Running Wisdom... by Barefoot Ken Bob

Yeah - "Barefoot Ken Bob" really is the name he goes by (at least on his website (http://runningbarefoot.org) I was reading through the site tonight while waiting for my calves to stop complaining about yesterday's first "barefoot-ish" run home, and came across this gem:

Learning to run with shoes on, is like learning a spoken language with ear plugs. You just can’t hear the way the words sound. And with shoes, you just can’t feel your feet touching the ground. And, as far as potential damage to our bodies, that is where the important part of running takes place!

...It is possible to learn to run correctly, while wearing shoes. It is also possible to learn to speak and understand speech while deaf. My wife, is deaf, and she learned to speak. But it is a time-consuming and frustrating chore which requires an almost full-time commitment, as well as having someone else observing, and providing constant feedback, to let us know if we are doing something correctly or incorrectly.

My bias, is of course, to start barefoot. Our feet, after all, are our best coaches. They will remind us immediately, and persistently, when we are running badly. And, when we are running well, our feet will enjoy the run, as much as the rest of our body, especially, if our feet are not being imprisoned inside shoes!

His article on "How to Run Barefoot" is a great primer on why barefoot (or "barefoot-ish") running makes sense biomechanically, and on how to get started. This is a guy who's run more than 70 marathons barefoot, so you get the idea that he kinda knows what he's talking about. If you're interested in making the move away from your running shoes, it's well worth the read!

The moment of truth

As the snow and ice has been melting away in Prague this last week, I've been taking my Vibram KSO's out into the cobblestoned streets of Prague. I'm not sure what's been more fun - feeling the cobblestones, patches of ice and gravel under my feet, or watching the double-takes from unsuspecting tourists who happen to glance down at my feet as they wander the streets of Prague. They're really not sure what to make of my new "funny shoes."

Up until today though, I'd taken it pretty easy. But today was it - the moment of truth. As the sun shone bright and temps crept up towards the 50's today, I really had no excuse anymore. No excuse, that is, not to resume my regular commute-run back home.

At just under four miles, it's not a long run. It more than makes up for that in variety though - over 450 feet of elevation gain, cobblestoned streets, stairs, asphalt, sidewalk and even a brief trail run. And the killer bit? The last 3/4 mile uphill. It's a run I do 3-4 times a week when the streets aren't icy... but this time, I'd be doing it "barefoot-ish" for the first time - in my new 10-toed "shoes."

How'd it go? It certainly makes for a much more tactile experience. You actually feel the curve of each cobblestone. You know exactly where the gravel left over from the last couple months of snow and ice has been swept to. Oh yeah, and the white stuff that's still left on the ground? Yeah, it is cold when it gets between the toes!

I didn't set any records today, but I definitely felt stronger on the hills. No new blisters to complain about... and no heel pain. My calves are still killing me after these runs though - even though I'm now about one month in to my barefoot-ish running style. Though my feet and toes report no new blisters despite this week's 12 miles or so, I guess the muscles still aren't quite used to the new regime!

My new running shoes have ten toes

No - I don't mean I put my ten toes into them. The shoes themselves have toes. Check 'em out!

I got these in the mail last night... and my daughter promptly grabbed them and went stomping around the house like a wacky miniature Bigfoot.

Bare feet. Snowy cobblestones. They just don't go well together. I think my new Vibram FiveFingers KSO's may well bridge the gap. Think of them as "gloves for your feet." A thin, tough layer of rubber on the bottom, "caps" to protect the toesies from the sharp edges of cobblestones and other debris and a strap to keep them on. Cool!

So cool, in fact that Wired Magazine (the online magazine for geeks) reviewed the Vibram FiveFingers, calling them "the geekiest shoes in the entire universe." Take a look:

We got another inch of snow last night here in Prague (on top of month-old ice), so I took the FiveFingers for a test run on the treadmill today. Two miles... no blisters. I like this!

In the past couple weeks, I've been working on two things. First - I'm adjusting my running style away from a typical shod "heel strike" to a "barefoot-like" forefoot/midfoot strike. Second, I'm working on exercises to strengthen my calves and ankles (here's a great set of exercises to try). I have to admit - the sight of a an odd-looking American doing ankle-raises on the tram does actually attract more than a couple curious stares. But things are getting better - I've been ratcheting up the "barefoot-like" miles, and my calves, though still sore, don't feel like they've been hit by a baseball any more. Progress!

Now if only this snow & ice would melt off a bit so I can take my toes on the road again!