HOW WAS YOUR LAST BAREFOOT RUN?

Hey- recently I ran the Hartford Quarter Marathon in Farmington Barefoot. It was a decent route. Double loops of paved asphalt. A little colder and wetter than planned, but wasnt this whole winter? Ran into some significant bark / branch / rock / mud litter on the trail around miles 2-3 and 5-6. Ended up with some blisters that day, but I was happy with my pace 8:16 overall.

Next race: Simsbury River Run. 10K Sunday April 27th 12noon. Thinking that I will run this one barefoot as well. I am coming to the realization that it takes a lot of work to get up to a Full Marathon barefoot. I have been putting in some time swimming for my July Triathalon. Between the pool and the showers, I lost some foot skin. Yesterday's 16 mile bike ride in the rain didnt do the bottoms of my feet any favors either. I even considered doing the Olympic Tri barefoot. I mean, swimming, no brainer. Running 10k, shouldnt be an issue. But how do you barefoot bike ride, and will my feet be too soft from the hour in the lake for me to run barefoot? Its a neat idea, but one I dont expect to persue on my first Oly Tri.

 

Wow. Sunday. Ran the 10K barefoot. Had some nice comments and discussions. I wished Id made up a sign or a t-shirt promoting the IBRD next week. Day was about 50 degrees F, windy and cloudy. Felt good, but noticed the road was a bit rough 1/2 mile in. By mile 5.5, my feet were bothering me. They felt like I had tiny stones stuck to them, so I would scrape my foot while running. At the finish I saw that I had blisters and those tiny jabbing pains were from open skin, so dragging my foot across the ground wasnt helpful.

Bottom line. I ended up with a great finish time. Previous PR was 51:23. I did this in 47:46. Huge improvement, great pace for me. But... I normally feel like sprinting to the finish line. I felt like I had the gas in the tank, but couldnt get there any faster with the way the feet were. Next 2 races are a FM and a HM. I was planning on doing this HM BF, but since its on the same roads as this 10K, I'll wait and see.

 

I'm a member of Active.com last week I got an email last week there was a drawing for free spots to a local 5k. Well I won one! Downside, I was scheduled to work 7p-7am Saturday and Sunday nights. Oh well. 830am kinda works. PRd by over a minute, but was shooting for faster. Sleep probably would have helped.

I worked all night. Got home a little after 7am, cooked a little food and went to pick up the packet. Stomach was not right. Thank God for indoor bathrooms. Low 50s felt cold, long sleeve top, but BAREFOOT ! I guess I went out too fast. Was shooting for sub 7 pace. Splits. 7:00, 7:30, 7:31. #29/220. 3/6 AG. I won a medal that says "5k 3rd place". I came in faster than overall 3rd female! Last year was more competitive from the results. I didn't expect to place this well, but I hoped to run better.

Funny story. I got water then walked back to watch some finishers and heard a lady with her back to me saying, "...that didn't bother me. You know what annoyed me? That barefoot guy." (her husband saw me and pointed to my feet. I smiled. She kept talking with her back to me) "I couldn't keep up with him. He's bounding along and I've got springs in my shoes".

Anyway. Got home at 11am after being awake >24 hrs. Caught 3 hrs sleep. Got to work and both patients cancelled. I get 4 hrs pay while I chill out in the office in the dark. Then I get home early to catch some real sleep. Good day.

 

MAY - I had a FM in Massachusetts. I wasnt doing that BF, but wife saw someone running BF while getting to a viewing area with the kids. My son said, "and it wasnt daddy?" This past Sunday, followed it with a HM. I have done HM BF before, but River Run (above) was a bit rough on my feet. I have some other races coming up. 7.1 Litchfield Hills this Sunday. Not sure if I'll do this BF or not yet. I did a training run BF on Thurs and a lot came together for me.

(1) I havent been spending enough time training barefoot
(2) When I have been going out, Ive been racing - maybe pushing too hard
(3) I am leaning forward and pushing off my toes too much
(4) TRI training, pool water for several hundred yrds seems to soften my feet

Next 3 races. Sun 6/8 Litchfield Hills. 6/13 Flag Day 5K 6/18 Solstice Sprint - West Hartford 5K. - Maybe I'll see some of your out there.

 

JUNE - feeling better with the feet. I ran the 6/8 Litchfield Hills 7.1 miles barefoot. or, tried. It was a great atmosphere, but no - DO NOT RUN IT BAREFOOT! - I am not a veteran like BF Ken, but this was not for the faint of heart. Start, 82 degrees 1pm full sun downhill. Before Mile 1, Gallows Hill - 11% ? hill. Really steep. I was flying by people because I wasnt about to stop. Beautiful fresh asphalt. Up a hill and about mile 2 you are running towards the HS track. The road from the parking lot to the track is small sharp stones. I started off on them, but decided the grass right next to them was way too convenient. As you pass the track the road becomes large gravel stones and the grassy area is more weeds and hill, so harder to run on. By mile 2.5 I was ready to quit. Feet hurt. But I wanted to see the route (I thought it was an out and back) Mile 3-3.5 was great. Nice pavement under big shade giving pines. Then the road turned to dirt and stone. My feet had become too sensitive. I probably could have handled this fine at Mile 1, but not here. I walked. Then the road kept getting hotter, and I was walking in the stiff weeds on the side of the road. - The race goes back up Gallows Hill, but takes a turn so that you come out near the town Green, above where you start on the hill for a great downhill finish. At least I was able to finish strong! Wished I had my flip flops. It was a long limp back to the car.

JUNE - Solstice Spring 5k - this was such a great course for a barefoot runner! Some spots had fresh asphalt. The day was about 82*, but by the 6:30PM start and the shade, I think it was closer to 78*. Not a PR, but a course record for me.

JUNE - skipped the Flag Day 5K- I measured the course through an online tool and got 2.4 miles! Wasnt really happy with how this race was run. Some runs give you such great value. The Solstice Sprint has a raffle, awards, and tons of great food. I have no problem handing them my money, even if I couldnt make it to the race.

UPCOMING - This week, Practice Sprint Triathalon - Really looking forward to it. Its for people who have 2 yrs or less experience doing triathalons. Then July 20th Litchfield Hills Olympic Triathalon - Been able to practice the bike part of this route. This will be a new level of awesome for me! Aug Canton Lobster Loop. My town race. 400 or so runners. (only 1 barefoot!) I really enjoy this race, even though they have minimal swag or food. Sept - Fenway Spartan Run - October - Hartford Marathon - I have done a HM BF, but not a FM. I attempted it once and it didnt work out, maybe this time? November - MA Newman YMCA Turkey Trot 10k - This time of year, the cold feels fine on my feet, but I start getting whiney about going out for runs when I think of my feet getting cold. Not sure how I'll run this one.

 

This week I was signed up for a "mock" Sprint Triathlon. I think a normal one would be 1/2 mile swim, 12.5 mile bike, 3.1K run. Main reason this was a mock, it ws $15 and pretty self-supported. No signs for bike turns, but there was a volunteer with water on the run and another volunteer telling you to turn around on the out-and-back.

My swimming was pretty bad. I recently bought "better" quality goggles and they werent fitting right. Got water in. Kept adjusting. Form was way off on way out, but got into a rhythm. On way back, I was very far off course. Sun was in my eyes and goggles had zero tint. I said to one of the kayak / lifeguards - "I cant see anything" - finally I saw the buoy and got back on course. - Bike route was fun and easy. Since I was so slow in the water I figured Id catch some people on the bike. Nope. No one? Oh well. Turns out I missed a turn and everyone else did 10.4 miles. I did 14.7. Finally the run. This was a fun group of people and they have been to other races to support each other. (Litchfield Hills 6/8) One guy asked if I was doing this barefoot and I said, "the swim I am!" The run route, I didnt know at all. They had mentioned that it would be a little short. It started out with gravel for maybe 50 yrds then was asphalt. As I came off my bike, the shoes felt heavy and I really considered tossing them off. Especially with the barefoot support! But I wore the shoes. I was able to pick off about 5 people on the run and come in 25/30 despite my horrible first 2 legs of the race.

*Part of the reason I didnt want to was because I ran barefoot the day before and with some old dry skin, some soaking in the lake for 27 minutes, I didnt know how messed up my feet would look after the run -

So- I cant stop thinking about barefoot Triathlon. I have done 13 mile races barefoot, but what about an easy Sprint Triathlon? 12 miles on the bike is an issue. I havent done any barefoot biking. I would need to try that out. I mean, the swim is barefoot for everyone. People on bikes (who are "serious" - serious = everyone but me) buy into clipless bike shoes. With Triathlon, you are timed for everything, including getting out of the water and getting onto your bike (Transition 1) - I loved going from bike to run in 37 seconds! Kept the same shoes on. But I imagine I might go faster if I can keep my wet feet on the bike as I take off, and keep those dry feet bare on the asphalt as I start to run.

Race is in 3 weeks. I'll keep thinking. My issues.

-Comfort: how hard will biking be barefoot?
-Safety: What if I stub my toe or worse, fall off the bike going 35 mph?

 

Last week, I completed my first OLYMPIC TRIATHLON ! ! 0.9 miles Swim. 24.8 mile Bike. 6.2 mile Run. Did all parts (and the runs between the sports) barefooted! I was shooting for a 3:30 finish, but did it in 3:07! ! Next year, I'll be doing a 70.3 (Half Ironman) Triathlon. Maybe barefoot? Ive done 13.1 barefoot already.

 

Upcoming - Canton Lobster Loop will be here in a few short weeks. I did this 5k race barefoot and got some good responses last year. I think Im going to make a custom tee to run in. Considering doing my next FULL barefoot. I have done 13.1 before, I am going to start my marathon and barefoot marathon training plan. Not sure if I have enough time to get my feet - up to speed.

 

Hi all. Just trying to keep some posts on here to try and entice some of you Connecticut runners to post your own adventures.
Recently I hit my foot on the wall of the pool. Pain went away, but recently upped my milage. Did a 9 mile barefoot run, which is my furthest in over 2 months (shod or unshod). Had a lot of tenderness... ok. pain. Got xray'd and cleared of a fracture. Ive been taking it "easy" by doing 3-5 miles a night. Im really hoping I can get back to the double-digits soon. I also have a 5k this Sunday that I am trying to be careful coming into. Id like to do it again this year, barefoot. My 5k PR is 22:52, and I think I can shave almost a minute off this time if everything comes together.

 

Calloused forefoot?
Interresting Toe Bones.

 

I was barefoot, but running? Family 5K. First time any of them, DW, DS1, DS2 had run that far. DS1 (7) didnt want to run when he woke up. Just a bit cranky. So plans instantly changed. I was going to run ahead (and shoot for 21:00) but DW couldnt keep track of both of them, so I went to a walk-run. Took lots of motivation, but we finished under 17:00 pace. I was barefoot, and I would have loved to run fast, but Im very happy to support healthy habits for the family.