The combination of more work and more snow on Prague's streets really isn't helping the barefoot experiment much. The last couple miles of my normal commute route is on a narrow road winding through the forest. It doesn't have more than a foot or so of running space on a good day. With this winter's snow and ice, I'd really have to play in the traffic to get home. My wife doesn't like it when I do that - especially in the dark.
I have been reading up the last couple evenings though, and there's some good info out there on barefoot (or near-barefoot running). I came across an article on wired.com today (I know, I know, not your typical source of running information) that had some great tips on starting out.
- Start slow, with quarter-mile runs at most, and build up very gradually.
- Listen to your feet. Don’t try to run with the same gait you use in shoes — shorten your steps and land on the forward part of your foot.
- Keep your head up and your body vertical. Your feet should be hitting the ground almost directly underneath you, not in front of you.
- Ankle and calf strength is key to avoiding injury, so consider this four-week barefoot strengthening program before you start.
- Keep barefoot running to no more than 10 percent of your weekly regimen, especially at first.
- If you’re running completely barefoot, run on a mix of soft and hard surfaces to give your feet time to toughen up
Sounds like a plan. My calves need strengthening. My toes need toughening. I'm off to do some calf raises.
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