Ran Bay Village Bicentennial 5k 1st race barefoot Saturday. 
I was first hesitant on running barefoot(a little self consious of my feet and what people would say) but at the last second said to myself f$$# it J), its my goal to run a barefoot race before the end of the year and I have been running barefoot more when I can. I wore my wool classics to the starting line and before the start I shoved them in the back of my shorts and pull my drawstring tight. I can hear people behind me whispering about me running barefoot, "what happens if you run over glass" etc. etc. I just said to myself if only you know what you've been missing. My sister and my nephew were both wearing VFF while my brother in law wore his regular running shoes(he is converting to VFF) we only seen 3 other people wearing VFF.
The starting gun fired, I ran smoothly for the first mile passing people easily(my VFF were dropping in my shorts, felt like I was running a loaded diaper.) I felt like I was running smooth and efficient enough to hold conversation with a older runner asking me how I like running barefoot. 2nd mile I ran out of gas and had to stop and catch my breath(grrr hate when that happens), I start running again passing more people I felt my forefoot getting warm(oh no this means blisters), later had to stop one more time to catch my breath then took off passing people again grrrr, and finally round the corner and head straight for the finish line. Heard people at the finish line say "look hes running barefoot!" a volunteer asked me you ran barefoot? yeah, gasping, then a older runner said no he didnt he wore his shoes and took them off part way during the race, I said what?????!!! then he said I thought I saw you wearing them at the start, I said ran the whole race barefoot!!! I took of my shoes off before the start and shove them in the back of my shorts! then he said Oh. Geez some people.
I know I could of done better if I had practice running more miles like I did on the previous race wearing my KSO's, I felt like I jackrabbit this race. My feet later felt fine that day, no blisters!! All in all I am hooked on running barefoot, and I am over my fear of what people may think and say. Next time I won't be carrying my VFF, I'll be leaving them at home.
I was first hesitant on running barefoot(a little self consious of my feet and what people would say) but at the last second said to myself f$$# it J), its my goal to run a barefoot race before the end of the year and I have been running barefoot more when I can. I wore my wool classics to the starting line and before the start I shoved them in the back of my shorts and pull my drawstring tight. I can hear people behind me whispering about me running barefoot, "what happens if you run over glass" etc. etc. I just said to myself if only you know what you've been missing. My sister and my nephew were both wearing VFF while my brother in law wore his regular running shoes(he is converting to VFF) we only seen 3 other people wearing VFF.The starting gun fired, I ran smoothly for the first mile passing people easily(my VFF were dropping in my shorts, felt like I was running a loaded diaper.) I felt like I was running smooth and efficient enough to hold conversation with a older runner asking me how I like running barefoot. 2nd mile I ran out of gas and had to stop and catch my breath(grrr hate when that happens
), I start running again passing more people I felt my forefoot getting warm(oh no this means blisters), later had to stop one more time to catch my breath then took off passing people again grrrr, and finally round the corner and head straight for the finish line. Heard people at the finish line say "look hes running barefoot!" a volunteer asked me you ran barefoot? yeah, gasping, then a older runner said no he didnt he wore his shoes and took them off part way during the race, I said what?????!!! then he said I thought I saw you wearing them at the start, I said ran the whole race barefoot!!! I took of my shoes off before the start and shove them in the back of my shorts! then he said Oh. Geez some people.I know I could of done better if I had practice running more miles like I did on the previous race wearing my KSO's, I felt like I jackrabbit this race. My feet later felt fine that day, no blisters!! All in all I am hooked on running barefoot, and I am over my fear of what people may think and say. Next time I won't be carrying my VFF, I'll be leaving them at home.
