You know very well

I used to wear shoes. I had black lace-up shoes like this one that I wore on Sundays and had to polish every week. This was done outside, for fear of spreading shoe polish beyond the remit of the shoes. I did not like the job. On one occasion I remember my mother telling me I hadn't done a good job on the *** part of the shoe (I cannot remember - maybe heel, sole...). I asked - where is that? And my mother answered - "you know very well what I mean". But I didn't. No good arguing. So I remain in ignorance to this day as to what that part of a shoe was.  All this I explained in a previous post and no apologies for repeating myself.

Sometimes I hear parents in similar dialogues with their progeny and my heart misses a beat. But not just children - so often there is such an expectation that one should already know a thing that even eating humble pie and admitting one's ignorance does not evoke an explanation. Whilst playing soccer at grammar school I wished someone would tell me the rules - but boys are supposed to already know by that age. Or in the matter of sex - our biology master, when faced with the requirement to teach the subject, observed to the class that doubtless everyone knew all there was to know so there was surely no need to teach it and did anyone have a problem with that? Obviously no one owned up to his ignorance. Thankfully in this matter nature herself taught me and I have four wonderful children to prove the point.

My father taught me that it is always better to admit that one knows less than one thinks one knows: they might be some embarrassment in the admission but one ends up knowing more that way. I have tried to apply this principle but what does one do if, after such admission, they still won't tell you?

So much of a person's life is taken up with learning to live. What a joy it is to see a young teenager taking responsibility, learning a life-skill, taking an interest in things that matter.

Running bare feet 4

At last some slightly warmer weather.  I did the forest circuit bare foot again first thing this morning.  This is the first time this year at this time of day.


Here is some practical advice for would be barefoot runners.


Could it be that one's feet are softer after a night's sleep?

It is true that I run slower bare foot than shod when the surface is iffy and that I tend to land on the full foot to spread the load.  This is bad, but I figure that if I don shoes for those hard parts my feet will never harden.

It is also true that on short grass (or sand, or very smooth pavement but grass is best) my feet tend to rise so that I both land and spring off from the ball of my foot, and this greatly increases my speed now that my calf muscles are beginning to adapt.  My body tells me that this is how I am meant to run: it feels good, it lifts you up a couple of inches, it feels more efficient.

Never take your eyes off the ground ahead for more than a moment.  Something caught my eye on the horizon today and my eyes dwelt on it just too long and my left foot landed on a thistle.

Running bare feet 2

The good Lord would not have given us bare feet if we were meant to wear shoes all the time.  Now there is an internet presence for bare feet running it is no surprise to find the opposite viewpoint expressed, see http://www.runningbarefootisbad.com/ but their counter arguments do not convince me.

You can check out all the sites that advocate bare foot running.  I did this when I was first considering it but now the only thing that matters to me is that I like to doing it.  Here are some of my reasons:


1. Above all, it feels good.  Once one's feet have hardened a bit.  Your body will interact with the surface you are running on; your eye will seek out a path that avoids obstacles.  Running on smooth grass is the best, but sand or mud is also pleasurable.  It is good to be that bit closer to nature.  Indeed I would choose to run entirely naked for the same reason if it were not social unacceptable.


2. Clearly it is not true that it is positively bad for you - there are many peoples in the world who go bare foot either out of necessity or choice;

3. Most people (and my intuition too) say that it is better for you.  There are some good testimonials in http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-319--6728-0,00.html.  My own experience confirms that I land on the heel when in shoes, whilst I tend to use the ball of the foot when bare foot which softens the blow which must be better on the knees;

4. My biggest expense in running is for shoes and socks.  I gave up socks a long time ago, and now I use shoes much less I must be saving myself some money.

5. One of my courses involves swimming across a river.  It is a good deal easier swimming without shoes on!

I have a couple of courses from my home that I can now manage without shoes at all - both are about 5 miles in length.  In each case I have to tread slowly and carefully for short distances over the worse parts.

Do not expect to run a whole course bare foot from day one (unless you are blessed with golf links nearby) - it takes time for your soles to harden and time to adapt to the implied different gait.  You will get the occasional cut or thorn, but you will not get blisters.  At first you might stub your toe a few times. I have been running bare foot for at least 6 months now and my feet are only starting to adapt.  There is no shame in carrying your shoes with you if you are in any doubt about the terrain and you certainly should to start with.

I personally think it is worth it.  The shoe manufacturers have sold us a lie in making us believe that you need "good" running shoes!