Gratitude.

[otterboy]

I fail to comment here BUT ! I am truly grateful for the wisdom and good intentions posted by so many of you fellow trotters/runners. I continue my personal journey trotting the great out of doors usually barefoot which helps my arthritic old bones lol. C25k got me started and Bridge to 10k gets me stronger as a trotter. Just a simple thank you and forgive my lack of contributing. Namaste Namaska.

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

Wow, you're brave running barefoot in October but I'm very glad it's going well 😁Maybe nowster and you can swap notes - he runs barefoot too sometimes.

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10]

🥰

[nowster Graduate10]

I find the problem with barefoot running in Britain is not the hardness of the surfaces, but the textures.

Rolled tarmac: lovely.

Concrete paving flags: lovely.

Trimmed grass: heaven. (eg. Coldham's Corner parkrun in Cambridge)

Dressed stone: beautiful.

High friction stippled paving: horrible.

Sparse gravel chippings: horrible.

I don't go out with naked feet nearly as often as I'd like. I prefer dry days because the wet softens the soles of the feet a bit. That said, I did once go out and do a 2km barefoot run with snow on the ground. I had numb toes at the end of it.

But normally I'm in Vibram FiveFingers when running.

[otterboy Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Thanks for your great reply nowster. I hear you 😀 im in month 9 of barefoot only running. It's forced me to run more kindly for my abused feet. I'm actually waiting as we speak for a pair of "running sandals" to be delivered. I agree with your sentiments about some of our favourite surfaces. The Winstone road surfaces eat me alive around here. Yes wet running soon skins some of our hard earned callouses. I'm lucky here in this part of lincolnshire to have many grass and mud banktop and sea defence tracks. Nothing wrong with running shoes it's my problem with them that makes me run awkwardly. Good luck with your running my good soul. Namaste

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to otterboy]

Which brand are they? I have some Xero huaraches and some Vivobarefoot sandals. The former are a bit too flappy and the latter rub between my toes.

I find it difficult nowadays to wear more conventional shoes: the confinement of the toes, the stack height and most of all the raised heel.

It's curious to see what sort of shoes Roger Bannister did his four minute mile in. They'd be considered barefoot moccasins nowadays!

[otterboy Graduate10]

Hi nowster. Roger Bannister, what a hero. Those shoes are certainly a clue as to what can be done with so much less. Conventional shoes suddenly don't appeal anymore. As you indicate so restricting " foot coffins" lol. I have received a pair of Xero sandals and my last two runs have proved most comfortable. Having run barefoot this last 7 plus months, wearing these sandals is like funning in comfy slippers. Onwards and upwards my friend Namaska

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to otterboy]

I also have a pair of Xero sandals (strap over forefoot, rather than between toes) but seem to have mislaid one of the pair.

[otterboy Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Trying to load a pic

A photograph from my strava page

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to otterboy]

Have some kudos. 😉

[otterboy Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Thanks nowster. All the best 👍 keep strong and injury free. Namaska