Hello from NY

[luckygal813]

Hello everyone!
My name is Heidi, I'm almost 28 & I'm a vet tech.
I'm not quite "in the club" yet. I ordered my VFF Sprints yesterday!! I can't wait for them to get here. I also couldn't wait to ask some questions about them.
I've always been a forefoot runner (made fun of as a kid? OH YEAH!), I've always preferred barefoot workouts (kickboxing, yoga, pilates). That being said, could I have a smoother transition to barefoot running?? I know the advice is to only do 10 to 15 min per day for the first week, but I'm so anxious to try it out!
Does anyone have any insight for me??

Thanks in advance

[Bigmantank]

Welcome, I would imgaine right now is the best time to start doing a little barefoot walking and running, while you wait for your shoes. That I would not exceed 10-15 a days just cause your feet may get raw, but it should give you a great indication of how your feet will feel in your sprints amd what you will be able to do.

[jmijares]

Heidi, I'd recommend going barefoot every other run or every third run, and then use your Sprints for the rest of the week.  As Bigmantank said, you don't want your feet to get raw.

Welcome to BirthdayShoes!

[luckygal813]

I appreciate the suggestions... but I don't exactly have a place to run barefoot. I've been running on my treadmill all winter (which SHOULD be over any day now!) and I'm so excited to get outside again. But even in the warmer months I run on the road or on a nearby rail trail which is paved most of the time.
Should I be running barefoot on the road? It seems like it would do more harm than good. But I'm new to this....

[delucio]

Welcome. I know how you feel about your first pair. When I got my first pair (sprints) the following Monday, I ran a 5k. I paid no attention to transition and then later that week I went to a 5 mi run around the base. There was some serious pain, but it kinda felt good. .

What part of NY are you from? I have family up in Corning and I am thinking about going up there for the Corning marathon next year. My wife has never been up there, but I think that she would enjoy it. It is so beautiful up there in the summer. Down here in Mississippi it is just muggy all the time from the humidity.

[pedalpavementpounder]

Being a forefoot striker already is a great start.  That does mean that some of your muscles are ready for that style of running, but if you have been running in regular styled, cushioned, heel dropped running shoes, your feet will still need a lot of time to get used to unsupported running.  I have come to believe that the same is true even if you're just transitioning to something like a running flat after being in conventional running shoes.  Your legs may be ready because of the way you run, but your feet and the muscles in them will still need a lot of strengthening.  I would still plan on going very slow, only a few blocks or few minutes to start - your stride will be (and should be) very different without regular shoes on once you start trying out the sprints.

[luckygal813]

Thanks so much for the feedback. I'm so glad I'm on this forum
I'm in eastern NY. Very far from Corning. But it is amazing how beautiful this state is up north from NYC. It's so much more country than people think. I'm originally from Pittsburgh, so not "from" here... landed here after marrying my Army Scout husband. I can't complain about the area, we really enjoy the 'country' part of NY though.