So Jason Robillard has a rough marathon just two weeks after kicking butt at the 100 mile Burning River Race. One of his marathon frustrations was not being able to happily traverse gravel barefoot. I totally understand how he feels. Well, except for the marathon after 100 miles part. I’m still being a crybaby over a rough 11 miler this weekend. Putting on footwear, for anyone who has “barefoot” in front of their name, can feel like an admission of defeat. Now, before you say “yeah, but…” let me tell you why:
1. When learning, it’s a good idea to stick to the rule: if you can’t run it barefoot, maybe you shouldn’t run it. That’s meant for beginners who want to run farther than they should. Part of us continues to feel that way; after all, if we always wear shoes on gravel, we’ll never learn to run barefoot on gravel.
2. Also during the learning process, we are practically deluged with “impossible” things turning out to be not too hard, even easy. “I could never run that far barefoot,” “I could never run that fast barefoot,” “I could never run on a trail barefoot,” “I could never run that drunk barefoot,” and on and on. We become accustomed to asking, why not? and finding no answer.
3. We believe that running barefoot in any condition is possible (maybe not desirable, but possible). Gravel is kind of the holy grail – if you get it, you’re a ninja master. Nothing looks better on a resume than Ninja Master under Special Skills and Interests.
4. We (perhaps over) value tactile feedback. The (perhaps over) is directed at those of us who have learned the basics and push the envelope – running very far, running on rough surfaces, running in unfriendly weather – circumstances where comfort and safety should outweigh the benefits being able to feel the ground.
5. Good ol’ fashioned tribalism. Us vs Them. It’s a hoot proving the naysayers wrong.
6. Lack of shoe practice makes them a hassle. I went for a run today that included stretches of gravel, plus my feet still feel a little sensitive from a hard run yesterday, so I thought I’d trot out the aquas, with socks. It felt very strange. If I’m going to wear them for a leg of the Blue Ridge Relay, I’ll need to train in them at least a little bit. Really don’t want to, though.
7. It’s cooler to say “I did the whole thing barefoot.”
8. We care what other runners think, and want to represent the barefoot contingent well.
9. We anthropomorphize shoes, attaching a lot of meaning to them that doesn’t exist. Humans do that with everything, though; that’s not a trait special to barefooters.
10. We feel like we’re missing out on something when we put shoes on, even minimalist shoes. It’s like a chess player playing checkers. All the variety goes away.
I’m not saying it’s all of these things, but it can be. I’m also not saying barefooters are puritanical all the time, but rather most of us can be some of the time. Personally, I do my best not to anthropomorphize, but the other nine reasons certainly apply to me.
I think the best way to avoid being puritanical is to look at it from the learning perspective, and being honest with yourself where you are on that road. For instance, I really don’t think I’m ready to run 4.5 miles of gravel on a 9 mile leg that descends over 2000 ft. Frankly, I’m nervous about the prospect in footwear.
It does help, however, having a barefoot marathon under my belt. I don’t feel like I have anything to prove, so I can focus on improving my running life and having whatever adventures I want on my terms without feeling like I gotta make excuses if I just feel like wearing footwear. Which, in general, I don’t.
So next time you see a barefooter flinching and grimacing their way across a gravel road, just understand: it’s complicated.
Hey, that “crybaby over a rough 11 miler this weekend” comment hit kinda close to home.
On a different note, I love Megavideo. On a whim, we watched “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”. I love the french dude. “I fart in your general direction”.
I dunno. I think if you can’t run barefoot, really fast in the first oh, say 10k, while smiling and singing a showtune. then there is no point in doing it. It wasn’t meant to be, you do not have the correct monkey feet for the job. Goodnight now SIR.
And WTF did you do to your blog…
I have to comment just to see what little creature I come out as.
I read the Wiki-definition of ‘anthropomorphize’ and I still don’t get it. cripes. I wrote about my feelings toward my 5′s today. I can run in them, i’d rather not tho.
Josh,
Ryan Hall may not run barefoot but he does run bare chested ;]
see here http://runwitharthurlydiard.blogspot.com/2010/08/form-to-make-you-run-fast.html
Kelly: Life of Brian is my favorite, I think. “So funny it was banned in Norway.”
Neil: Look at you, on the fast track to zealotry. I’m so proud. *Sniff* they grow up so quickly, don’t they? Re anthropomorphize, it’s a handy word.
Frances: These creatures are on the “Rated PG-13″ setting. There’s no preview, so I’m a little nervous to see what the “R” rating is about. I mean, sometimes my art students visit this blog.
Rick: I mean this in the least fruity way possible, but that man runs beautifully. In spite of what he thinks, he would make an excellent barefoot runner. If he had me for a coach. Ryan: call me dude. I would totally clear my busy calendar to show you the ol light-step. Again, I meant that in the least fruity way possible.
Oh yeah, what do you guys think of this template? I felt like freshening things up a little.
Don’t you think “minimalist” footwear originally evolved so man could go (hunt) places where the terrain was unfriendly to his bare feet? For example, although I don’t run barefoot as much as others, I can run with confidence on paved roads, sidewalks and decrepit soccer fields, but on trails and some graded roads, I have zero barefoot confidence. If I am man of yester-year and am hungry, I’m tying that animal skin around my feet and running after dinner.
Jamoosh: Absolutely. That and for fashion and status within a group. But, mankind existed for millions of years before the invention of shoes, and I suspect the invention had more to do with climate change (brrrr) than terrain. Regardless, there’s no way any of us are going to be as skilled as someone who never put on shoes and had to run across any and every terrain for dinner every day of his life. Maybe the knowledge of how to run on the nasty stuff has to be learned at a young age while the brain is still growing, like learning a language.
It’s not really about puritanism as much as wanting to be really, really good at something you enjoy. My dogs run on gravel just fine without shoes. I’m jealous.
I can’t help but be reminded of Ryan Hall’s statement about his preformance being limited without shoes when I read Jason’s comment, “but I’m being held back by my insistence on foregoing shoes”.
I know Jason is pushing the limits. Honestly, I would never consider the racing schedule or distances that he has completed. But then, I’m sure Ryan Hall is pushing the limits as well, running who’s knows how many miles, 150+ per week?
In my opinion, barefoot running is about sensible running, something you do that you believe is good for you. I admire what Jason is doing and love to read his recaps, but it isn’t sensible running, so I think his decision to go minimalist is appropriate.
I think and don’t take this in the wrong way, that human’s invented shoes once their brains got big enough :]
Even Chris McDougalls Tarahumara Indians wear sandals!!!
I think it’s cool that barefoot running has shown the shoe makers the errors of there way and at last were getting some minimal shoes that work.
I’ve even tried barefoot running myself and I can understand why you do it.
But I ‘m pretty dan sure if you want to run your fastest then you need shoes!
Even the guy who won the Rome olympics barefoot came back and ran faster in shoes!
Or maybe I should put it another way, when I was a kid I use to run along the beach barefoot [it felt great] until I hit the pebbles, och that figgin hurt like hell and I had to stop and walk!!!
The thing is I don’t want to walk, I want to hit the trails and run and run and run :]
So thank you shoes for making it possible :]
Kelly: I think there’s a difference between the pain and risks of running on gravel and the pain and risks of running 150 mi/wk on more favorable terrains. You can’t really use your eyes on gravel. You have to rely on being super relaxed and letting the flinching dictate where you put your weight. Running lots of miles requires only a basic the discipline of not skidding, scuffing, or pushing off. Having said that, I have no idea what a four minute mile feels like, so maybe there’s unavoidable wear and tear. I’m not convinced, though, and Ryan Hall (why do I keep using his whole name? “Ryan” sounds too familiar, “Mr. Hall” too formal; RH from now on) shouldn’t be either.
Rick: I feel like I should agree with you, but I’m really not so sure that shoes are required for optimal performance. If a bfr is efficient and smooth, it won’t hurt and it shouldn’t damage at any speed. We wear shoes. For what? Protection. From what? The ground – it hurts to pound our feet into it. The shod runner says yes, I need that protection because I need to pound the ground, at least a little, to go fast. The bfr let me try not pounding the ground.
So these the questions: how much pounding is necessary to generate speed, and how much of that pounding can a bare foot tolerate without pain?
Re brains, they were the size they are today for a long time before shoes. Although, we don’t really know when shoes were invented; I suppose it’s possible that pre-homo sapiens wore shoes, too. In fact, if modern humans need shoes, wouldn’t Homo erectus? I dunno, just a thought.
Also I just find it weird to think that of all the animals that have ever walked and ran the earth, we’re the only ones who require footwear to perform optimally. Especially if the act of running itself was a major factor in us evolving into what we are today.
Just to be clear, I’m not saying this in a “I’m right, you’re wrong” sort of way. I’m just bloviating. That’s my word of they year, by the way.
“I could never run that far barefoot drunk”, lol. FWIW, your blog does a fine job presenting barefoot issues without being petty, preachy, polemical or pedantic. It’s often pithy, but usually not pulchritudinous (since I’m pretty stuck on ps). Whew, lol.
mr loser: Thanks, I try not to be a raving hysteric. Most of the time. Re pulchritudinous, I can only do so much with what I’ve got.
Your dogs run on gravel just fine without shoes. So does my kids! They are 11 years old and practically live their lives barefooted unless it gets to cold or some parent tells them to put on something..
We went for a barefoot run together, me and the twins. When we hit the difficult rough gravel part of the trail my girl and I had to slow down seriously. My son then started to walk, just to show that he could walk faster than we “ran”.. Then suddenly he just ran off over the gravel very fast, an said that if he just runs fast enough the small stones really didn’t hurt. Isn’t that amazing?? My girl could do the same thing, I’m sure. She says that she prefers the rough asphalt over the smooth. Gives her a better grip.
I have only run barefooted for 4 months and still have a lot to learn. Wish I was 11.
I finally have done a few gravel runs this summer after avoiding the stuff for over 3 years. I’m no expert, but my sense is that gravel is more of a psychological hurdle, rather than a physical hurdle.
Birthe: Yeah, a time machine would definitely help. But if I were 11 again, I probably wouldn’t be running. I’d be inside watching Thundercats on tv.
Matt: I’ll be posting about this later, but I tried a little gravel running today. Just didn’t feel like dealing with the focus, though, and put some sandals on. I had a very nice leisurely run.
I wonder if there’s a difference between psychological and physical; sometimes I think it’s all the same thing.
Josh — I’m looking forward to your post about gravel. I really see it as the Holy Grail of barefoot running. It seems that mastering gravel means that you can run on just about anything.
Before I ran barefoot, I had no idea there were so many KINDS and FLAVORS of gravel. I can handle some of them. Others leave me flinching and embarrassed. But I keep working on it because running barefoot feels so awesome the rest of the time.. putting on the shoes is such a letdown. :<