Free the Tootsies!

Barefoot running. It's gaining in popularity. Bring up barefoot running in a conversation with runners and it can be a hot topic. For the most part, runners are very loyal to their shoes. As with most anything, when the traditional way of doing something is questioned or changed, camps form and sides are taken.
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I've said it before and I'll continue to say it...my philosophy of running is, "if it works for you, then do it." If someone has had 30 years of injury-free running in shoes, then I doubt he's doing anything wrong. And on the flip side, if someone has had injury, after injury, after injury running in shoes, then switches to running barefoot and suddenly is injury free, then it would appear that he's done something right. If it looks like a peach, and smells like a peach, it must be a peach.
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The latter scenario, just happens to represent what happened to a buddy of mine Josh—Barefoot Josh. Josh has been running barefoot about a year and he's logged around 1,000 miles. (His barefoot miles don't include runs in which he wears socks, Vibram Five Fingers or other minimalist shoes.) He's also run a marathon and several shorter races barefoot. To read more about Josh's journey into barefoot running [click here].

Josh shared his love of barefoot running as well as proper barefoot running technique in a workshop at my fitness studio—RunnerDude's Fitness. I myself am a "taker and a maker"....I take bits and pieces of techniques from here and bits and pieces of knowledge from there and make my own home brew of running that seems to work for me. Because of a nerve problem in my right forefoot (Morton's neuroma), I'm not able to run barefoot. I guess, I could try running with one foot shod and one foot bare, but I'm thinking that may not work out too well. I may yet give one of the minimalist shoes a try, but until then, I've been incorporating many of the running form techniques advocated by barefoot runners into my own running, such as a shorter stride, more of a forefoot/midfoot strike, and a lighter more lifting motion of the foot instead of pounding the ground.

The one thing I'm not able to experience nor are minimalist runners is how true barefoot running can help a runner figure out what he/she is doing wrong by learning to "read" what their feet are telling them with each foot strike. Josh does a great job of explaining this in his workshop. Your feet become little sensors kind of like the ones in the fancy cars that tell you when somethings in the road ahead of you or when your tires are going flat. Your feet sensors can give the barefoot runner immediate feedback so that he/she can immediately make changes while running and hopefully avoid injury.

So, is barefoot running for you? Only you can tell. Give it a try and see what you think. Start slow and go short. Work your way up in distance and speed. Be patient. You may be surprised with the results.

Check out the video clip below taken from Josh's Barefoot Running Workshop at RunnerDude's Fitness.

RunnerDude's Runner of the Week: Bob

For this week's interview, we've traveled from Mexico all they way to New Jersey! Bob is a wonderful example of how even if you've been running for years, you can change it up and keep it fresh and fun! Bob has a great story to tell!

Featured Runner: Bob or @downtownrunner (on Twitter)

RD: Hey Bob, your Twitter username is @downtownrunner. Tell me a little about that.

Bob: I have a blog with a similar name http://www.downtown-runner.com/ where I talk about running (often barefoot) in lower Manhattan.

RD: Where are you from?

Bob: I was born and raised in San Diego, CA. But now I live in New Jersey (Joisey for short).

RD: Share a little about yourself. What do you do for a living? Hobbies?

Bob: I am 51, happily married to a wonderful lady, and am the father of four grown kids. I manage a technology department for an agency in Lower Manhattan, New York City. After God, my wife and kids, my two passions are running and photography. I'm your basic geek, from a long line of geeks.

RD: How long have you been running?

Bob: 35 years.

RD: When did you start running?

Bob: In high school gym class our coach gave a little talk about heart disease and a famous study about a group of firefighters. Those that ran were a lot healthier. So I decided to go out for the cross country team. I was never very good (read fast) but it was good for me and a lot of my friends were on the team too so it was fun.

RD: What do you enjoy most about running?

Bob: The feeling of accomplishment and knowing that I'm doing something that is good for my health.

RD: What are your favorite training foods?

Bob: This is a tough one. Does ice cream count? I like to eat (too much). So much to choose from. Let's see, some of them would be yogurt, almonds, chili, and chia seeds. Oh, and Clif bars, peanut butter crunch. :)

RD: Are you a lone runner or do you run with some buddies? What do you like about each?

Bob: I almost always run alone. It's not that I wouldn't enjoy running with a group, but my schedule and situation makes it difficult. I often run during my lunch break which is unpredictable from day to day. I don't mind being alone though. Usually I listen to music, think, clear my head, etc. Recently I've become much more aware of things like form, breathing techniques, etc. So there is plenty to think about and work on.

RD: What’s the funniest or oddest thing that’s happened to you while on a run?

Bob: I'm probably boring on this one. Although, there was that one time I almost got trampled. I live in a fairly densely populated suburb, far from any woods. One morning I was out running through town before dawn. I was crossing a tiny brook via a road bridge when out of nowhere came a big buck deer. He bounded across the road toward me. Just before he reached the sidewalk he turned slightly and then jumped the railing and disappeared. In 18 years of living here I've never seen a deer again. But probably the best thing that happens now is the looks that I get when I come running down the street or sidewalks of NYC with my winter gear on and no shoes. Everyone all bundled up with their earmuffs, over coats, and Ugg boots all wide eyed because they can't understand why someone would willingly be barefoot. And running. And smiling. And enjoying every second of it. Priceless.

RD: What’s your biggest running accomplishment? Why?

Bob: There are probably two equally important (to me) accomplishments. The first was my first half marathon. That was during college, back when there were very few races. My roommate and I ran the race. I don't even remember my time. But at the moment it was a major confidence builder, not only with running but in other ways too. Difficult things in my life seemed less daunting.The other accomplishment would be recently transitioning from shod to barefoot/minimalist running. It wasn't an easy thing for these feet and calves to adjust after 34 years of conventional shoes. I had daily pain for about 2 months as the muscles, tendons, and blood supply developed. I almost gave up. But I kept at it and studied how others had done the same thing. Now, on the other side of the transition, I feel like I've had an epiphany of sorts. Like a whole new world to explore. Like I've learned how to run all over again.

RD: Do you have a favorite brand of running shoe? Silly question, I suppose since you run barefoot, but do you have a favorite shoe or minimalist shoe?

Bob: Almost a year ago I heard about barefoot running. Along with thousands of others I then read Born to Run. So I bought a pair of Vibram Five Fingers. I've never looked back. I run barefoot when I can, in VFFs when I can't. I haven't worn conventional shoes in about 6 months or so. In fact, my old shoes don't fit now because my feet have grown stronger and my toes have straightened out.Recently I bought a second pair of VFFs which I wear almost every day to work. They are super comfortable and light, and help continue the process of the strengthening of my feet and ankles.

RD: What’s your favorite race distance(s)? Do you have a favorite race you run each year?

Bob: I'm probably best at 10K. I find I get a second wind at about 4 miles which serves me well at that race distance. My town here in NJ has an annual 5K that I always run. It's fairly small but its still fun. It's in April so its a good start to the racing season. I am starting training now for a half marathon in May and then hopefully my first marathon in the Fall.

RD: If you were speaking to a group of non-runners or runner wannabes and trying to encourage them to run, what would you say?

Bob: I'd tell them they will get back more from running than they put into it. That if they start out slow, stick with it for 2-3 months, there is no way they will regret it. But make it fun. Don't push it.

RD: Open Mike: Share anything you‘d like about your running experiences, past accomplishments, goals, dreams….anything you haven’t previously shared.

Bob: Not too much else, except thanks to the RunnerDude for his blog and this opportunity to say hi to his readers. If anyone has any questions feel free to contact me through my blog.

Thanks Bob!

If you'd like to be featured as a weekly runner or you know of someone that would make a good candidate, email me at runnerdudeblog@yahoo.com.

Happy Running!
RunnerDude

Check Out RunnerDude on Fitter U Fitness Blog!

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Yuri Elkaim during the Runners Round Table podcast on Stretching. I've followed Yuri on Twitter and often check out his blog, so it was cool to actually talk to him a bit over the phone. For those of you not familiar with Yuri, he's a former professional soccer player, author and fitness/wellness expert. He's also the founder and owner of Total Wellness Consulting, hosts a blog Fitter U Fitness, and has written Eating for Energy and Nutrition for Runners as well as articles in Beyond Fitness magazine, Impact magazine, and Fitness Business Canada magazine.

Keep an eye out for my review of Eating for Energy in the near future.

Yuri asked if I'd like to contribute a monthly guest post about running to Fitter U Fitness Blog. A chance to write about running and fitness?! Of course I said, "Yes!" When you have a chance, check out my first post "Moving on Up...8 Great Tips for Improving Your Running." While your there, be sure to check out Yuri's other posts on the blog as well as his other publications and services.