Run like a Deer or Run like an Ostrich

This past Saturday I did another trial run in my huarache sandals. Was trying to be more gentle and not so noisy, yet concentrate on my form. Here is a couple of videos of me working the huaraches



Try this again...



Sometimes I feel like I run like an ostrich. They run in a quirky way, toes first and not striking the heel. Like this video.



I much prefer barefoot running, so took them off for the second half of my run



After my run I took a look at my feet. No blisters this time!! Just dirt and grime from the roads. I must have been running with some decent form. I am proud of my feet for running well and supporting me!!

I still have a lot to learn and to improve on my form, yet still enjoy and experiment barefoot running.

chillin'

I think I will be taking it easy and going back to square one. Not that my last two workouts weren't good...they were! But I need to reassess my form, cadence and concentrate on what my feet are telling me. If the roads stay clear and hopefully the salt has washed away enough, I might do a brisk barefoot walk and then a short run for about 10 minutes and see how things go. I don't want to completely depend on minimalist shoes during this winter season. I need to slowly work into it. Right now I can walk in the snow for a few minutes and then have to come in and warm out. I sure can't wait until warmer weather so I can get back into normal BFR schedule and slowly work up a few minutes here and there and work back to doing a 5K run with ease.

Me running on Red Ball Trail in my Huaraches

MapMyRun.com - Regular Run: run on Red Ball trail on 01/26/2011

Running in my Huaraches

MapMyRun.com - Regular Run: running in my new huaraches on 01/25/2011

I headed out early this morning in 17 degree F weather with a slight breeze wearing my new huaraches by <A HREF="http://www.Invisibleshoe.com">Invisibleshoe.com</A>.  An interesting sensation.  Yes you can tell you are stepping on rocks and feel the  ridges of the road.  In my area the snowplows have not been good on the roads plus the city doesn't know how to lay down a smooth pavement.  So most of the runs I do in town and country are fairly rough pavement.  Not barefoot friendly.  So when I do barefoot running, I have to stick to the smooth roads and tough it out when I have to cross rough roads to get to the smooth ones.  There isn't any running/biking trails anywhere in our area!  You have to drive 40 min to get to the nearest one.
Aside from that, I think I am going to enjoy these huaraches.  They do make an interesting sound as you run.  Not a flapping sound....maybe a cupping sound.  I know I had them on tight enough.  I suppose I could trim off closer to my foot, but don't want it too small in case my foot wants to slide around.   I tried to correct my gate, but still kept the barefoot running cadence and stance.  I think it took me the first mile of my test run to get used to them and off I was running.  In fact I was just going to do a short 3 mile  test run.  At first my little toes weren't quite warm enough, but it didn't take long for my feet to adapt and what started as a short run turned into a nice 6 mile run!  The wind and freezing temps didn't bother me as I was concentrating on my running stance and focusing on how the huaraches feel on different pavements.  As I was approaching my house, I could have easily kept going.  Yes, I could see me running a half or full marathon in these!

Tying my new Huaraches

I couldn't wait to get the huaraches kit home, so I worked on it during lunch break! Here is a tracing of my big foot

11.5 inches long from heel to big toe. Normal size foot for a man my size, but when you trace it on paper you feel like a sasquatch!


After cutting the Vibram Cherry rubber sole and using the hole punch I laced up the cording.

I had to study and watch the video on Invisibleshoe.com as I was lacing to make sure I was doing it right. They work perfectly and fit great! And since I am a tatter(lacemaker) and am frugal, I didn't want to waste the rest of the cording. So I tatted some double stitches going down to the toes. Makes for great decoration and if I need to retie or relace them again, I am not short the cording.

I know....I need a major pedicure!!!!

I made a video of me making the double stitches. I am going to send this on to Invisibleshoe.com so they have more ideas on how to tie. :-D

Huaraches!

My Huaraches kit from Invisibleshow.com came in the mail over the weekend!!!!

I ordered the hot orange cord to go with it. So many colors to choose. I like orange and orange and black are colors of my alma mater. :-D Now to study and watch the videos on how to make the huaraches and get my workin'!! If you are curious how they are made, here is the how to pages

Polar Run

Had a good workout yesterday. It was a typical winter run of 15 degrees F, snowy roads(some paved). Since I am still trying to transition to winter barefoot running, I went shod. I can walk around for a few minutes in the snow, but not a full run. And I was desperate for a long run which I haven't had in a few weeks. Unfortunately my Huaraches haven't arrived in the mail yet! I think the constant snow storms from Colorado to Illinois are getting in the way. Grrrr.....I am hoping sometime early next week(tomorrow!) they will be here so I can start my runnings with them.

Sooooo....what shoes should I wear? I have my normal running shoes that I stopped wearing a few months back. Use them for walking and everyday use now ;) I do have a regular pair of flat tennis shoes, but they sometimes pinch my toes. Nope. Not gonna work. Then I wondered how my low profile, no support but looks cool, soccer shoes would do??? They are even more minimalist then my flat tennis shoes. And they fit good. AND they are cleated, aside from some sort of tread that non-cleated soccer shoes have to grip the turf. It think that does the trick! So I warmed up and set out on what I thought would be about a 6 mile run and ended up a 9.39 mile run. Here is the link to my run. I tried to get MapMyRun to post to this blogger, but wasn't an option. POOH!
As with a lot of my runs they are in the mornings before work. I did a later morning(8am) and was ready to go. I am sure this happens to a lot of you, but seems to happen to me a lot. When I run in the mornings, my body isn't completely functioning. I mean the inside body. The rest is awake and ready. But invariably I seem to have to go potty(for lack of a better word) about 2 or more miles into a run. Pee is fine, just run off the side and go. No...it is always #2. So 2 miles into the run I get that bad sensation. Luckily I was close to home. But going back in this condition seems like a long 2 miles back home to do my thing. So I "grin and bear it" and had to stop a few times to take some breaths. I made it back and I called this a pit stop. I wasn't going out for just a 4 mile run. So I headed back out in the cold since I was just warming up.
This time I plotted a route a different way around town. Winter runs are slower for me and I do take it easy. Especially on the lungs. So I was going at a bit of a snails pace(5mph), but running on the snowy roads was great. It did feel squishy and a bit like running on sand barefoot. I have run on sandy beaches before and I LOVE it! And the soccer shoes did a great job of supporting me with no sliding.

So I think the soccer shoes work well for minimalist shoes when I feel that I can't handle a full run in the snow. Can't wait until I get used to the snow. But soon it will be warmer temps and I can put my barefeet on the ground and have some good runs.

Stepping in Snow

We had a beautiful snowfall yesterday and from the evening before. A good 8 inches! So after work I wanted to break my feet into getting used to the snow and cold. I won't be running in it completely this year. Hoping for next year. Anyway....I did a slight workout indoors to get my feet warmed up. Then I commenced outside to stepping in the snow. Just walking around on the ground, feeling the cold snow on the bare feet. It actually felt soft and nice. Of course it then turned cold. So had to go in and dry off and warm up! I did this several times. Sometime I will get to running in the snow and enjoying the run as well without the possibility of frostbite. Just need to acclimate my feet.

I ordered my first Huarache Invisible Shoes a couple of days ago! They will be perfect for transitioning my cold weather runs and barefoot running! They aren't just for running, but serve an everyday use. I hope they come in today!!!

Hello Barefoot Running World!!

I am starting this blog just as a record of my experiences as both a runner and more importantly a BAREFOOT runner. I started my journey back in October 2010. It was just the end of nice weather and now it is in full blown winter season. A lot of trial and error and I have done some research online about barefoot running and some do's and don'ts. Most importantly I have to listen to my feet and body. I will post favorite blogs and sites on the sidebar of places I have been. This blog will be a work in progress as I figure out the settings and make it look more pleasing to the eye. "BARE" with me ;)

I will see you out there in barefoot land!!!