I think I mentioned before that I go running barefoot. Initially I carried trainers with me for use on on difficult surfaces. I never take trainers now and I survive. I generally run three of four times a week, usually around 5 miles though sometimes longer at the weekend. Today I ran about 10 miles. So how do my feet survive this onslaught?
Apart from the occasional thorn, or stubbing one's toe, my main enemy is splits. The thickened skin tends to crack particularly in the creases under the toes, especially the large and smallest toe. I also get cracks on the soles and around the heels of my feet. It appears that other barefoot runners suffer similarly so here I offer my own experience.
The best approach is preventative by periodically removing dead skin and frequently applying moisturising cream. The best way I have found to remove dead skin is to use abrasive paper. I use P80 grit, the high quality type used for sanding belts in which the abrasive does not come off easily. Glue a strip around a piece of wooden dowel and sand the dead skin off, especially in the places where one tends to get cracks. If the cracks are bad (deep, even bleeding) then apply pink Germolene (it comes in a blue and yellow box, whereas the white germolene comes in a blue and pink box) and fabric elastoplast. If necessary you can use a spot of superglue at the edges to keep the elastoplast in place. I have found nothing better for healing bad cracks. Once the cracks have somewhat healed then you should cut way the upper (dead) layers of skin either side of the crack to relieve the stress (precision side-cutters are excellent), and then use the abrasive tool to reduce the dead skin more generally.
Cracks on areas not subject to stress (e.g. the heels) can be glued together with superglue. I cannot vouch for the medical safety of this method so you use it at your own risk, but see here. Superglue will actually make a crack under the toe worse as it sets hard and does not allow the skin to stretch as it must here.
The purpose of the above methods is to give the skin a chance to heal. Only sometimes have I been forced to skip a run on account of cracks. Normally I take the attitude that the body was made for running barefoot so it should be able to cope: obviously this is true only up to a point and common sense must prevail.
Moisturising cream should be applied every night whilst there are any signs of cracks, and especially after a run as some surfaces (e.g. dusty clay) have a drying effect. The best cream, as I have observed before in this blog, is Silcocks Base and it is not expensive. Apply liberally.
Over the several years that I have been running barefoot the soles of my feet have, of course, hardened. But I have found that this hardening process has plateaued. I was hoping to get to the stage that others claim of being able to walk easily on any surface. So I decided to extend my barefoot experience to most of the time and have found that this has definitely had a positive effect on my feet.
For example this morning I was climbing our young apple trees barefoot to pick apples. It worked well - much less damage to the tree and the ability to "feel" how strong a branch was (apples trees are not strong).
Whilst I have considerable freedom to go barefoot, working as I do from home, there are the opinions of family and friends to consider. For example, is it acceptable to go barefoot to church barefoot, or for a meal with one's wife? Whilst there is good scriptural basis for worshipping barefoot this should possibly not be taken literally and it appears that most people are offended by the practice! Or is it OK to go shopping barefoot - I have tried it but it embarrases my wife. I prefer to drive barefoot and is not illegal provided one can operate the controls effectively - for me I find I have greater control barefoot.
So, in summary, if you would enjoy the barefoot experience you should be prepared to go barefoot as much as possible, to endure some discomfort (nothing ventured, nothing gained), and to look after your feet as explained above.
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