Hi,
Ive been barefoot running for about 5 months after reading Born to Run then Ken Bob’s book. (Previously ran in shoes for about 2 months but wasn’t enjoying it despite always feeling like running – that’s what got me onto the barefoot movement – googling running technique tips).
Ive been trying to go once every 2 days for a short run but ive had breaks. Ive taken the last week off as im feeling a little frustrated.
I feel like im doing lots of things right but its just not clicking.
I usually run about a mile but ive recently been branching out into trying up to 2.5 miles but its not pleasurable.
I run on a fairly rough surface. And my soles are tender after the run but I wouldn’t say painful. Have stopped getting blisters which is nice.
I am VERY slow, like 17ish minutes for one single mile. Speed is not my focus but after 5 months…I could walk faster easily shod! I wouldn’t mind being this slow if everything else was perfect but its not. i.e. If I could run for longer/enjoyably/easily etc.
Can you please take a look at this quick video and tell me how to improve. I feel like I have read everything there is to read online/watched all media on correct BF form.
What I FEEL I am doing right (please verify with video):
- Facing forward (head, torso stable, upright and forwards)
- Trying to run lightly
- Knees comfortably bent (if I bend them any more my thighs are too exerted)
- My head is not bobbing up and down
- I allow my heel to touch the ground after the front of my foot.
- Consciously trying to lift the whole foot.
- Trying to have relaxed arm/shoulder movement
- Think my hips are relaxed and trying to run in a line.
I feel like I have experimented SO much, especially in regards to slight ankle lean Versus Ken Bob’s favored moving the hips forward (I feel this difference is the biggest contention in the literature – to lean from the ankle a little or not). Nothing feels great. If I move my hips forward any more than in the video it just feels like so much weight over my feet.
My cadence is slower than it should be I think but if I try to quicken it I get exhausted, if I try to go faster I get exhausted. If I try to lift my feet up more…I get exhausted (and im not really out of shape! I ride a bike for fitness). Getting exhausted is not my aim as a learner (as Ken Bob says you should feel better after a run not horrible!)
I feel my “feetback” isn’t teaching me like it should. I feel like im in a rut, not improving, feeling (justifiably after 5 months) frustrated. But I don’t want to give up as I do have this deep desire to be able to enjoy running and run for a long time! Will I improve if I keep on keeping on like I am in the video (1 slow mile every 2 days?) or is it possible to improve if I make changes to form? I have done the research so why do I feel lost? I thought that if I educated myself and made sure I was doing the key things right I would be rewarded with linear improvement.
Please tell me there is hope! Am I a long way off improvement or could a few small changes get me on the right track?
Any thoughts would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you for reading this long post!
p.s. I havnt had any running related injuries. My shins do feel tired sometimes when I run, like there is weight on them, like a tugging sensation. Should I worry about that?
p.p.s. I am completely barefoot when I run and want to remain so.
Ive been barefoot running for about 5 months after reading Born to Run then Ken Bob’s book. (Previously ran in shoes for about 2 months but wasn’t enjoying it despite always feeling like running – that’s what got me onto the barefoot movement – googling running technique tips).
Ive been trying to go once every 2 days for a short run but ive had breaks. Ive taken the last week off as im feeling a little frustrated.
I feel like im doing lots of things right but its just not clicking.
I usually run about a mile but ive recently been branching out into trying up to 2.5 miles but its not pleasurable.
I run on a fairly rough surface. And my soles are tender after the run but I wouldn’t say painful. Have stopped getting blisters which is nice.
I am VERY slow, like 17ish minutes for one single mile. Speed is not my focus but after 5 months…I could walk faster easily shod! I wouldn’t mind being this slow if everything else was perfect but its not. i.e. If I could run for longer/enjoyably/easily etc.
Can you please take a look at this quick video and tell me how to improve. I feel like I have read everything there is to read online/watched all media on correct BF form.
What I FEEL I am doing right (please verify with video):
- Facing forward (head, torso stable, upright and forwards)
- Trying to run lightly
- Knees comfortably bent (if I bend them any more my thighs are too exerted)
- My head is not bobbing up and down
- I allow my heel to touch the ground after the front of my foot.
- Consciously trying to lift the whole foot.
- Trying to have relaxed arm/shoulder movement
- Think my hips are relaxed and trying to run in a line.
I feel like I have experimented SO much, especially in regards to slight ankle lean Versus Ken Bob’s favored moving the hips forward (I feel this difference is the biggest contention in the literature – to lean from the ankle a little or not). Nothing feels great. If I move my hips forward any more than in the video it just feels like so much weight over my feet.
My cadence is slower than it should be I think but if I try to quicken it I get exhausted, if I try to go faster I get exhausted. If I try to lift my feet up more…I get exhausted (and im not really out of shape! I ride a bike for fitness). Getting exhausted is not my aim as a learner (as Ken Bob says you should feel better after a run not horrible!)
I feel my “feetback” isn’t teaching me like it should. I feel like im in a rut, not improving, feeling (justifiably after 5 months) frustrated. But I don’t want to give up as I do have this deep desire to be able to enjoy running and run for a long time! Will I improve if I keep on keeping on like I am in the video (1 slow mile every 2 days?) or is it possible to improve if I make changes to form? I have done the research so why do I feel lost? I thought that if I educated myself and made sure I was doing the key things right I would be rewarded with linear improvement.
Please tell me there is hope! Am I a long way off improvement or could a few small changes get me on the right track?
Any thoughts would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you for reading this long post!
p.s. I havnt had any running related injuries. My shins do feel tired sometimes when I run, like there is weight on them, like a tugging sensation. Should I worry about that?
p.p.s. I am completely barefoot when I run and want to remain so.