My first "barefoot" injury.

Well, it happened.  I came down with an injury.  Nothing too severe, I hope as I have already registered for the Brookings Marathon this coming May.

I started the barefoot running strategy back around the start of December.  I started slowly... a half mile once a week, then a mile, then gradually upping my mileage.  I don't think I've run more than four miles in a "barefoot style".  Which means wearing my Altra Instincts as I run.  I'm pretty sure that I did a nice job of slowly breaking into them.  I hadn't worn them too much, never two days in a row, and never more than four miles.

The one thing I can think may have affected my training, is that I bought of pair of Stem Footwear shoes to wear for everyday use.  My thinking was, "what a great way to prepare" my feet for the rigors of barefoot running, than to wear shoes made with this philosophy in my day to day life.

I think, however this ended up "overdoing it".  I wore them pretty much every day, in all circumstances, teaching PE, going to church, you name it... I was wearing my Stems.

Started to feel some pain on the tops of my feet a few weeks ago, nothing major, but I noticed it.  As time progressed it really started to hurt and was very noticeable.  So I googled it, and found this article online at go barefooting.

Very informative, and sounds exactly like what has happened to me.

Barefoot runners beware: if you are feeling pain on top of your feet it may be tendonitis.  Rest, Ice, Anti-inflammatories, and stretching your calves are the methods used to cure this problem.

So, I'm going cold turkey on the Stems for awhile, at least until the pain subsides.  Just one day in "regular" shoes, and the pain alleviated a little.  Going to take a week or so off of running, at least no running until I'm pain free, and then only regular style...Then I will start over, slowly with the Altras, and when I move back to wearing the Stems, it will be intermittently, on days when I don't run barefoot.

Back to bare(footing)

Took a week or so off, not by choice, but life got in the way.

The last few times I'd ran before my break... I went a one mile in the Altra Instincts and then ran the rest of the way in my regular shoes.

So yesterday, I took advantage of the nice weather outside and took the Altras for the first run outside.  Went 2.5 miles and it went pretty good.  Calves got a bit tired, and ran a bit of the way with more of a heel strike, but it didn't bother me too much.

Today, repeat performance.. but ran it indoors on the treadmill.  2.5 miles

Calves tightened up about 2 miles in... nothing terrible.

Feeling pretty good afterwards, I am supposed to run six miles tomorrow, it will be in my "traditional" running shoes, though.  And it will also depend on how I am feeling in the legs.  If I feel ok, I'll go the full distance, otherwise I may cut back a bit.

Altras Day 2

Took the Altras out for another "spin" last night.

Did a 3 mile treadmill run, and did the first half mile wearing the Altras, and running barefoot style.

Definitely noticed a bit of soreness in my calves toward the end of the half mile, and after my run as well.  This is to be expected running two days in a row.

This morning... woke up with no pain, or stiffness in my calves... so I'll be going for a 3rd straight day today... short, 2 mile run with the first half mile barefoot style.

Hopefully I'll continue to improve.

The Altras have arrived.

My Altra Instincts arrived yesterday, and I took them out for a short spin on the treadmill.


Just did two miles, and did a half mile in the Altras.


Feel much better today, than I did after my previous run. 


Going to take them out again tonight for a 3 mile run, again only a half mile in the Altra's.


We'll keep updating the progress of barefootin here.

My aching calves.

Started my winter running schedule yesterday.


Wanted to embrace the "barefoot" style, so I ran in my racing flats, on the treadmill.


The plan was to run a  mile (or so) using a forefoot/mid foot strike, and then switch to normal running for the rest of my 3 mile run.


As I ran, I kept trying to think of myself basically running barefoot... on the beach.  That was my mindset... barefoot on the beach.  It was working well.  I was light on my feet, and running with a forefoot strike.


Well, I went a mile and felt really good, so i kept going.


After about a mile and a half, I could feel my calves were getting tired, so I thought to myself, "Self, you can run normally now."  But I couldn't do it.  I mean, I really had to concentrate to run with my normal foot strike... maybe it was the racing flats, maybe it was the treadmill, but I really think it was just because I was running without stopping, and I couldn't change my stride while I was running.... so I kept "bare footing" it.


After about two miles, my calves were really sore, and I was finally able to force myself into a more traditional foot strike, and finished the 3 mile run.


Within 20 minutes of finishing my calves were upset with me.  And they stayed pretty stiff all night.


Woke up this morning with extreme pain in my calves.  Had Mrs. Coach massage them for me this morning and put some icy hot on this afternoon.  


This is just a simple case of too much, too soon.  What I need to do, is to do like I did last spring on the treadmill and run actually in socks for a 1/2 mile or so for each run, and then put on shoes (and go outside, depending on the weather) for the rest of my run.


Still planning on running tomorrow morning, but I'm willing to cancel that too... I'm not going to injure myself immediately because I was an idiot on the first run.