Does Barefoot Running Hurt?

Does Barefoot Running Hurt?

Every time I mention that I am training myself to be a barefoot runner, people squinch up their face and say “doesn’t it hurt?” Funny that as an acupuncturist for now almost twenty five years, that exactly the same reaction I or a patient gets from saying you are having acupuncture therapy. I’ll give you the same answer, since in my opinion it actually applies. The experience comes with a variety of sensations and for me and many others it does not hurt. For both acupuncture and barefoot running there seems to be an equal fascination with something that people think could somehow be good for them, even though they don’t know exactly why, yet the idea of a small amount of sensations often keeps them from finding solutions for many of their colossal issues that cause tremendous pain and inconvenience.
I’ve always been an advocate for finding solutions. So it made sense to give it a try.

Even Barefoot, you must Walk before you can Run

Medical people make the worst patients. Let’s just get that out of the way. I was told to start out slow. Here’s the right way. Walk in the most beaten up pair of shoes you own, so that all the technology of shaping and molding your foot has long since been busted up. For me, this meant my three years ago running shoes, that went to walking shoes and finally the elephant burial ground for tennis shoes called my yard shoes. You know the pair of shoes you wear when you garden, play in the dirt, put fertilizer or lime on your yard. We all have a pair of these once glorious servants of our feet, now relegated to hanging out to dry on a nail in the garage, only to be called on for the most disgusting jobs around the yard. Yeah, those shoes. They must have cheered when I put them on and they realized we were going out for a walk that did not involve fertilizer.
The barefoot running experts tell you to walk and run in these old beat up shoes and then during the last five or ten minutes, take off your shoes. That’s right, just take them off! So I did. Right on the side of the road I pulled off my shoes, then without much fanfare, the socks came off. I started walking with a combined sense of both exhilaration and fear. Yes it was freeing, just like being a kid again, when we hardly wore shoes in the summer, but this time I had the adult’s mindset of “what about stones?”, “watch out for acorns this time of year” and of course “Oh my god, what if I step on a broken piece of glass!” Come on now, I bet you thought the same thing when you began to read this post.

To my surprise and relieve the sensation was wonderful. It probably looked like I was dancing or tip toeing along the side of the road, but for me I was taking steps onto a new path of freedom and health.

Next post will detail the sensations following the walk run and the key steps to take to remain safe. Happy tip toeing!

Today I Lost a Couple Toes

Tales of a Rookie Barefoot Runner

I was trying to put on my new Vibram Fivefingeres barefoot running footwear, when I kept loosing toes. It happened when trying them on in the store, so much so that I bought a pair with only having tried on one of the seemingly floppy glove-like slippers. But first, let’s go back to why I would even consider making such Cinderella moment.

Turns to Pursuit Punishment

Players of almost any high schools sport who are being punished for something, anything, are frequently asked to run as a form of punishment. Since my scholastic athletic career is dotted with many misunderstandings between myself and the coaching staff, I have put in my share of running around many fields. I actually enjoy running. I found it then and now a refreshing distraction and a wonderful way to have inspirational thoughts glide into my mind. I began to run in earnest and was able to letter early in high school. Running kept my endurance level in good enough shape to excel in both fencing and martial arts. Running has, quite by accident, become the backbone to my fitness and peace of mind.

Oops! The Trail Ends Here

It was one of the first gorgeous warmish and sunny days of the spring when I knew it was the perfect day for my first trail run of the season. I went to a local reservation where I know the terrain well from snowshoeing during the winter and in warmer conditions I enjoy mountain biking, walking or running the trails. Perfect! So I thought. In my excitement, I my first run was about 90 minutes of hill climbing, which was exhilarating and unfortunately exhausting.
When I finally limped back to my car I was experiencing significant pain in both feet. Had I gone too far? I know how to treat a variety of foot complaints with acupuncture, massage and herbal foot soaks. This pain was more significant than I had previously experienced, even when I added ice and Advil. I made an appointment with a Podiatrist that I had referred many patients to with great satisfaction. He diagnosed me with a trifecta of pain: Achilles tendonitis, heel bursitis and plantar fasciitis. Wow, a trio of tremendous pain that was keeping me from doing anything fun or athletic.

Time Heals All……well almost.

My staff and I did an admirable job with treating these ailments. It is, after all, one of our specialties. Acupuncture, massage, herbs, stretching and therapeutic icing stopped the pain….as long as I was a good boy. Never having been a good boy, it was challenging for me to avoid aggravating my foot pain. Symptoms kept returning and it seemed no matter what I did, it would end up causing more pain. I was disappointed and disillusioned with my limited choices of exercise. I began to gain weight and loose my patience with this ongoing pain. Almost three painful years passed until by chance I stumbled on a solution.

Fly Me to the Moon
Travelling to the west coast on a business trip, I rebelled against the workload weighing down my carry on, by buying a book at the airport entitled “Born to Run” subtitled A hidden tribe, superathletes and the greatest race the world has never seen, written by Christopher McDougall. The author’s story hit me close to home and I devoured the book as I learned about barefoot running, staying healthy and the conspiracy of shoe companies to control our feet. Is it at all possible that running barefoot or wearing just a thin soled covering could help my banged up feet stay fit and healthy? I was willing to experiment on myself to find out.
This is the first entry for this topic. Stay tuned for more of my saga, detailing the journey of an acupuncturist who is embracing a novel footwear craze to keep up his running without injuries. I’ll be adding my experiences, medical perspective and the training tips I learn along the way.

Dave Sollars