A few years ago, I was your typical office-worker: stressed out, uneven energy, overweight, and inconsistent complexion. Now I'm just your typical 28-year old urban hunter-gatherer on a quest to be healthy, and having a few adventures along the way. See my full bio.
The biggest misconception about barefoot running is that it's hardcore. I'm going to let you in on a little secret: it's not. Barefoot running is actually softcore. Soft. Gentle. Delicate. Light. Starting to sound less macho? I know, that's why I almost kept this to myself.
Jogging is a contact sport. Hit the road, hit the pavement, pound the pavement, pound out a few miles. Ever listen to most runners? Thud, thud, thud, thud. Injuries galore. Knee problems, shin splints, orthotics, plantar faciitis. Remind me -- what is so easy and painless about jogging? Sounds pretty hardcore to me.
If jogging is for the strong, barefoot running is for us wimps and cripples. For people who have no choice but to run softly. To minimize pain...and effort. To glide over the ground. To run, not jog. To move silently, stalk, and pursue. To minimize impact and maximize efficiency. Sounds pretty soft and weak.
The media always gets this wrong. Every time a reporter wants to talk about barefoot running, it's always, "Wow, you must be sooooo tough." As a 27-year-old male with healthy testosterone levels, it's hard not to play into this. And I'll admit that I get a kick out of the exclamations and attention when I'm running in Central Park. Girls always notice. 20% of the time they think it's gross, 80% of the time they starting throwing their sports bras.
An older lady stopped me on the way back from a run last week. 60-something years old -- and well, let's just say she didn't look like the athletic type. She told me she had been running barefoot on the indoor track for a year now and loved it.
And that's exactly what concerns me -- if all the out-of-shape seniors all start running barefoot, then the gig is up. No more babes, no more sweaty sports bras. Can we keep this just between us?
Comments
I don't have to worry about
I don't have to worry about being self conscious because I do my barefoot running at 3:00am..... ( large paper route). Usually about 2 hrs of start/stop running it's awesome I get paid while I run? Good deal I think if you are self conscious (I'm not) try running barefoot off the beaten path you know like along beaches, through fields etc I dunno be creative. Just trying to throw some ideas out there... ever since I started eating paleo 3 months ago my joints and muscles have improved so much and barefoot running is seeming to be just as helpful... it's making me wonder if just the barefoot running would of been enough to rid the achey knees/shin splints but too late now I'm not gonna go back to the processed food diet to find out. People should try it for a week or two just to see the difference.
On the subject of barefoot
On the subject of barefoot running and it being soft, I confess I'm very self-conscious about running out where I can be seen. Not because I feel wierd about having no shoes on; because I feel like I am prancing. At least when I ran with shoes, I looked like a stampeding rhino.
Gee John, I'm sorry! How I
Gee John, I'm sorry! How I remember the days of sweaty sports bras! Well, not really.Anyway, 60 years old here. Started running barefoot due to knee problems. It has been helping big time and I don't plan on quitting anytime soon! I'll try to get in better shape so that I can look buff and then I will do all I can to promote the macho thing about barefoot runners. Never know, I might get a sweaty sports bra throw at me! :-)
Can I know, what actually the
Can I know, what actually the different between running and jogging. What's the fine line that differentiate those two.Thanks.
Runners sometimes jog. But
Runners sometimes jog. But joggers never run.
@izwan it becomes obvious
@izwan it becomes obvious when you consider the meaning of the word jog: "to move by shoving, bumping, or jerking; jar." Compared to the light, fluid motion of barefoot running the differences are glaring.
@jk I used to think that
@jk I used to think that running is the 'faster' version of jogging, and have nothing to do whether you wearing shoes or not.So, when this article pointed out that 'running' - barefoot in this case - slow, glide; it makes me wondering ;)
I need to go run in Centrl
I need to go run in Centrl Park! I get laughed at and made fun of when I run barefoot, doesn't bother me. A simple life enjoying simple things like running barefoot and eating simple food is my goal.
LOL
LOL