I don’t like resolutions. They’re all a bit set up to make you feel bad if you fail. Ambitions are much more positive because when (if?) you realise them you feel great. My running ambition for this year is to run a half marathon barefoot. A few years ago my ambition was to run a marathon and I thought that the more people I told about it, the less likely I was to back out of it. The purpose of this blog is to tell as many people as I can and to share my experiences.

Last year was probably the worst year for running that i’ve had. I was training for the Paris marathon and was on track for a pretty good time when I got shin splints really badly and had to drop out. Having recently read a lot about barefoot running I blamed spongy shoes and the forces necessary to control the foot on landing. Seeking a solution I thought I’d try minimal shoes and went to a barefoot running workshop. Running in Five Fingers was great, but i got carried away and ended up with achillies tendonitis. Again, I blamed the shoes. I blamed my old built up running shoes for shortening my achillies/calf muscles, and I blamed the Five Fingers for letting me do too much too quickly. I tried barefoot as a way of regulating how far and fast I was running and got up to about 40mins on pretty rough surfaces but the achillies made itself known again. Following the birth of my daughter I had less time for training so I cut back on running and focussed on kettlebells and conditioning. Before I noticed, months had passed without running and I started really missing it. I tried running again but each time after a couple of runs, the achillies would twinge and I’d be very disheartened.

In November I decided to do something more proactive and started a daily routine of calf stengthening and stretching, with a bit of self massage with a roller. I bought a pair of Vivo Barefoot Aqua and started wearing them whenever I could. Around Christmas I thought I’d give it a go and went out in some racing flats. These have a small heel drop so I thought they’d be a good transition from my old shoes towards completely flat. After a few runs it all seemed fine so I’m back running in Five Fingers and Vivos and taking it very slowly this time.

I’ve also ditched my previous obsession with training paces and target times so my watch has stayed at home. I’m trying to stop myself getting competitive, but I don’t think this will last..! So far this year, the longest i’ve been out has been about half an hour(ish) – I’ve got a long way to go before I’m running a half. I got my feet out for a stretch today and even though it was cold I loved the fresh air between my toes.

Introductory Summary:

years running: more than 10, regularly for maybe 7.

weekly milage: very low at the moment, used to be 20-30 – more if I was training for something.

PBs: Marathon 3:32 (shod); Half-marathon 1:31 (shod)

barefoot experience (apart from running): 10 years of capoeira 2-3 times a week; 2 years muay thai before that; always barefoot when using kettlebells or circuit training.

previous foot landing: heel strike; transitioned reasonably successfully to midfoot in 2010, noticed an increase in speed, enjoyment, blisters and plantar faciitis.

previous running shoes: originally heavily cushioned, slight motion control shoes like Asics Kayano or Brooks Trance. Moved to neutral, more flexible shoes in 2010 to complement midfoot landing (Mizuno Wave Rider)

Previous injuries: ITB pain; knee fat pad impingement (solved when I switched to mid-foot landing in normal shoes); PF (started when I switched to midfoot landing in normal shoes); shin splints (recurring, but not recently)