Top 10 Things I Hate to Encounter on a Run

Staredog lacks any sense of social propriety. Return my greeting, ya filthy animal!

 Every runner has items that totally burn their buscuits. Here are a handful of mine:


10. Rain. Wet runs suck unless it's a light Summer drizzle that hangs around just long enough to cool you and the ground off. Love that stuff.

9. People who try to carry on a conversation with you despite the fact that you obviously have headphones in. I am a very friendly, gregarious person, and I would be more than happy to talk to anybody and everybody, but if my headphones are in I simply cannot hear you... at least not very well.

8. Starers. That is, people who stare and don't so much as return your hello. Which leads me to...

7. Shirtless guys who should not be shirtless.

Darn you, Greg Plitt. Darn you to Heck.

6. Shirtless guys who make me feel bad for going shirtless. >

5. High winds. Feels like you're swimming against the current when it's gusty. This can be especially unpleasant when the temp gets below 50. Cold + wind = exhausting and uncomfortable.

4. Self-important runners or walkers who are so absorbed in their next step that they can't possibly acknowledge you on the road. Perhaps my shoelessness freaks them out? This happens far less to me on the trail (whilst wearing shoes, of course) so maybe that's it.

For illustrative effect. This is not my neighborhood, but about
1/10 of our neighbors park like this. Very inconsiderate.

3. People parking where they block the sidewalk. You have room in your driveway and/or garage for your Dodge Ram Heavy-Horn Maximus Diesel Dually NASCAR Edition with the special pontoon boat towing package to fit without obstructing my run. The sidewalk is public property, and I have to walk or run into the street to avoid colliding with your monstrous ball hitch.

2. Gravel or other construction debris that should have been cleaned up by the road crew who dumped it. You mess it up; you clean it up. Didn't your mother teach you anything?


And the #1 most aggravating thing that I encounter on a run.....

1. Unleashed dogs. Why?!?! Your dog, if he or she is in fact canine, has an instinct to chase after anything that appears to be running from him or her. I am that "anything," and I really don't appreciate your Pommeranian nipping at my heels when I'm out for a relaxing afternoon jaunt. Moreso if said Pomeranian is a large breed. Quadruply so if he or she is a Pit Bull. Use some doggone sense, People!

So what are your running route pet peeves? Post up in the comments below.

Sidelined!

Okay, so I just realized that it has been two months since my last post. That's unacceptable, but there is a reason. I'll explain. Warning, it's depressing, (at least to me), but maybe some of you can sympathize.

My last post explained how I was jumping into a marathon totally unprepared because I was getting free entry and I'm a cheapskate that cannot pass up a deal like that. Well, the race entry fell through, so my weekend running partner, Richard, and I ran over 20 miles that Saturday to commemorate the race. I had been battling some intermittent illiotibial band issues for a couple months at this point due to increasingly long weekend runs, but the issues seemed to come and go without much of a clear pattern. I ran about seven of those 20 miles on that Saturday morning barefoot and felt pretty good at the end despite being completely spent - the kind of tired you feel when you know you are getting good training. It might be important to not that this was the longest distance I had ever run... by far! Prior to this run, I had never gone more than 14 miles in training.

For those that don't know what the heck I'm talking about, this is a sinewy, muscly diagram. (medicinenet.com)

As the next week progressed, I just focused on resting and letting my body heal. On my next run, I could tell all was not well. I got a nasty tightness in one hip/upper-outside thigh, then the other in the same place starting around mile two that didn't go away. I stopped and stretched at a few points which helped a bit but didn't resolve it. After our run, I was concerned even though my legs felt alright. I enjoyed the rest of my Saturday on the couch until I tried to get up. Yeouch! The outside of my thighs and knees were wound tighter than a snare drum and hurt like the dickens! I knew immediately what it was due to my previous ITB bouts, but this was altogether different. The severity was several times that of previous attacks, and I have been basically forced to shut it down since then.

In the weeks following, I have tried to run distances up to five miles. Each one has been shorter than the last, and each one has been interrupted and/or followed by a bout out ITB flare up. I have essentially no choice but to completely stop running for the foreseeable future, and I will work toward rehab, healing and strengthening in the interim. Right now, I plan to spend a lot of time on my bicycle, do lots of squats and lunges, and utilize the heck out of my foam roller.

This photo depicts a very unrealistic foam rolling exercise. Why is it unrealistic, you ask?  Because the lady  is smiling. This hurts like hell!!!!

Just a little bit nuts...

Have you ever wanted to do something really badly, but when the opportunity arises you are totally and completely unprepared to do it?

I had this happen recently, and this is your preview for what could turn out to be a huge mistake, a glorious adventure, or some combination of both. I received an offer last weekend from a friend to run Nashville's Country Music Marathon next weekend. I said, "Heck, yeah!" However, I am grossly underprepared for such an undertaking. No matter; I'm totally doing it.

And I'm totally stealing Homer's look. Headbands + wristbands + singlet + legendary beer belly =  legit marathoner!

"Why?" you say? Well, first of all, I have been wanting to run a marathon for quite a while now, but they are so doggone expensive that it's just not feasible on my shoestring budget (lol, pun intended). I just couldn't pass up an opportunity to run a big-budget marathon (part of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series) for absolutely nothing.

Secondly, this is not the first race I have entered with little targeted training. I ran a local half marathon a couple years ago grossly underprepared (never running longer than six miles prior to the actual race), and I finished in under two hours. I was very pleased with the results of that race, all things considered. By the way, that race entry was free, too. I ran in place of a friend whose nagging back injury prevented him from going on race day. In short, being a slacker who hates paying for stuff has worked out beautifully for me so far. I have every reason to believe that the CMM will be a fantastic experience. If it isn't or I have to DNF, well shoot, who cares! It's free! No harm done.

I mean, what's the worst that could happen? Am I right?

Lastly, I think that many a layperson takes training for and competing in many sporting events they have to pay to enter just a tad too seriously. (Case in point: pretty much any triathlete most of us have ever met!) A marathon is a significant undertaking and shouldn't be taken lightly; however, people should not confuse themselves with Paula Radcliffe or Geoffrey Mutai either (If you do not follow the marathon scene, they're elite women's and men's marathoners, respectively). Basically, if you are reading this blog entry, you are likely a layperson much like me who will never win much of anything while running. You run because you enjoy it and like to challenge yourself. Races are great fun if you have the right attitude, and most runners are in more danger of taking things too seriously than they are being too laid back. Don't confuse me with those people who just goof off and enter races with no ambition to finish, but you won't see me elbowing old women out of the way on the sprint for the finish, either.

Not quite this seriously....

...and nowhere near this silly. /lolJapanese

So maybe I'm in a perfect place to run a marathon for the enjoyment of the experience, and maybe I'm woefully delusional about my lack of preparation. Plus I have just a dash "I don't really care," thrown in there for good measure. And because I am sure some are curious, I will be running at least part of this marathon barefoot. My goal is completing the half bare before throwing on my Altra Adams (love!) to finish it out. I believe that this marathon - my first - will be a race to remember. I am excited, confident, and fully prepared to enjoy myself.

....and maybe just a little bit nuts.

The Best Barefoot/Minimalist Bloggers on the Web

Here it is: your one-stop barefoot running web log resource! The following are only individual, non-corporate, self-published blogs...which only adds to their awesomeness in my opinion. These are a sampling of my favorite barefoot/minimalist bloggers for you to sift through and find the best answers to all your burning questions about going unshod, injury prevention and treatment, footwear selection, whether or not to shave various colonies of body hair (straight to Robillard for that one).... it's a veritable cornucopia of running wisdom.

#4 - Running and Rambling

This would be the part where Donald stops running for a sec. Presumably for a little "rambling."

This blog is run by Donald... that's it. Just "Donald." I have no idea why he chooses not to list his last name, but whatever. It's an awesome blog that gets a crapton of traffic, so he's definitely doing it right, surname or not. Daniel is actually a physical therapist based on the west coast that regularly runs some of the most amazing and beautiful trails in the world and then puts pics on the web to make us all jealous... er, "share the wonder" with us. Check it out if you like: (a) pictures of scenic beauty, (b) in-depth gear reviews of all kinds, particularly kit specific to hiking and ultra-distance running, (c) hiking and running trails, trails, and more trails

See what I mean? Breathtaking!

#3 - Runblogger
Runblogger is a bit of a departure from the other blogs mentioned here because the author, Pete Larson, actually possesses what are known as "credentials." Pete is a professor of anatomy and exercise physiology in New Hampshire, so his opinion is definitely an informed one. His blog is probably the most popular running-related blog on the interwebs (almost 6 million pageviews!), and that is for good reason. Go there, and get smarter.

This is Pete. lol

This is Pete in action.

Check it out if you like: (a) lots of shoe reviews in many varieties (primarily minimalist and lightweight trainers), (b) keeping your finger on the pulse of the running world through interesting market research, (c) running-related science and data about stuff like impact forces, stride length, and foot turnover... with videos! (d) the idea of running injury free but are not yet ready or able to go full-on barefoot.

#2 - Maple Grove Barefoot Guy

"Mah ni...nja." :)

I immediately felt a kinship with the mysterious man known as The Maple Grove Barefoot Guy the first time I met him on the internet (Wow, that sounds nerdy!). He was making smart-elek quips about barefoot running on the Runner's World Barefoot Running sub-forum. I immediately said to myself: "I can learn from this man." He has since been instrumental in helping me develop my blog from a philosophical and practical standpoint. Christian is a legal professional from Minnesota who has been a bit of a fitness nut all his life, but barefoot running is his go-to obsession these days.

There goes my self-admittedly lanky, unshod brother!

MGBG, as we often refer to him, gives clinics and lessons on a freelance basis, and rumor has it that he only takes payment in stout beer and chia seeds. I encourage everyone in the Maple Grove area desirous of a bit of form coaching to test this theory, but don't tell him until the end of the lesson. Tell him his protoge' said that he would appreciate it! Go check out MGBG's blog if you like: (a) great cross-training resources with a minimalist/barefoot bent, (b) minimal shoe reviews, (c) entertaining, humorous, and (sometimes) controversial commentary on all things running-and-fitness-related.

#1 - Barefoot Running University
Jason Robillard, along with his faithful, adventure-loving wife and kiddos, have built quite a brand out of their exploits and web presence. I actually go to meet Jason and Shelley in Nashville at the Merrell Naked Foot 5k back in October, but I wish I would have gotten a chance to spend more time with them hanging out and picking their brain. It's always strange meeting someone in person for the first time after you have only known them from the internet. You get to a point where anything you say winds up sounding either kinda socially inept or uncomfortably stalker-ish: "Hey Jason, 'member that time when you posted on Facebook about....(whatever funny story)... and I replied...(a quip that wasn't nearly as clever as I thought it was)... and then you lol'd?""Yes, Chad. I do."

"That was pretty cool..........."

Jason is probably the best resource on the internet for information about barefoot running for a few reasons. #1 - He wrote the book on the subject. Literally!

Told ya!

Okay, despite its title, it's not the only, nor even the first, book ever written on barefoot running. It is, however, a well-written and uber-practical guide to running unshod. Jason has spent a lot of time thinking about and researching his craft, and it shows. #2 - He's accessible. This is one of the many reasons I love the internet: people that want to be available to interact with others have infinite avenues to do so. Jason is the kind of guy who lives life to its fullest and loves to share the wisdom he stumbles upon with others. The world needs more people like him. Check out BRU if you like (a) great reviews on all the newest minimalist shoes and hydration gear, (b) very engaging musings on all things fitness-related, (c) practical guidance on how to run naturally on all surfaces, shod or otherwise. If you only stop one place, BRU should be it.

My hope with this blog is to one day be in the same league as these individuals who have carved out their own little niche of the internet and staked their claim for the "less-on-your-foot-is more" crowd.

The four best things I did to improve my running

Since starting to run fairly regularly to prepare for Army Basic Training back in 2000, I have learned a whole lot about running and myself: what motivates and depresses my running desire, how to enjoy running, what my limits are... the list goes on and on. I could probably fill a few books with revelations that were earth-moving to me - revelations that had to be gained through personal experience. I do not by any means claim to have become an expert; on the contrary, I have just hit the tip of the ice berg, but I have learned a whole lot and come a long, long way.

Here are a few things I discovered that changed my whole outlook on running (or fitness in general) that hopefully will give you something to chew on.

1) I took my shoes off.
Feeling your exposed foot land on the ground surface provides a vast amount of sensory information to your brain that just isn't achievable shod. The experience is quite visceral and freeing, so much so that I found it addictive. Since my first barefoot run, my mileage, speed, and overall fitness have come a long way. I am a better athlete in every way today than I was at any point previously in my life, and I have my bare feet to thank for that.

The recent emergence of minimalist shoes onto center-stage in fitness circles has raised questions about the benefits of bare feet. "Can't I get the same benefits from shoes that don't impede my form?" Well, yes, you can run efficiently much more easily in minimal footwear than in traditional trainers. However, you really cannot truly "feel" how your foot lands on the ground until to take away all barriers between your skin and the running surface. I discover slight form flaws even today when I run barefoot: I'm scrubbing my foot (rotating it on the surface), I'm heel striking ever so slightly, I'm pushing off, etc. I would never realize these mistakes if I were wearing shoes of any kind. Even socks-only would not provide sufficient feedback to tell me when I'm torquing my foot just before lifting it.

2) I started paying attention to my cadence.
The word "cadence" has many negative associations in my mind. Most importantly, I learned to run incorrectly to the sound of a drill sergeant's cadence - clop, clopping down the road in formation during Basic Training runs. That's not the kind of cadence I'm referring to here. The number of times your feet touch the ground per minute (cadence) has a tremendous impact on everything your body does during a run. My plodding footstrikes prior to "waking up" fell in the 120-140 ffpm (footfalls per minute) range. That's painfully slow, by the way, and did prove to be painful period. I was over striding and slamming down on my heels when running. According to numerous natural running purveyors, 180 ffpm is at or near ideal for the majority of runners - an obviously significant increase from my clop-clopping 140 ffpm. This is not an easy change. I'm not saying it hurt; quite the contrary. But you are retraining your body how to land when running which means lots of muscle conditioning to develop muscle memory. It will not be "natural" your first time... or your fifth... or probably your twentieth. You will constantly slip back into a slower cadence when your muscles get slightly fatigued or when your mind wanders. Just know that it takes time to fix form. If you have not tried speeding up your footfalls and think it is no big deal, go outside and give it a shot. Then come back and comment below... about how I'm right. Upping cadence forces you to shorten your stride and land under your center of gravity, which in turn reduces impact forces and, as many runners have found, reduces likelihood of injury. It's totally worth doing this whether or not you intend to try barefoot running, too. Quick tip: download some songs that are 180 bpm or find a metronome for your Ipod.

3) I read everything I could get my hands on.
I stumbled upon the whole barefoot running thing after I started researching ways to run that would not exacerbate my back pain. I am certain I would have given up on running altogether if I had not incidentally stumbled upon Ken Bob Saxton's website one afternoon. One thing about me: I'm a bit of a sponge. My family has always said that I get on a topic that interests me and proceed to absorb any and all information about it that I can get my hands or eyes on. Websites, short non-fiction books, and magazines are like fountains knowledge that I tend to suck dry with a quickness. (Sidenote: if you are anything like me, stay away from Cracked.com because you will spend endless hours trying to reach the bottom of the vastness of awesome that is their many thousands of thoroughly entertaining, information-rich articles.) A good place to start would be Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. I think every runner needs to read this book. It is paradigm altering if a bit overrated in barefoot circles (i.e. basically worshipped, lol).

The RunnersWorld Forums and the Barefoot Running Society Forums have been the most consistent source of solid feedback and minimalist shoe news. The great thing about a web forum is, of course, that everything you are reading is from another layperson (at least most of the time; very few pro runners posting on the barefoot forums. lol) who is taking their time to give you tips and hints. It kinda gives you a warm, fuzzy sense of belonging. /lame:)

4) I got some decent running gear.
*Sigh* Materialism. I know, I know: "What a corporate sellout." But before you judge, let me just say that "decent" running gear does not mean "expensive" or even "brand-name." It just so happens that many of my favorite running shirts (base layers) are Target-bought C9 brand. I do have some brand-name gear that I paid super-sale prices for (1/2 price or lower), and I carefully researched my needs before taking the plunge. So far, I can definitively say that I have had the best experience with the Brooks brand by far! They really seem to care about making gear that does what runners want it to do. Their Infinity shorts (I got my Infinity IIs on sale) are absolutely awesome and a personal favorite of my barefoot bro, Jason Robillard, author of The Barefoot Running Book. What's funny about this topic is that so many people are brand-loyal about their running shoes and would never hear of purchasing a generic knock off, but they scoff at the idea of branded clothing, hydration gear, etc. Hypocrisy, lol.

The other true benefit of getting decent gear besides the obvious functional gains is that you want to go try it out! Getting new shorts or calf sleeves or watch or water bottle can be a major motivation to enthusiastically hit the road or trail. When I find myself in some running doldrums, I try to think of what small, inexpensive item I could add to my running arsenal that would bump my enjoyment level up a notch. Now, I have not always been correct. In fact, I run with less gear today than I did a year ago, but I still get motivated to put whatever doodad I've acquired through its paces.

And that's it. Happy running.... and reading.... and buying!

2012 Running Resolutions... and other stuff.

Resolution #1 comes from the counsel of my wife. She says that I spend too much time on single blog posts which are admittedly super long rather often. Instead, I will try to post more often and be more concise. How often does "more often" equate to? Well, I'm not going to nail it down to anything more measurable that an average of once/week. That's at least 50 blog posts in this year: pretty significant.

Resolution #2 comes in the wake of finishing the Runners World Run Streak from Thanksgiving to New Years day. Confession: I did miss a day - the day before New Years Eve - for reasons unknown, but I technically completed the streak because I started a few days early. At least that's what I'm telling myself (Ran 37 days in a row. That definitely counts, dangit!). I learned a whole lot about myself and the discipline required to run every day no matter what. I will blog about that challenge in an upcoming post (See? Already more concise!). In any case, instead of running daily, I will committ to doing something physical each and every one of the next 364 days - either running, bicycling, or weight training. I would love to add some functional muscle to my lanky frame, so hopefully that can happen through this commitment. In addition, thing like rain or other unfortunate weather circumstances out of our control cannot not derail this resolution.

Resolution #3 is a biggie. I'm going to run over 1000 miles in 2012 with at least half of those being barefoot. That averages out to just under 20 total miles per week! I was at or near that average during the run streak, but the rest of the year... not so much. My total mileage for 2011 was 532. Weaksauce! The principle behind doubling my yearly mileage will be preparation for races. Which races, you ask? When, you ask? Well, I want to be prepared to run any race that strikes my fancy at any time during the year and be semi-adequately prepared for it. That is quite a tall order, but I think averaging over 20 miles/week will get me pretty darn close to adequate preparation to respectably finish anything up to a marathon. We'll see, I guess.

Resolution #4 has spiritual and social implications. I want to run with people more often. Sebastian, my boxer/lab mix is a more-than-willing jogging companion any day of the week, any time of day or night, but he's not the best conversation partner. I want to use running as an avenue to grow in relationships with friends. Running with a very experienced pal the past couple days (Richard, a physical therapist friend/brother in Christ) has really hammered home the benefits of this. I had an absolute blast picking Rich's brain and exchanging thoughts on minimalism/barefootedness, family, faith, and just about everything in between.

To recap my running-related resolutions:
#1 - Post on here at least once each week.
#2 - Run or cross-train every day.
#3 - Run 1000 miles this year.
#4 - Run with other people.

So, what are your resolutions? Post 'em in the comments below.

Merrell Naked Foot 5k Nashville Race Report

My running partner, Sebastian the Boxador, after a brief warm up jaunt back to the vehicle to deposit swag. Check out that tongue!

What a beautiful day for a run! Cliff's Notes: Had a great deal of fun, PR'd (22:08), and got to hang out and chat with Shelly and Jason Robillard. Awesome morning! I will let the pics and captions tell the rest. Pictures are more interesting than my ramblings any day of the week.

Milling about pre-race. Lots of family types on the course. Several military guys from C-ville (they stick out like a sore thumb). Really laid back, friendly folks.

Aw, the "wares" tent. Got a close look at a few upcoming models that spark my interest. Stay tuned for a preview.

What have we here! (Back row - two pairs on the right: gray/orange, and blue/gray = Road Gloves!)

Several minimalists in the crowd. I love how Vibram has really decided to go low-key with their latest designs. /sarcasm

There are the barefoot Yoda and Yodette at the pre-race briefing. Actually, Jason is more like a Qui-Gon Jin... or maybe Obi Wan due to several factors, particularly youth. Not sure what that makes Shelly. Ken Bob is definitely Yoda being the eldest and wisest of the barefoot advocates. Excuse me while I adjust the tape on my glasses. ...laugh *snort* laugh...

Quite a few first-time barefooters in the crowd, which was rad. Also, Sebastian was one of about 1/2 dozen doggahs that ran the course.

Anxious to get this party started. This guy lives for cool weather runs!

And we're off! Dude in yellow had awesome form.

The trail was about 1/2 asphalt paths, 1/2 grass and dirt. Only one gravel patch at a crossing. Very smooth, very fast course.

Purty.

Through the grass and freshly fallen leaves.

Flags mark the way to the finish. The Parthenon on the horizon make you feel like an OG Greek Marathoner.

Closer.

Closer still.

And we're done!

Rest time! I think his tongue grew significantly in the last 22:08.

This band was rad. They're called....erm, I can't remember. It was something like "Studio 10" or other. They were fantastic, though, and represented a progressive Nashville flavor.

Chillin' after cool-down.

A barefoot clinic with Jason.

"Qui-Gon" at work. Learned an awesome new drill from him for use with my middle school running club.

I ran around to snap some pics before participating in the dill.

The master at work.

Jason and I love us some Brooks Infinity racing split shorts. Seriously, try them and you will never go back to "basketball shorts" ever, ever again.

I learned a few things today. 1) I kind of already knew this, but I can absolutely fly on grass barefoot. As soon as I got back on pavement my pace slowed considerably. 2) Running with a rambunctious dog and an SLR camera in hand is incredibly challenging (but worth it for my blog). 3) People love dogs at races. 4) Jason and Shelly rock! I hope I get a chance to hang out with them again soon. Next priority: finding a justification to travel to Minnesota to hang out with my fellow lanky internet barefoot blogger, Christian - AKA the Maple Grove Barefoot Guy.

Up Next: Merrel Barefoot Road Glove - First Look!

Coming Attractions

Before I get started: Yes, I am painfully aware that Photobucket has made me look like a fool. All my crapped out pics will be fixed in short order. Please bear with me.

I took a bit of an involuntary hiatus from my blog since school went back into session. Being a teacher has its disadvantages to balance out the glorious eight-week Summer vacation.

I got this wicked pair of VIVOBAREFOOT Neo Trails and was stoked to hit the dirt with those grippy lugs underfoot. Alas, VIVO sent me the wrong size. Still waiting on the replacement pair. *wringing hands*

To start off my next season of blog posts geared toward the interests of all you barefoot and minimalist folks out there I will be attacking the following topics (not necessarily in order, but pretty close):

- Minimalist Shoe Review: Invisibleshoe FeelTrue Contact
- Personalities of the Barefoot Running Movement
- Minimalist Shoe Review: VIVOBAREFOOT Neo Trail
- Social Stigma and Barefooting: Should I Care?
- Crosstraining: The Addiction that is Bicycling
- Minimalist Shoe Review: NewBalance Minimus Trail (might be combined with Merrell MBTG review)
- Minimalist Shoe Review: Merrell Barefoot Trail Glove
- Crosstraining: Crossfitting for Complete Amateurs
- Minimalist Running Attire - Shorts Review
- Minimalist Cold Weather Gear Essentials
- Minimalist Shoe Review: Bedrock Sandals

I can't wait to get back into the swing of writing about my favorite past-time activity in the whole world: running, and doing it in the most natural and minimally shod manner possible.

Just How Much Can Bare Feet Handle?

Probably the most frequent question I get when people see me running barefoot is, "Doesn't that hurt?" I also am asked frequently about how far can I run barefoot before it's unbearable. I completely understand the curiosity and had the same questions before I discovered these things for myself.

To answer these questions: it doesn't hurt me at all. If it actually was painful, I would not do it. I am not a sadist. I have, however, experienced discomfort running barefoot on certain surfaces in varying conditions (intense heat, direct sunlight, freezing cold, etc.). And I had to build up my "tolerance" and adjust my form to allow my to run comfortably for more than a few miles on hard, man-made - usually concrete or pavement - surfaces. I ran my first barefoot 10k this Summer, which you can read about here, on a course with fairly rough, old pavement and experienced no more discomfort than I have running the same distances in shoes.

My personal distance limits continue to grow. The longest completely barefoot distance I have ever run is around 10 miles. My limits show themselves in the form of blisters on my toe pads and certain locations on the balls of my feet. These blisters are not a sign of sole skin that "isn't tough enough," though. Rather, I get blisters as a result of breakdown in my form resulting in improper landing on the ground surface. Hot surfaces are not as forgiving, meaning earlier blisters. Super cold surfaces cause blisters as well because numbness means not being able to perceive how my foot is contacting the ground.

Check this guy out:


If running barefoot has taught me anything, it's that our bodies are remarkable works of design - a creator who built in mechanisms that allow us to adapt to unbelievable extremes. If you don't believe me, give the following video a chance to change your mind:


Free your feet, and happy running!

The Perfect Shoe

I am a shoe snob. 

By that I mean I have very specific criteria for choosing shoes that I am willing to wear regularly for running or otherwise. Obviously being a barefoot runner affects my perception of what is acceptable in a shoe. The closer a shoe is to being barefoot, the better for me.... for the most part.

Where would Al Bundy's "God Shoes" rank? Hard to say without trying them on, but they don't look very light or flexible. They would certainly fail the "low key" portion of the appearance test.

Here, in order of importance, are the criteria I use when choosing a shoe: 

1)    Toe box – The forefoot on a shoe has to be fairly wide for me to even consider wearing it. This eliminates the vast majority of traditional running shoes right off the bat. Toe splay is vital for running comfort for me making the toe box the #1 consideration when buying a shoe. Luckily this is a criteria I can test quickly and easily by simply trying on a shoe before I buy it.

My shoe stable in rank of width of toe box from left to right. The Vibram Sprint is in a separate class for obvious reasons. L to R: VIVOBAREFOOT Neo, Merrell Trail Glove, NewBalance MT100, Mizuno Wave Musha 2.

The Neo toe box is WAY wider than the Musha or MT100. Notice the difference in shape among the three.

2)    Support – I want my shoes flat. Period. Arch support, medial posts, torsion beams and leaf springs (okay, maybe those come on an automobile, but I get all that garbage mixed up)… get that crap outta there! The less shoe in terms of structure, the better. If a shoe has arch support in it at all, I cannot wear it without cursing under my breath.

Ranked from left to right in regarding criterion 2. Same ranking applies to criterion 3. Pay no attention to my running partner. He refused to move.

3)    Cushion/Ground Feel – I don’t desire any padding in my shoes whatsoever, but I can deal with a little. My Mizuno Wave Musha 2s are considered a “racing flat,” which one would think would make them fairly firm. I have not found this to be the case; the more I run barefoot the softer the shoes feel to me, but I can still put up with it. Padding in shoes makes me feel a bit like I’m running on sand. I presume what is happening is the padding is absorbing whatever forces are being exerting preventing energy return. The result is lower-leg fatigue and a general "blah" feeling. I prefer a shoe to be firm with as little between me and the ground as is necessary for its intended purpose (obviously more protection is needed for trails and the like). The relationship of ground feel and padding is, in my experience, an inverse one. More padding equals less ground feel. I like ground feel/proprioceptive feedback because it greatly impacts my running form, therefore I have another reason to dislike padding in a shoe.

Guess which one provides the better proprioceptive feedback. /sarcasm. Being low profile doesn't necessarily mean a shoe automatically provides decent ground feel, but it's impossible to with a bunch of cushioning.

4)    Weight – The lighter, the better. Running primarily barefoot makes shoe weight very noticeable. This is likely something most traditional runners don’t give too much consideration to, but for a barefoot/minimalist runner a couple ounces in a shoe can be the difference between acceptable and unbearable.

Lightest to heaviest, from left to right.

5)    Durability – I don’t play the whole “Replace them every 300 miles” game. If a shoe isn’t going to last, I’m not going to spend may hard-earned money on it. Luckily, minimalists don’t have to worry about deterioration of cushioning or support in a shoe. If the sole and upper stay together and hole free, they’re good to go!

6)    Flexibility – A shoe has to move with my foot in order for me to be comfortable in it. Most minimalist shoes currently on the market get this part right, or at least right enough for me to wear them without discomfort. As a general rule, the more flexible, the better. If a shoe fits and flexes like a sock, I would say that is ideal.

7)    Attractiveness – Toe shoes look goofy. There, I said it. That doesn’t mean I won’t wear them or don’t own a pair (I do: Vibram Fivefingers Sprint) because they work, but I prefer to not garner unnecessary attention when I run. Unfortunately, running barefoot has essentially the same effect as crazy-looking shoes; it’s actually probably worse barefoot, but it’s worth the tradeoff for me. When you run shoeless, people tend to think that you’re doing it for reasons other than attention whoring because they view barefooting as uncomfortable or challenging. Furthermore, I prefer my shoes to be something I can wear casually with shorts or blue jeans in addition to just running in them. I like to get the most out of my $$$. 


** Price – Self explanatory. I budget my money and use it wisely. I also shop for running shoes and gear almost exclusively at Runningwarehouse.com. They are very often the cheapest option with free shipping and return shipping. Plus the selection is awesome, and their sales are great.

Other Considerations in no particular order - toe spring (not a good thing), sockless comfort, ventilation, lacing/ease of adjustment, versatility.

If a shoe maxes out all those criteria then I'm happier than a pig in slop - except when I can actually go barefoot. All of my upcoming shoe reviews should be viewed through the scope of these criteria. I may give a score for each item or something of that nature. Maybe your specific criteria are entirely different than mine which is completely understandable if you are not a barefoot runner, so you can account for that in your consideration of my shoe ratings.