very true. I’ve experienced being a Workaholic in the past...when I think of how I have nothing to show for those years it serves as a reminder not to be that way again. I do work fewer days now (four a week- 2 days/2 nights, 12 hour shifts) and I definitely feel that I have way more time to do the things I want to do than I did when I did the traditional 5 days/8 hours thing. Unfortunately those 8 hour days were seldom 8, they often became 10, 12... Ridiculous way to ‘live’. Yes to getting off the consumer windmill. My spouse and I definitely reduce, reuse, and repurpose more.
