A Passion for Running

Hi Susie. Hi Jon.

Nope. Not doing any of this barefooted. I’ll be wearing my trusty (if not overly colorful Puma H-Streets). The truth is, I’ve given up on barefoot running and probably not for the reason most people would suspect.

I spent a good deal of last May through August/September running in my bare feet. Towards the end, I had a setback which I believe was a bit of a stress fracture. The stress fracture was not solely (pun?) a result of running barefooted. It was a result of me doing something stupid while running barefooted.

That said, even with that injury, I was really happy to run without shoes and I would continue if it weren’t for the winter season. Most barefoot runners in the US simply have no idea what a winter really is (sorry, it’s true). They talk about running through the winter but, from what I know, their coldest winter days are probably not even as cold as our warmest.

Where I live, we have very typical winter temperatures ranging from -4 to -22 Fahrenheit. In other words, it’s pretty much impossible to run barefoot in the winter.

With the spring melt off, I’m looking at least five months off from running barefoot. Five months is a long time. A long time to lose the conditioning/toughening up of ones soles.

And I’m not willing to start over every year.

Besides, I couldn’t be happier with my form, and the strength in my feet right now.

Capiche?

Prior to beginning my barefoot and pose method running journey, I associated a particular kind of language with running - a language that I believe is very common among North American runners.

But my journey has changed how I think about running and, at the heart of this change is language - the words I associate with running.

I want to share some lovely words penned by Ken Bob Saxton - the guru of barefoot running in North America. These words eloquently illustrate the message I’d like to pass on to you. What you are about to read can be found in its original state right here.

As long as we accept the terms “strike” and “impact” to describe the way we run, it will be nearly impossible to find a gentle landing approach.

The key is not to strike, not to “absorb” impact, but to decelerate the foot, as it approaches the ground, by lifting the foot, before the foot “TOUCHES” the ground…

…Impact, and it’s absorbtion becomes almost meaningless, as one gets close to perfecting (no one is ever perfect) this technique.

How often do we hear people say they can’t run because the “pounding” is too hard on their bodies?

What do you think about when you see or hear about barefoot runners, or people running in shoes like these?

Or these?

For many people, I am guessing the reaction would be along the lines of, “ouch” and “the impact must be damaging”.

And yet, people are running in shoes offering no more protection than they’d get from slippers. People are running in their bare feet. And they are doing it without injuring themselves. How is this possible? Is it, perhaps, because they approach running differently?

Do the words we associate with running dictate how we run, how we interact with the ground, and in the kind of footwear we can run in?

Is it possible to exchange words like “impact”, “strike” and “pound” for others like “touch”, “lightly contact” and “tap” and, if we change those words - that mindset - can we change how we run and leave the language of injury behind?
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Interested in exploring this idea? I recommend visiting posetech and barefootrunning.org.

Well, the vibram fivefingers shoe continues to create a buzz. Even Dr. Romanov - founder of the Pose Method of Running has endorsed it!

Vibram: Are you listening? I can’t get your shoes in Canada!

The Vibram Five Fingers shoe is creating quite a stir in barefoot and Pose Method circles and I must say these look promising. I may just have to order a pair.

These may be as close to barefooting without actually being barefoot as you can get. Here’s what’s being said:

On the Posetech Forum

By Barefoot Ted (the guy does mountains barefoot)

Barefoot Rick has tons of barefoot experience

Finally, a few thoughts from - Ken Bob Saxton’s forum (the guru of barefoot running).

Take that Nike.

This article blew my mind - and not just because of the barefoot running angle. Pay attention to some of the numbers in the article. woa - I am so lame with my six marathons!

I picked on Nike and Oprah in my last post so why not Adidas today.

Adidas updates its computer controlled running shoe

Great, just great. Let’s do everything we can to weaken our feet and get them further and further disconnected from what nature intended - to make contact with the ground.

Forgive me Oprah. You are the goddess of daytime tv and someone I respect very much but I think you’ve missed the point on something.

On November 21st, Oprah Winfrey aired her annual Favorite Things episode. It was a very good show (I’ll take one of those cool new black iPods please!), but I got a little miffed at one of her choices - not so much because of the fact it was on the list as for the reason it got on the list. (Read on …)

This is a terrific video feature on barefoot running. Way to go Ken Bob!

I missed the interview because it aired on a different radio station! What happened was that at the time of the interview, the reporter was on strike and freelancing, and I understood it would air on a different station than the one he usually worked at. But, by the time the interview was ready for air, the reporter was back at work at CBC Radio Edmonton.

So, here’s a copy of the barefoot running interview in mp3 format (thanks a TON Tim!).

There was a lot that got left on the cutting room floor and I feel compelled to point out one interview inaccuracy. I did not say I stick to sidewalks. I said I love grass but that you can’t see what’s in there so I mostly stick to sidewalks and paved trails.

Those things aside, I thought the piece was well done. Obviously Tim (the interviewer) was trying to present a balanced piece even though I could argue a couple of points made by the orthodics guy and the U of A coach.

Oh well, it was fun and hopefully will create some awareness for barefoot running.

Remember that barefoot running interview I did (I think) in September? Well, it airs tomorrow morning - Friday, October 28/2005 at 8:15 a.m. Mountain Standard Time.

The interview is on CKUA radio and here’s the link to the live broadcast. You need Windows Media Player to listen.

Sheesh. I hope I don’t sound like an idiot!