Nike Free Run Woman

I remember when I first started talking about barefoot running, my first steps I took in May almost 2 years ago. I posted on Facebook about what I was going to try and I got nothing but negative remarks. I did my best to provide rebuttal and proof and in the end there is only one true way to prove it. I then proceeded to run barefoot or in Luna's or KSO's and never experienced any pain my feet, bones no where in my body. I got a bit zealous and signed up for a marathon and got nervous. BIG MISTAKE about to enter. I then trained in shoes. I wore the Nike Free Run. You see my first barefoot winter was upon me and I got nervous. I wondered how could I train in the cold, snowy months without shoes? Yes, the are a nice flexible shoe, but still a shoe. I tend to run harder in shoes. 

Those of us who barefoot run know that is because our feet are desperately trying to get a signal to our brains about how our feet are in contact with the ground. I'm sorry to tell you but all that cushion does nothing to save you from injury. The more stuff between you and the ground and the harder you will impact. This contributes to injury. The other issue is anyone who has run barefoot for any length of time will tell you that anytime you put something on your feet you can tell immediately how your body is responding. I feel it everywhere. I know when my calves aren't happy, my ankles, even my hips. I am just very sensitive to how my body relates to the shoes. This in itself can be a curse.

I then as most of you know missed my marathon due to a stress fracture in my tibia while training in SHOES. Then I took time off, took off the shoes and began again. Each time I tried to train with shoes I could feel some kind of issue coming on. I would run in my Nike 5.0 s and have to think about my feet because I could feel my body was not in alignment. I finally got the message and I will not make that mistake again.

Nike Free 5.0 (Photo credit: matsuyuki)

I will train only in my bare feet, KSO's or anything similar. I will not put a cushioned shoe on no matter how low the heel may be. I will not be fearful but instead trust what I know and not what I see around me. I will not second guess myself or have shoe envy. This is what I should have done when I first started. Second guessing what I knew was right was detrimental to my running