So I am coming here because you all will understand. So the short version of the story is that I got a last minute invite to be a runner for a Ragnar Relay NW passage race. I did not know anyone on the team nor did they know me. (for the long version you can check out my race repot on my blog at http://staggerforwardrejoicing.com )
I run most of the time totally barefoot. I have a pair of VFFs that I use when it is too hot or too cold. I also have a pair of NB Minimus that I use for speed or unpredictable terrain or really long distances.
Anyway, I show up for this relay with other people depending on me. I had about a week of time knowing that I was even doing this race and I had just finished an Ironman so I decided the best thing to do was run in my minimus shoes. Some of the running would be at night. All would be on roads I did not know. In the end, it was a great choice of footwear.
On my team, there was a "barefoot runner". But the kind I hate. He wore shoes all the time, full running shoes. He had a pair of VFFs that he races in. But the only time he wears them is running and racing. He is poorly trained. Anyway. He toed the line and ran some pretty amazing speeds during his relay legs.
The road surfaces where horrible. I have run full marathons totally BF but would not even attempt a mile on these roads. They were like cobblestones covered in chip seal with random crushed concrete chunks around. The night runs would be horrible BF or VFFs. But he did it.
After the second leg he was hurting. He still ran well (max pace was 5:32 amazing). The third leg he was really limping but would not stop. In the end, he has a full fracture of the bones in his foot. I write about everything in my blog, but I decided not to mention that he was in VFFs because I figured people would use it as fodder against minimalist running. I am kind of irked that he was unprepared and made some dumb TMTS choices and caused a stupid injury that will reflect on BF running.
Ok. I am done venting. I just needed to chat with people who think like I do.
BTW the Ragnar race is amazingly well run. I would highly recommend it.
Todd
Check out the whole race report here http://staggerforwardrejoicing.com
I run most of the time totally barefoot. I have a pair of VFFs that I use when it is too hot or too cold. I also have a pair of NB Minimus that I use for speed or unpredictable terrain or really long distances.
Anyway, I show up for this relay with other people depending on me. I had about a week of time knowing that I was even doing this race and I had just finished an Ironman so I decided the best thing to do was run in my minimus shoes. Some of the running would be at night. All would be on roads I did not know. In the end, it was a great choice of footwear.
On my team, there was a "barefoot runner". But the kind I hate. He wore shoes all the time, full running shoes. He had a pair of VFFs that he races in. But the only time he wears them is running and racing. He is poorly trained. Anyway. He toed the line and ran some pretty amazing speeds during his relay legs.
The road surfaces where horrible. I have run full marathons totally BF but would not even attempt a mile on these roads. They were like cobblestones covered in chip seal with random crushed concrete chunks around. The night runs would be horrible BF or VFFs. But he did it.
After the second leg he was hurting. He still ran well (max pace was 5:32 amazing). The third leg he was really limping but would not stop. In the end, he has a full fracture of the bones in his foot. I write about everything in my blog, but I decided not to mention that he was in VFFs because I figured people would use it as fodder against minimalist running. I am kind of irked that he was unprepared and made some dumb TMTS choices and caused a stupid injury that will reflect on BF running.
Ok. I am done venting. I just needed to chat with people who think like I do.
BTW the Ragnar race is amazingly well run. I would highly recommend it.
Todd
Check out the whole race report here http://staggerforwardrejoicing.com
