Name: Chris Hawson
Age: 55
Location: NYC (originally from England)
Profession: Buyer for Paragon Sports
What's your story? How did you start running barefoot?
Vibram FiveFingers intrigued me and I began using a pair in June 2009 and, after a period of adjustment, I was running about 10 miles a week in them up to mid-November but put them away once the weather turned cooler. I began using them again in February, with socks, and felt challenged when I was told that a friend's son was running exclusively in Five Fingers and reckoned that I could too. I've not run in anything other than Five Fingers, or barefoot, since the beginning of March this year.
I started running barefoot at the beginning of April 2010, initially at a very modest mileage, but barefoot running is now a little over half the 250 miles a month I've averaged since April.
What are some interesting experiences or observations you've had while running this way?
I'm amazed at how painless the journey has been so far! No blisters from running - though I've had two minor ones from standing still too long on hot tar! I've stubbed a toe or two but all the muscle/knee/hip aches that I used to experience are now distant memories. If my body starts hurting I just adjust my technique a little until the discomfort goes away. The immediate feedback from bare feet requires immediate technique adjustment - no chance for discomfort/pain to be ignored until there is a real injury!
I heard you ran an "accidental" marathon recently.
In the cooler weather this autumn I amazed myself a couple of weeks ago when I ran 29 barefoot miles without any problem and felt far less tired at the end of that than I had running shorter distances, in shoes, last year.
You just went out and ran 29 miles?
Yeah.
Why did you decide to come to the NYC Barefoot Run?
I've been part of the
Barefoot Runners NYC since June and I'm regarding this just as a, rather larger than normal, group run. No pressure, no competition.
What are you most excited about?
Being able to meet a number of the luminaries of the sport and spending time with like-minded runners.
You've left your mark on the run -- tell us about that.
Anything else you would like to say or share about yourself or your experiences?
There's a wealth of information on the web - as a beginner I read a lot before I first put skin to road and made sure to apply what I had read each time I went out. I believe that kept me injury free and smiling throughout each run. [You can check out
Barefoot NYC for some getting started links and an instructional video.]
You're a foot model too.
My footprints may make an appearance at the run.
