Bare feet & souls 101

Where I live it's hard to find good running shoes and since they are imported they are extremely expensive. Well being on a shoestring budget and not yet an avid running I don't want to spend hundreds on mediocre shoes only for them to collect dust.

I live on the beach and I want to get running on the beach. The thought came to me...why not just go au naturale..barefoot! The locals here go everywhere without shoes and my life of frolicking in my backyard sans shoes all the way to my African dance class as an adult have giving me some feet that I know can go the distance. No baby soft pads here!

So I started looking into it and I found this interesting countdown of things to keep in mind when getting into your Barefoot Running Groove. Thought I'd share in a series of posts. Enjoy!

1. Make sure your minimalist shoes fit well. You are trying to mimic your feet. Those are a product of Mother Nature – a force a lot smarter than anyone at a shoe company.


2. Wear the right shorts to avoid chaffing. Do a test run with your favorite running shorts to find which one fits best. Again, you are trying to get back to nature – and chaffing in your privates isn’t going to help.

3. You’re probably used to running in socks, and that’s all about to change. Ease in –you need to get your feet back into shape. Take short runs – then longer and longer. Life is a marathon; not a sprint.

4. The ride will be a little more bumpy than you’re are used to. Support the rest of your body until you get used to the change. The most obvious issue is for women – wear a supportive running bra.

5. This isn’t a beauty contest, but athletes who succeed usually dress the part. Wear clothes that you feel good in. While you are out running or at the gym, you don’t want to be self-conscious. This is about running – get rid of the other distractions.

6. Stretch your feet before and after running. Many runners will stretch their legs or their back. Remember your feet. They are doing the hardest part.

7. Build a relationship with your feet. It sounds silly, but it isn’t. Much of your well-being relates to your feet. Pardon the pun, but you should know your feet like ‘the back of your hand.’ Before and after running, look at your feet, massage them – they are the only feet you’ll ever have – get to know them.

8. Don’t price yourself out of having good running gear. High quality gear is often discounted during holiday sales, on the Internet, or at the end of the season. Get the best, but pay the least.

9. Running alone is always the easiest thing to schedule, but it’s also the easiest thing to quit. Find a barefoot running buddy who has similar abilities. Keep track of progress together. It is much harder to skip a run when you have someone else depending on you.

10. Patronize your local running stores. They are usually runners. They talk to runners all day. They can really help you. Build some personal relationships there.

11. Join local running clubs. Just ask for ideas when you are at a running store.

12. Do more than run; barefoot runners are a community. If you want to be part of the community, get involved. Volunteer at races and events. You’ll get as much out of it as you put in.

13. Be respectful of other participants. People who volunteer at marathons or mountain races are there to help. They aren’t getting paid. Don’t treat them like water vending machines.

14. Share the road. If you are on a trail, proactively think about other runners, bikers and walkers. It makes everyone safer if you try to anticipate their actions. And, open your mouth – tell them if you are coming on the left or right. It prevents injuries.

15. Empty your pockets. Jingling coins or heavy items in your pockets will distract you and others. It will slow you down. Barefootin’ is about getting back to nature – feeling free. You aren’t going to feel free if you are a pack mule.

16. Talk about barefoot running with other barefoot runners. Other people probably don’t want to hear about your experiences 24 hours a day. Be mindful that your barefoot running experience isn’t important to some of your friends.

17. Sign up for some races. Racing will make it more REAL, and it will keep it exciting. If you aren’t ready, switch to shoes at a pre-determined mile-marker until you are more ready. Don’t abuse yourself.

18. Remember – there are good days and bad days. Don’t obsess about a bad barefoot running day. And, don’t get giddy about a great day. You are working on a long term plan. Again, it’s a marathon.


19. Running barefoot will make you stronger. In simple terms – it will continue to get easier. Athletic endeavors usually start out hard, and they get easier. Barefoot running is no different. What once seemed insurmountable will look easy later.


20. You are competing with yourself. Every runner is different. You shouldn’t expect others to keep up, and you shouldn’t expect to keep up with everyone. You are just trying to be your best.

21. You have decided to park your Nikes in the closet, but keep their old tagline in mind: Just do it. Stay motivated, and let your feet make you stronger than you thought you could be.

22. Don’t expect each day to be better than the last day. You are a human animal. Expect a certain number of challenging days – don’t let that disappoint you.

23. Don’t think about it; just run. Some things are worth analyzing on spreadsheets. Running barefoot should be about freedom; not analysis paralysis.

24. If you don’t feel like running today; do it anyway. Make it one of your shortest run days, but get out there.


25. Pizza, sex and barefoot running – even a bad one is still pretty good. ☺