A solution for everything (or almost).
After struggling with foot pain for 7 years, I read Born to Run (also Barefoot Running) and got fired up about trying out barefoot. It took 3 or 4 months to work up tough enough pads to do real hikes but I enjoyed most of it tremendously. Every once in a while I got hurt enough to yell out loud (once every other hike or so). But that occurred less often as my feet got tougher…
My feet are far healthier than before and I’m reminded that there’s a solution for almost anything. The trick is to keep looking. To extend my ‘barefoot’ season, I’m using the five finger with injinji socks and appreciating them mightily. I was worried about how to keep my pads up during the winter and came up with the rock mat. Just gravel thrown on a rubber door mat (the kind with the little rubber bumps holds the rocks in place) on which I jog 10 or 15 minutes once a week. I also use a lot of lanolin (sheep’s grease) to keep my pads from drying out. Don’t think anything else would do the trick here in Colorado.
I mostly hike the hogback loop trail and the paraglider launch trail in North Boulder. Did really enjoy the golden arch trail which I hiked with friends and would love to go back to with my family!
Mel January 23, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Eric- I’ve been using Vibram 5 fingers for cross fit or the last year- when it’s not too cold. At first I was astounded at how sore the muscles of my lower calves and ankles were. Shoes sure do a lot of the work! Between the 5 fingers and using “pose running” method, I can run again and enjoy it. Barefoot….not so sure about that!
*es* i know what you mean Mel. during the winter before i started barefoot i used the elliptical barefoot and would regularly do 20 minutes. still, the first day i went out on a trail barefoot in the spring, i went only 5 minutes. the next day the tops of my feet hurt so much, i considered my first ‘jog’ a complete failure and switched to walking only so i could go longer distances and get the exercise i needed (min 20 min). took a couple months on trails before my feet and calves felt strong enough to jog comfortably!