Back to big cushion shoes

I know, long time not written. This was due to two main points. First I was extremely frustrated not to have taken part to the HD half-marathon due to injury. Second, I hurt myself again. Well, not exactly hurt, didn't hurt, feeling in the back of the Achileas' tendon. Probably due to the fact that I was so excited that I overdid it when not totally recovered from the injury. At some point, I was running 3 to 4 times a week more than 1 hour each sometimes, 2 days in a row.

So I stopped completely running for two weeks, and now back to big cushion shoes. I don't know if my feeling in the tendon is due to the barefoot running, but it is clear that barefoot, your tendon is more solicited which is why in recovery mode, I went back to running shoes. 

This is the occasion to be back to the old 'shoe feeling and compare the two.

First, I don't enjoy it. I feel the difference. Much more traumatic, more difficult and less enjoyable. I really don't like anymore to run with shoes. Running barefoot is so different. So much more sensation, just this sensation of lightness at your feet instead of having to drag to big heavy shoes. Then the sensation of the ground, and all its irregularities. And then the impact, or the lack of, the absorption of the impact by your feet. Amazing.

Second, I feel the difference in the posture too. It is clear that with shoes, my strike has the tendency to be heel first, my shoulders moving backwards, if I don't pay attention to it. May be that is my default running posture that I learned by all those years with shoes. I have to pay attention to push my shoulders forwards and lend on the middle of the foot. I know some runners that are just natural middle or even front foot runners. May be the related injuries are different too.

Anyway, this problem is getting better, I am resting, running less, only once a week, now back to one hour, but I was down of that before.  I will take it easy with shoes until it disappear but I really hope to very soon, I'll be able to go back barefoot. The difference is so amazing. And if everything goes well, I hope to be able to run the craichgau half marathon. Of course, the real challenge would be to do it below 90'. Cheers

And running feels good again.

Whaouw, went for a classical run this Sunday. Felt very nice. I felt in excellent shape, actually ran 5 minutes faster than Thursday, 58' vs 63. I was listening to the Foo Fighters all along. It was great. I really felt at some point that running was good again, great in fact.
As I already mentioned, I was about to drop running, just because of the structural charges, skeletal trouble. Never really had any major problem, but always felt quite stressed in the bones. So much in fact that at some point, the trouble was worst than the pleasure of running and I was actually thinking about dropping it.
This was one of the reasons behind switching to barefoot, and I have to say that this was a great success. No more trouble at all, which make sense since there is no more shocks directly transmitted to the bones, it is absorbed by the naturally encoded shock absorbance of the feet. And it makes all the difference. An incredible feeling. One of the points of this blog was to transmit my switching experience and help others make the transition. I already know 3 colleagues or friends that have bought 5Fs, and at least that many that are considering it.

Hope it helps.

Previous post

Third motivation.

It is about time for me to reveal my third motivation, no?
Well, I am an evolutionary cell biologist. Yes, the focus of my research is evolution. I know that might sound horrible if you read this from the states, but evolution is a fact, not a theory, unlike other elucubrations and there is no doubt that our body is the reflect of a very long evolutionary history. And our foot is one of them, just like the rest of our body. Our body and our feet have actually evolved to stand, walk and run barefooted. It is only very recently in our history that we have began to wear shoes. And actually a large proportion of humanity still spend most of its time, if not all his time, barefoot. The feet is actually a very impressive device developed to absorb the chocks caused by moving around. And it is only recently that we have put that aside to 'protect' it. The initial idea might have been good, but it has mislead us for too long.

Previous post Next post

False 5F's on the market?

All potential buyers of 5Fs, be aware of counterfeits, as seen on the BBC website. Previous post Next post Next post

Start running barefoot?

I was recently asked by a friend if I would advice him to start running barefoot, meaning for someone that has (almost) no running experience and that wants to start running, "would it be better, or worst, to start 5F's?" I didn't really know what to answer, but now that I have given it some thought, I would say 'yes'. If you wanna start running, and are considering, are interested by the barefoot feeling, yes, get started 5F's.
You anyway have to start slowly and take it easy, taking short runs to get your legs used to it, build a constitution. Why not then start directly barefoot? Instead of getting into the habit and then having to go back to short and slow once you switch to barefoot, to get you feet used once you get your legs up and running. No! I would say that it is probably best to start with the barefoot and get both your legs and feet into the running at the same time. If you have to build muscles, ligaments, and a condition to run, you might as well develop your feet and free them from the closed space of your shoes. You will realize how atrophied are your feet and how good it feel to be directly in contact with the ground. Of course, I would only say that if you are seriously interested into running and into running barefoot. Because it would be too easy to blame your laziness in the fact that your feet hurts, are not used to, and it is too difficult. If you know that you will be looking for excuses then better get some good shoes that will get rid at least of that excuse. Obviously, I would strongly suggest at least 7 mm sole shoe, see this post

But if you are seriously motivated to get started running, I would strongly advice to start barefoot. And I promise, you won't go back.

Previous post Next post

Who's your dady now?

That's it, have done it. I ran my barefoot half marathon this weekend in 88 minutes. Well, of course, it was approximately, I ran from home to home, passing most of the time on the exact path of the HD half (I live in the Weststadt). So it might not have been exactly 21 km, but it is as close as I could estimate. And honestly, it can't have been far from it. I went at a pretty good pace, even at close to my maximum sustainable for a while. It felt good. And my 5F's feet are feeling real good now. early Sunday morning, Listening in this order to The Vasco ear, Louis XIV, MIA, and finishing with Rammstein. The title of this post is from one of the Louis XIV song, that I really enjoyed at that time, while running. I thought it would be appropriated. Thus, all in all, I believe that I have now completely switched to barefoot running, I don't run with shoes since a few months, I have run more than 1 hour and a half 5F's, and a half marathon (even if unofficial and approximate distance). Given that I received my first 5F's shoes the 11th of November, we are the 20th of May, and considering ski season, and the traveling, it means that it took me 6 months to make the transition from shod to barefoot running. The motivation behind this blog was only to document this transition. I will keep you posted on the evolution though. And this is related to another post where I was asked if I would advice to begin running directly barefoot.

Obviously I need to make this official in a regular race now. So I will be looking for the next half marathon close to HD next month. But as I already mentioned, I will be traveling a lot the coming weeks. We will see.

In summary, after 6 months, I can say that switching to barefoot running was
not painless or even injury free but probably I was too ambitious, too naive, and not patient enough, a new discovery, not so difficult, changes a lot your running posture and style, a lot of fun. Now, I completely switched to barefoot and running is a pleasure again, I am always looking forward to the next run.

Previous post Next post

Uccle, dis!

So, this is it, I was in Belgium last week for work and ran twice. First time was with my friend and colleague. We ran 66' in the beautiful Forest de Soignes. It was very nice, perfect weather, not too cold, not too warm. The forest was beautiful and a very nice run all together. And so close from the city. We just left from my friend's house, ran 5 minutes through town and were immediately in the forest. Nice to evacuate all the beers we had the previous days.
Flamoutch, thank you for bringing me there and keep on running.

That was on Friday. On Sunday, I took another 'clean up run' to discard the beers I had in Tournai, my home town. Again, slightly above the hour, 64', a not too tough pace. My feet were feeling good after that. However, it is very interesting to feel how much more flexible are your feet specially after running. You can feel all small bones in the feet and how independent they are from each other. Anyway, I believe I am cured from the twisted ankle by now. I will do this weekend the 21 km that I couldn't do for the HD half and this week, I should register for a half marathon soon.

Wednesday, I have just run 42', easy and short. In preparation for the 21km this weekend. Nothing to declare, feet are fine. Will be ok.

Previous post Next post