Hi from the UK

drewfromrisca

Barefooters
Oct 27, 2010
11
0
0
#1
Hi all, I'm Drew, currently reside in the UK but moving to SF in a few months time.



I'm new to this bare foot malarky and I've only just today received my VFF's. I have a confession that I'm not in fact a runner (anymore) but a cyclist!!!



I used to run (half marathon mainly and odd full) but for the past 3 years I've suffered chronic/severe back and hip pain. I've tried pretty much everything apart from surgery and I'm currently waiting for my 3rd MRI with my 3rd different specialist. This has caused me to stop running (but I have found out I'm a good cyclist)



I know I have degeneration in my discs, scolosis, and problems with my SI joint and now I've developed sciatica so in a desperate bid to get some improvement and quality of life I'm going back to basics and trying out the VFF solution/revolution. I got this idea after just finishing Born To Run.



So here I am, last chance saloon so to speak. Finger's crossed!!!
 
#2
Welcome Drew.Your symptoms

Welcome Drew.

Your symptoms sound like mine and here I am BFR.

I use keep my pain under control thru PT but since transitioning to BFR I quit PT and my pain is very manageable. As long as I don't seat I am good.

I think you should give true BFR(nothing on your feet..skin to ground) a try. You won't regret it.
 
#4
What's up Drew and Bea! Two

What's up Drew and Bea! Two new english people in one post nice.

I agree with Dama give your barefeet a try too. Don't discount the actual feedback they will provide sans interference, it is way more importanct than you can imagine.
 
#5
Welcome Drew and Bea!  My

Welcome Drew and Bea!

My wife and I had the pleasure of vacationing in the UK earlier this year. We made stops in Edinburgh, Stirling, York, London, and Cardiff. We loved it!

Drew - Good luck on your transition. Listen to your body and chances are you'll do fine.
 
#6
Welcome, Drew!  Barefoot will

Welcome, Drew! Barefoot will be a lot less stressful on your body (all over) than running in shoes. Even a small amount of "protection" has been shown to increase collision forces/impact with the ground, so barefoot will be even more gentler to you. I understand that winter is going to be harsh in some areas, but if you are moving to San Francisco, you should be able to run much more often barefoot there. Yes, northern California has some very, very cold winter weather too, but just not as bad as most of the rest of the U.S. So please do try running barefoot (without the VFFs), and go very easy with it. What do you suppose caused your health problems?

Welcome to you too, Bea!
 
#7
cheers for the respones all.

cheers for the respones all. i'm not technically english i'm welsh but i'll forgive you on that one Abide
wink.png




i'm currently in a village called Linslade after my wife (who's from SF) and I moved out of London after having enough of it. Theres only so much city a village boy like me can take.



swedishpimple, hope you enjoyed Cardiff, thats my home city, I used to live approx 15 miles away did you understand what they were sayin???



Thanks for all the advice, I'm a little wary of running still as my pain level is quite high still. I had dates through for MRI scans today so I'm happy that some progress is happening.



I wish I had gotten into the barefoot idea a long time ago. I have horrible hammer toes and high arches because of stupid ill fitting shoes and patrol boots that were heavy and cumbersome (I'm a Police Officer, desk bound due to injury) and i've recently developed a morton's neuroma!
 
#8
Well I am the Morton's

Well I am the Morton's Neuroma queen around here. If you have any questions about MN, be sure to ask. Also join the Fellowship of the Morton's Toe stickied thread under Injuries & Medical Conditions when you have the chance, if you haven't already.
 
#9
I just thought of something

I just thought of something funny or ironic, however you want to look at it.

Sometimes, barefoot runners get stopped by the police because they think we are either running from the law or running to get away from danger, like a bad guy. What will happen when you get stopped when running barefoot and they find out you are one of them? Hee.
 
#10
Hi Drew and Bea! Welcome!Bea

Hi Drew and Bea! Welcome!

Bea - I used to live in Sheffield back in 94. I lived about 20 minutes from City Centre. Sorta near Sheffield Hallam Art College. I was just up from Ecclesal Road. How's good ol' Sheffield doing these days?
 
#11
zapmamak wrote:Hi Drew and

zapmamak said:
Hi Drew and Bea! Welcome! Bea - I used to live in Sheffield back in 94. I lived about 20 minutes from City Centre. Sorta near Sheffield Hallam Art College. I was just up from Ecclesal Road. How's good ol' Sheffield doing these days?
Click to expand...

Like somewhere near Hunter's Bar and Psalter Lane? I was brought up there but moved away, to Darlington then Scotland , in the late '70s.

Sh1t, you've probably spent more nights in Sheffield than I have in the last 30 years!
 
#12
God, Sheffield, strange old

God, Sheffield, strange old place and I thought Wales was bad!!! Just kidding, it has a lot going for it - The Full Monty, Sean Bean...err that's all I can think of so far!



Barefoot TJ, I'm yet to come across a criminal barefoot but that's only because it's too bloody cold here for that! It would be interesting though to get stopped whilst out barefoot. I'm sure they would be calling the nearest asylum to find out if anyone escaped!



I'll get on the MN thread asap. Be intereesting to see other peoples problems, solutions etc.
 
#13
Quote:Like somewhere near

Like somewhere near Hunter's Bar and Psalter Lane? I was brought up there but moved away, to Darlington then Scotland , in the late '70s.Sh1t, you've probably spent more nights in Sheffield than I have in the last 30 years!
Click to expand...

Bea - Yup. Exactly. I lived on Hunter House Rd. What a trip!

Drew - Sheffield was a bit bleak when I lived there, but I made some really great friends. My roomies and I became pretty close while I lived there. I've completely lost touch since though. The experience of living in Sheffield was a very enlightening one. Especially as an American living there. I learned a lot about how others (well at least the British) perceive us, which I think if more people knew they would have a better understanding of themselves and the world as a whole. Its a start at least. But now I'm just jabbering.

At any rate... Sheffield DOES have one thing: one of the greatest Downhill Mountain Bikers in the world. Steve Peat. And I think he still lives there.
 
#14
Ah Peaty yes of course!!! Top

Ah Peaty yes of course!!! Top bloke. I used to be a downhill racer years ago and he was the icon we all aimed for! Still going strong now aswell and a deserved rainbow stripes winner last year after a long wait! All round nice fella. Big drinking animal as well, boy can he party.



I know what you mean about perception. My wife has the same mentality on that as yourself. Sheffield is a bleak old place now which is a shame as it used to be a thriving steel industry town.
 
#15
Welcome to the crew, Drew and

Welcome to the crew, Drew and Bea. I'm an old soldier and have some of the same problems you've had, Drew. Abide and others have been advising me as a fairly new BFR to do as much actual barefoot as possible, and I've got to agree that it helps you get your form right faster and more solidly than the VFFs, which I also use a good bit. I think they're fine, and they're good for me on my longer runs, but they allow me to slip on my form as well as to do more than I should developmentally.

I just ended up with a left foot stress fracture that way, in fact. Take it slow, and do as much actual barefoot walking and running as you can. For me, more times going with less distance on each iteration has worked well to help build up the foot sole thickness and the awareness/sensitivity to the ground that make BFR work well.

Have fun, and don't do too much too soon (TMTS), or you'll join me on the injured reserve list. Listen closely to your body's feedback, and enjoy!
 
#16
Drew! Shame you're leaving

Drew! Shame you're leaving these shores. I'm a Rogey boy myself, my dad was brought up in one of the terraces on the "top road", Ty Melyn Terrace, just before the railway line crosses the road and it goes down into Risca. Have fun in the USA.
 
#18
I used to run up there! Most

I used to run up there! Most of my uncles & aunts on my dad's side live up that way. Also very, very close to where my dad was brought up. Small world indeed.
 
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