I'm a 53 y/o newby who just started running in January.  Not really a new year's resolution, but I felt I had to kick it into a higher gear if I ever want to lose weight and play with grandkids when they arrive.

I'm really grateful to Christopher MacDougall and Born to Run for getting me started.  I read a review of the book somewhere and was hooked by the comment about, "his foot hurt".  I was hooked and reeled in.  I never would have started running if it hadn't been for that book review.  It took 3.5 months for the book to arrive at the library, but I am really having a blast reading it right now.

I am getting really curious about barefoot running (reading about Barefoot Ted right now). I'm not ready to buy VFF, but I plan to hit the HS track and take off my shoes for a couple of laps to see how it feels.  I remember running trails (inspired by Carlos Castanedas) in the 70's in first generation Adidas.  I had a blast, but then I was about 70 lbs lighter then, scrawny as heck.  I really want to get that feeling back.

I finished the C25K about two weeks ago and have my first 5K in two weeks.  The best part is how good I feel, even though I still get a little stiff after running.

Well, It's been many months since my last post raving about the book and barefoot running and I'm still a believer, but I think I really hurt my feet trying to move to flatter shoes. I have plantar fascia on both feet and every time after I jog I have agonizing pain after. After trying a flatter shoe for a few weeks, Champion's with no arch support, flat leather sole, the pain moved to the top of my foot rather than just the heel. I'm afraid I'll do more damage if I keep going. I really wanted to get into it, but I don't want to need a walker before i'm 40. Help?

cmarieo wrote:

 

Well, It's been many months since my last post raving about the book and barefoot running and I'm still a believer, but I think I really hurt my feet trying to move to flatter shoes. I have plantar fascia on both feet and every time after I jog I have agonizing pain after. After trying a flatter shoe for a few weeks, Champion's with no arch support, flat leather sole, the pain moved to the top of my foot rather than just the heel. I'm afraid I'll do more damage if I keep going. I really wanted to get into it, but I don't want to need a walker before i'm 40. Help?

You probably jumped into it too fast.  "Too much, too fast, too soon" applies to ALL changes, whether distance or speed or running style.  Your best bet is to back off, get your injuries under control, and try again at a more carefully controlled rate of change.  Here's a pretty good article with some tips toward the end. http://www.barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu/ (with thanks to theInjuryCoach for the link).

Len

P.S.  I'm not a real hard-core barefoot guy, but I do some barefoot running and I see definite benefits.  This article presents a pretty well-balanced review with the ultimate emphasis on barefoot.

Just a suggestion when thinking of running barefoot on a track: if the track is new, wear socks or only do a couple of laps. New tracks are very coarse and have lots of jagged pieces of rubber that will tear the pads of your toes apart. If it is an older well used track it should be better because the surface will be smoother.

Another suggestion is to find a nice football filed and do some laps around that. Grass and dirt really feel good on the skin.

I bought Born to Run on a whim before having heard anything about it.  I've since read it twice and love it.  What I find so interesting about discussions regarding the book is that everyone attributes McDougall's transformation from "injured guy" to "ultra runner" to barefooting and this "secret" he learned from a reclusive tribe.

In reality, he just started training like he should: he did strength work before his runs, he ran in neutral trainers (he didn't train barefoot for the 50 mile race), he ran a lot of hills, he worked on his form constantly, and he improved his diet.  These are all no-brainer, common ways to avoid injury and become faster and more consistent with your training.  One theme from Born to Run is minimalism, but the other aspects of McDougall's training that helped him complete a 50 mile trail run are equally important in his transformation.

Sometimes I cringe when I hear about runners reading the book and then wanting to ditch their shoes, thinking they can avoid injury.  It will help if you transition correctly, but there are bigger fish to fry if your diet sucks, you don't do core work or run hills, and your form is terrible.  People need to think of the big picture.

Cheers, - Fitz.

Thanks Joey, glad you like my thoughts on the book.  This thread actually prompted me to write a more in-depth analysis of the book's main concepts: http://bit.ly/aO8SKM.  Born to Run is a good example of getting back to basics, something that will help all of our running.  Cheers, - Fitz.

THANK you to the last couple of commenters for making those points.   The book seems fascinating, sure, but the condemnation of "modern" running is a bit hard to swallow.  I'm sure barefoot running can be fantastic, but I don't like the inherent insistance that those who run with shoes are destined for injury.  The common sense precautions (and training!) of any exercise activity should not be overlooked.  I think many of the points made in the NY Times article linked on this thread make a whole lot of sense.  I'm a newbie, but something about the book really rubbed me the wrong way.