barefoot beginner, a whole new adventure

[mr cucaracho]

Hello people! Let me first tell you about my experience so far...

I'm new in this page as well as in this whole barefoot culture, and it's quite confusing when you don't know someone to ask
I started reading some topics here and found some interesting things about the barefoot experience

anyway, I was unsure about going into VFF with no experience at all, also because I didn't want to buy expensive shoes I might not want to use after a while (happened to my track and field shoes some time ago)

so, I bought a pair of much-cheaper Fila Skele-toes 1.0, to get a picture of what it might be and decide if it is for me or just not.

I decided to start training again along with my new funky shoes. I'm no athlete anymore but want to hit the track again, like I did 6 years ago.

What i found out later is that I have to start slow and barefoot to get used first.
I have to admit patience is not my best asset  

ok, long story short: BLISTERS.
I read is quite common
SOOOOOOO... what's bugging me is the running technique.. the forefoot strike hurts SO DAMN MUCH and causes sore blisters after just 2 miles of jogging

Is it the cheap shoe? is it my tender skin? am I doing it wrong? will it be the same if I switch to VFF?

ANY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE WELCOME

[vfftriathlete]

Its probably a combination of the foot not being used to it and the fact the skeletoes are pretty stiff compared to the vibrams or even some of the mono toed minimal shoes.

[JustinB]

SLOW DOWN!  You're first run should be 1/4 mile not 2 miles.  Your foot is not used to this style of running so you need to build it back up.  Blisters could also be a function of a shoe that does not fit correctly, I know I could not get a good fit when I tried on the skele-toes

[qcassidy352]

I understand not wanting to spend a lot on a shoe you're not sure you'll like, but I think you're setting yourself up for failure by starting with the skeletoes.  The general consensus is that they were not a very good product, especially v1.  So you're a lot more likely to have a bad experience and get the wrong impression about toe shoes and minimal running in general, which is too bad.

Also, agree with the comment that your first run should be about 1/4 mile.  2 miles does not seem like much, but for someone who has never done minimal/barefoot running before, it really is.  Want proof?  Try running totally barefoot and see how long you last.  My bet is the soles of your feet would be on fire after about 1/2 mile and you wouldn't even think about going a full two miles.  The problem with minimal shoes is they provide just enough protection that you don't know you're overdoing it.

So my suggestions:  1.  start barefoot.  2. Run only about 1/4 mile at first.  Increase by a minute every few days as long as it feels Ok.  Take some days off, even if you feel Ok.  3.  Once you're able to do a couple of miles barefoot, try minimal shoes again.  4.  Get some cheap VFFs or something else very minimal -- IMO zero drop is very important, even 4 mm is too much (Try the Altra Adam or Merrell barefoot run glove/trail glove).

It can be a very slow process, and rushing it will end badly.  Good luck.

[acc]

Buy a pair of KSOs from Leftlanesports instead of using Skeletoes. Skeletoes are foot casts, basically.

If you're getting blisters it means something is rubbing. Injinjis could help but then I think it could be the lack of flex in Skeletoes. I tried them on in Modell's before and I would never buy them.

If you want to start off right, go fully barefoot on sand or some other environment that isn't extremely filthy (a well kept park for example). And don't up your mileage too soon ("tmts") or you might get a metatarsal stress fracture.

Follow something like http://www.runnersworld.com/community/forums/runner-communities/barefoot-running/new-barefoot-minimalist-runners-start-here

because

A couple of bits of data over the last few days have me thinking that there is going to be a huge backlash against BF running and minimalist running fairly soon. You people are doing WAY too much too soon!

First data point--a podiatrist over at the podiatry forum was talking about the Tarahumara, who he saw and met when he was running that big 100 mile ultra. He said that they had feet that were very different than yours and mine--not because they were born with different feet, but because they grew up going barefoot. Their feet were like a construction worker's hands, compared to a desk jockey's hands.

2nd data point--at my last hash house harriers run, we were discussing VFF's for running, and one friend mentioned that she had two friends who fractured their feet running in VFF's.

I think that the vast majority of American runners simply don't have the patience to take up BF running, and VFF running even less so. The VFF's, as discussed over and over again here, do NOT provide enough feedback for you to take it slow.

It took me over two years to be able to consistently run BF at the speeds I was running before I started the whole BF adventure. It takes at least a year or two to toughen up the bones and connective tissues of the foot and lower leg. Bones will grow stronger in response to stress, but it takes many months for this growth to happen.

If you think you can pick up a pair of VFF's, and start doing 20 miles/week in them, you're going to get injured, I guarantee it. Please try running completely barefoot, and see if you can do 20 miles/week that way. If you cannot (and I know you can't) then you aren't ready to do it in VFF's either.

Running barefoot is an absolute blast, and I'm not discouraging people from trying it. I did that whole hasher run barefoot, including a run up a rocky creek bed, and I had a great time. But I've been doing this for over 5 years now, and my feet can handle it. Take the time to let your feet get stronger if you want to try this whole adventure.

Please be careful!

- http://www.runnersworld.com/community/forums/runner-communities/barefoot-running/please-slow-down

[mr cucaracho]

Hey people! thank you VERY MUCH for your advice

It's really good to learn from people who know what they're doing
I'm starting to jog barefoot first to strenghthen my feet... also running a bit in the crappy skeletoes

In the link posted in one of the replays I found exactly what I've been searching for.. and some comment in that article made me laugh. It sais that as runnung barefoot feels SO DAMN GOOD, you just don't want to stop. TOTALLY TRUE. I'm guilty of overdoing beacuse it feels amazing. Is like taking off a blindfold and actually experiencing the way IT SHOULD BE.

Again, thank you very much. A new stage in my life has begun. No kidding.
 

[dirkverelst]

I find the Bikila`s so much more padded than the KSO, I`ld dare to suggest them as a first pair if you are planning to use VFF`s for running, and as far as my forum reading experience goes, we don`t have all that many blister people around, perhaps socks might help...

[Mr. Leigh]

I agree that you need to slow down.  If you are runnign 100% barefoot and getting blisters, it sounds like too much too soon and you are not listening to your body and making the appropriate adjustments.