Barefoot in the Park...: Just an Irish Princess... - Couch to 5K

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Barefoot in the Park...

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate
25 Replies

Just an Irish Princess type snippet... :) As it is snowing here.. I am finding interesting things to do :)

A reply by,  Returning2Run  in another post, sparked my interest . She posted an really interesting reply about wearing sandals, but would love to run barefoot; I think that was correct... I need to check!

When I raced as a sprinter at school, I used to run barefoot...until I got a spike, ( and they were 'spikes' that long ago !)  through my foot from another over eager competitor. 

So... I found this...just interesting really, that's all.

barefootrunninguk.com/

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Oldfloss
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25 Replies
poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate

Do you fancy that Floss ?

I just cannot imagine what it would be like running through the streets in bare feet ! Arrgh !

I wonder if the tuition covers how to avoid dog sh*te ? :-)  I suppose there is a time and a place for it , just wouldn't be my cuppa tea somehow . Now if it was on a lovely sandy white beach that would make me change my opinion I think ! :-)

Whatever flops yer mop, we are all different :-) xxx

Eatcakeandrun profile image
Eatcakeandrun in reply to poppypug

I once tried running barefoot on just such a 'lovely sandy white beach' as you describe in Florida. I thought it would be so exotic - running barefoot next to the sea early one morning - but not so exotic when I got back and inspected my sore feet to discover that I had 2 blisters! I have never ever had a blister from running in shoes!

poppypug profile image
poppypugGraduate in reply to Eatcakeandrun

Oh no ! Yes Ive heard that is really very hard to run on sand apparently, its not as easy as what it looks .

Aw your poor feet :-( xxx

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to Eatcakeandrun

Ouch..not nice..at all.Sounds idyllic but clearly not..although on this snowy afternoon..the warmth sounds wonderful🙂

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to poppypug

Nope..not for me...I like you would be worried about what my feet were touching..😩 Beaches sound nice, but get hot...and,as Eatcakeandrun says..problems there..sand grains and ground shells .Ouch!

I loved having bare feet as a child and when I ran too,but the downside was, the soles of my feet,were like leather..not a look!

Madge50 profile image
Madge50Graduate

There is a man at our parkrun who runs barefoot, I don't know how he does it, it is gravelly, stony, then through the trees there are roots that stick up, branches, mud, puddles,  not to mention prickly bushes, thorns etc., mind you last week he was wearing trainers - first time I've seen him do that, may be he got some cuts, I cannot imagine him not getting some sort of damage.  There is also a man and his son that wear those string sandals, like flip flops but almost just a sole under the foot, part of the course was like a river the other week, I just cannot imagine in running motion putting your bare or unprotected foot down on terrain you can't see 😫

Not for me. The risk of damage and infection yuk!

Mx

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to Madge50

Nor me... ouch!

Returning2Run profile image
Returning2RunGraduate in reply to Madge50

Ah but you learn not to slap your feet down :-) 

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to Returning2Run

Right.... clever stuff :)

Madge50 profile image
Madge50Graduate in reply to Returning2Run

I've edited my post for you 😜

Mx

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to Madge50

Brill...

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate

Snowing?!! No! I ran in short sleeves and wore sunglasses today, then worked in the garden! This weather is nuts at the minute.

I've toyed with the idea of barefoot running and am going to have a chat with the podiatrist about it when I see him, but I think for me it's a no-no as I'm not sure I want to feel the ground in all its hazardous glory! As you have found out floss. Ouch!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to Irishprincess

No... it has been very odd here today.. we have just had another snow flurry and also hail! It has been so cold too! I am so envious. Spring keeps hiding!

Barefoot sounds lovely.. but for me, the reality would, as you say be unpleasant! :)

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate in reply to Oldfloss

The second I sent my reply I looked out the window and it was raining and then I realised it was hailstones! Haha! 

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to Irishprincess

Sorry.. I did not send them, honestly!

Returning2Run profile image
Returning2RunGraduate in reply to Irishprincess

My podiatrist put me in the most uncomfortable insoles and after nearly a year I was in more pain up my legs, hips and back than I was when I hobbled to them in the first place! So I started doing foot strengthening and keeping aware of my posture and over the last few months I've actually built up my feet so I don't need insoles anymore. Still have a long way to go but feel more like me again, as I'd always go in barefoot or sandals if I absolutely had to :-)

Irishprincess profile image
IrishprincessGraduate in reply to Returning2Run

That's interesting. I keep hearing different stories about insoles and I guess each person is different. I'll keep an open mind, but thanks for the reply.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to Returning2Run

So interesting...I have a lot of trouble with shoes generally...I poddle around either, shoeless at home.. or in some very comfy Mary Jane sandals!

Returning2Run profile image
Returning2RunGraduate

I feel famous being referenced to in post of yours, you're making me blush! :-) 

Yes I'd love to run barefoot, though like other have said, I wouldn't want to get glass or something in my feet, so sandals will do :-) and I don't barefoot run on the beach anymore after getting friction burns between my toes from the hot sand! 

Luckily I'm one of those people that doesn't feel the cold much (unless I'm ill or tired!) but haven't run in the winter in the sandals and I'm dreading it going badly and having to wear trainers. 

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to Returning2Run

:) You are famous.. I like the idea of barefoot for a lot of reasons..as it is,  I wear very light sandals.. I might have a go at running in them..but the snow will have to stop first! :)

LisaRose74 profile image
LisaRose74

Ouch, running barefoot.  I cannot imagine it, running without the protection of my nicely cushioned foot buddies.  And snow??  Well Prince did once sing Sometimes it Snows in April - I guess he was right

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

No... I would want to find a huge grassy field, flat, doggy-free, prickly plant free, and snow free.

Unlikely :)

goonkeepgoing profile image
goonkeepgoingGraduate

My 9 year old son recently ran a local fun run - y'know, hay bales, streams, mud etc He normally comes about 10th in these things but this time he came 2nd. We have no idea why he did so well as it was all the usual runners but the one thing we did notice - his shoe came off in the mud about 400 metres in and he didn't stop but carried on and ran nearly another 1k to the end without pausing. Is he a natural barefoot runner? :)

The most surprising thing - when we got him in the car I asked him to take his sock off so I could check his foot over and he asked me why. When I queried whether or not it hurt he looked at me like I was bonkers. He was absolutely fine and said it felt no different!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to goonkeepgoing

Such a lovely post...:) You just have to love those little' uns.. We worry so much about them and they do, look,  as you say, at us like we are loopy!

Just thinking about when I taught.. all the children's inside gym lessons were done barefoot...not now... health and safety?

Maybe he is going to be the next version (male) of Zola Budd ! :)

Tell him I think he is a star! Wow !

goonkeepgoing profile image
goonkeepgoingGraduate in reply to Oldfloss

Thank you.  He actually won a little trophy so he's very chuffed.

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