Barefoot Birthday: 5 Years Without Shoes

I am at an age where my running will not easily get faster, but I have noticed it can get better.

Almost 5 years into minimalist and sometimes barefoot running I thought it might be useful to take stock and see what I have learnt, if anything.

Hiking the Fish River Canyon Namibia 2012

Firstly I guess the big prize is that I am actually running. I have shown charts before that reveal the precipitous decline in the numbers of people running once they reach the age of 40. And when they get to 50 the decline in the incidence of running is yet more dramatic. So there's the first prize. Still running after all these years. But allied to that is the prize of being injury free. In fact it is more than that. Being injury free is one thing. Being strong, free of any pain and other niggles is another. 

Foot of Africa Marathon 2012

Second prize is actually enjoying running. Running is a human expression. An expression of joy, of life. People do not run when they're sad. Running happy is a prize. Moving out of shoes and into something less is a release. It allows a refocus and some of that refocusing is on the joy of running (not the shoes). Shoes are a sensory deprivating accessory (is deprivating a word?). More shoe means less happiness. Adding to enjoyment is the fact that changing the game plan is fun. Simply chasing the same goals year in and year out can get a bit dull. Changing the formula and taking on new challenges, spices things up. 

T Rocket 1st Iteration for the Foot of Africa (T Rocket ... Trevor's Rockets)

The third prize is rediscovering posture, form, core strength and vitality. A few years back at a session with a physiotherapist I was told to stand up properly. My habitual stance was wrong. My hips were forward, my head and neck backwards, my legs straight and so on. I was not sure what the physiotherapist was talking about at the time but now I know that my stance has changed and I can feel the difference. My legs are a little more elastic, my knees have a some flex, and my torso feels a little sturdier. It feels like I could stand up for a long time, possibly a very long time. At least that's what I like to think. This means that movement is a little easier and maybe a little more graceful.

Fourth prize is connecting with people. Running in sandals or barefoot elicits comments from others. I mean, .... it's an invitation! It took me a while to work out why this was happening and now I think I have discovered the answer. People are curious about the fact that you run in something less than shoes. But this only explains part of their reaction. The often overlooked reason for their intrigue goes beyond their mere fascination. By wearing sandals or worse still going barefoot, you have challenged the establishment and in short you have given the status quo the "middle finger". This is troubling to those seeking consensual group comfort. It's like arriving in shorts and a t-shirt when the invitation clearly said "Dress: Formal". Some guests are bemused, some are intrigued and some are offended. Whatever the reaction you get noticed and you connect ... not with all, but with many more people. 

Besides those that you meet on runs there are, of course, all the other barefoot and minimalist runners that share the same passion. What a fine bunch of people! 

Hanging around before the Foot of Africa 2013

Fifth prize is mindfulness. Not only mindful running (sorry Fred!) but mindful living. By removing the faux comforts of modern excess and connecting authentically with the earth, a slow process of centering commences. One learns, or at least is encouraged to learn, what matters and what does not  matter. Those that understand this will get it, and those that do not, wont. Running barefoot is instructive. One of my learnings, and this emerged slowly given my personality type, is that I am happy to run as far as I can with as little as I can. That is an end in itself. I do not need to run 100 miles (I am sure I cannot, anyway!) if it means I must I must forego the simplicity and elegance of running barefoot, or minimalist. Put differently if running 21km's barefoot is truly enthralling, absorbing and revivifying, why should I go further in shoes? And this is also a metaphor .... for life.

Cape Town Marathon 2014 (1st barefoot 42)

I could go on. There are many more benefits that I would not give up.  

Thus after 5 years I look back and know that I would have it no different. During those 5 years I have hurt myself several times (mostly self inflicted) and suffered a few embarrassments, but they have all receded into vague memory and are clearly the cost of breaking free.

For some time I was keen that one should encourage and motivate others to discover the benefits of running "lean"  and minimal, but I have changed. The best teachers offer examples. Don't tell others .... show others.  

Comrades 2015 - 22 years after the last.