DAY 18 - Don't make me go all VFF on you!

My bitchy feet need a break
After taking the first steps of my run today I couldn't help but think, "This stings like a mofo!" Then I wondered how long it would last. Its not like I'm the kilted and caped superhero Maple Grove Barefoot Guy running on freezing snow. I'm in sunny California here where we are currently experiencing our "second summer" thanks in part to global weirding. Frankly, I can't remember when we had a November in the 80s in the valley like this. This morning was unusually cool at about 45 degrees, though (I hear the snickers from all you seasoned and rugged, industrial-strength, winter weather BFRs) and my feet weren't quick to warm up. It took about a mile in to lose the stinging sensation in my feet. I decided to take a route that had more cement as opposed to the normal asphalt I'm used to running on. I thought this would equal less stinging. Apparently not.

I ran about 3 miles completely barefoot. I'm not sure what was happening today. My feet just weren't feeling their normal happy selves. They were downright cranky and tender. Ok. So I stepped on a few spiky things that managed to hitch a ride for few yards, but I do that all the time. If it doesn't hurt I just kinda do the "bull" imitation to slough it off. You know? Where you do a little quickie jump stop and brush the bottom of your feet on the ground a few times to get whatever bits have embedded themselves in your foot off. I probably only have to do this once or twice while running. Sometimes I have to stop and brush it off with my hands, but for the most part the embedded bits weren't any more annoying today than any other day. So I don't think that was it. Although... one spiky bit had kind of tore the skin. It wasn't much of a tear though. Nothing to go all VFF about. But then I thought about my upcoming 5k Turkey Trot. It will be my first barefoot race EVER and I don't want to go into that with raw feet so I sucked it up and put on the VFFs. I always carry them with me, just in case. I was kind of glad I did today. Had no problems once they were on. Was even able to push my pace up a notch as well.

Got home, babied my feet with a nice warm bath and some bactine. Now its time to have a little talk with them. I hate to have to lay down the iron hammer and sequester my soles in the VFFs, but if I have to I will.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Comments

  1. My soles have better and worse days too. I guess these ups and downs are a part of the process. Cold mornings are definitely more difficult to handle.
    Our CA autumn has been very strange so far. It is pretty good for barefoot running though.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I had the same issue this morning only it was 31 degrees. I finally stuck on my socks to finish out my run. I was pretty bummed. If only I had started this thing a couple of months ago!
    Thanks for your words of encouragement! They mean a lot!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good luck with your feet and the turkey trot. Your first barefoot race-awesome! Enjoy and let us know how things go. I'm running the Manchester Road Race tomorrow myself...with shoes on of course. What a baby I am.

    Happy turkey day!

    Ken

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks Ken! Happy Turkey Day to you too!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Twenty Miles Of Punishment

Shame and Camel Toe

Evofem's Softcup Review

I'm A Sucker For Beauty & Athletic Eye Candy

A Running Orgasm?