Running the Streets

This blog sure has been all about the bare foot lately. Thanks to the commenters in my previous post who’ve read the story already. For those of you who haven’t, here you go:

• Barefoot running offers new challenge

(My foot after my first barefoot run; later, with a blood blister. Ew!)

Next, some interview highlights from my awesome sources that didn’t make it into the story:

Josh Stevenson, adventure racer from Christchurch, New Zealand

Q. What’s the worst barefooting injury or situation you’ve been in?
A. Stepping on dog poo would have to be the worst problem.

Q. What do your feet look like?
A. My feet are in the best shape they have ever been as you wear the dead skin off, and one of the important parts of bare foot running is looking after your feet … using products like glycerol bp to stop the feet from cracking and using medicated methylated spirits for drying certain parts out as to harden them up as required. (more…)

The nice folks at Vibram sent me a pair of FiveFinger Sprints the other day after hearing that I’m doing a story on barefoot running. I haven’t tried them out yet (rain! work! laziness!), but when I do I promise to give it to you straight. How weird do they feel? How is running different in FiveFingers vs. my cushy Asics? Will I get used to the toes? Will passers-by point and laugh? Will my husband cross the street? We shall see.

My story on barefoot running will be in The Dallas Morning News on Tuesday, Oct. 20, in the GuideLive section. Stories on this latest wave of the barefoot fascination have been written this year, and this one isn’t any more focused than that. It’s a general overview for folks who are like, “Barefoot what? Why?” I’ll post it here when it’s ready.