Howdy all!
Almost 41, been running since freshman year of HS. Ran through college. Ran marathons, 1/2 marathons, etc. Ran many of those races with painful knees, back, ankles...I think short of breaking something, I've had the gamut of running injuries. Several years ago, I ran (er, surfed) across the Pose Tech website where I got my first taste of, "Less shoe is better". They recommended the Puma H Street as a good shoe, and I tried it...with no success.
Turns out that I forgot to turn the volume down on the "too much too soon" knob. My feet were understandably trying to tell me that I had been subjecting them to over 30 years of a removable cast (ever see an arm or leg fresh out of a cast? Same thing with your feet) so the inherent strength, flexibility, and range of motion (not to mention feel) were almost nil.
About this time I read a post from none other than Barefoot Ted McDonald and his eventual Boston Marathon in the Vibram Fivefingers Classic. Enthused and enlightened, I bought a pair...
...and again had problems. That darn elastic cord and the achilles tendons did not like it. Elastic cord, I'd like to introduce you to Mr. Exacto...RELIEF!!!
After bouncing around a bit between VFF and racing flats, I was watching some training footage of pro boxers and UFC fighters. I noticed that many of them liked to jump rope...drumroll...BAREFOOT! Cue lightbulb of enlightenment turning on in my bald head. Buy jump ropes. Jump rope in bare feet, in VFF's, in Zemgear lows. Get up to 6 minutes. Run 1/2 Marathon in VFF Flow. Finish. Next stop, MARATHON!
Still doff the VFF's, NB Minimus et al for a quick spin around the block barefoot.
Nothing feels as wonderful as a freshly fallen rain, nothing talks as much as a foot caressing the mud, sand, gravel, grass, asphalt, and concrete. Do you feel the rains' cooling power as the asphalt sighs, its breath a visible wisp of steam? Do you hear your feet laugh as passers-by unhinge their jaws, their thickly clad stumps clomping the ground in protest? Do your feet beg to answer their unasked question? "Does it hurt?"<br> "No. I do not hurt because I can feel."
Johnny
Welcome Johnny, great to have you here! Great post too, love your enthusiasm!