This interview is with the NYC Barefoot Run participant coming in from the furthest distance so far....Sweden.
Name: Elisabet (Liz) Holmdahl
Age: 34
Location: Luleå, Sweden
Profession: Swedish Air Force Officer
What's your story? How did you end up running this way?
The day I learned to walk was the day that I started to run, and I still haven´t stopped. As a child I did it for the fun of it, later on, the competitive side of sports just happened to suck me in. For a number of years I competed in a variety of sports, one of them being Biathlon Orienteering. In that particular sport I managed quite well and got to compete in the World Championships. But things weren’t as funny as they used to be. In the world of specialized sports the outcome of the competition were very much dependant on the cost and quality of the sports equipment. I needed a break and something to do that would get me the joy of my childhood back again.
Time went by and then, two years ago I discovered “
MovNat”. I felt as if someone finally articulated my subconscious need for a straightforward training and movement philosophy. One thing led to another and soon barefoot running became a part of my training. Things really started to heat up this spring. I bought my first Vibram Five Fingers after reading Christopher McDougals book “Born to Run”, and was surprised at how easy I was able to adapt to the new running technique. Things just felt so natural and running has never been more fun and pain free. I´ve never looked back since.
Do you run barefoot or with minimalist shoes?
As for the running, I prefer to do it completely barefoot on roads but the baby-skin soles of my feet still prevents me from doing it on rougher surfaces, but I´m working hard on that one. I really like running in the wilderness (without any roads or paths) with the VFFs on. It brings such a connection with the nature and situational awareness of the surrounding. Being unfocused can really hurt ;-)
How long have you been doing it?
For about a year.
Interesting observations from your time running this way?
My husband hates to run. At least he used to. That’s because he always got shin splints from doing it. But since he started to run bare foot, no problems at all! I mean nothing! Nowadays he does it as often as he can, and I have to hold him back so his body will have a chance to ease in to it.
A couple of days ago I went out for a long run in the rain. Five Fingers on and everything was fine. Then suddenly a burning sensation under one of my toes. Shoot! My first chafe in Five Fingers. “Shoe” off and there it was, a small scratch. I blamed the wet conditions and perhaps a small stone. “Shoe” back on again, and tried to run for a while. Nope! It would only get worse. I couldn´t afford hurting my feet with the New York trip so close. So what to do? “Shoe” off of course. Leaving it on only seemed to make things worse anyway. “Ordinary” people really looked puzzled by the oddball that came running in the pouring rain with only one shoe on, but I´m glad I could offer them some laughter on that freezing day.
Isn´t it funny? We put on shoes to protect our feet but sometimes we have to take them off to care for them.
It’s really all about meeting the people that share the same passion. I´ve met so many wonderful persons through Barefoot running, Paleo eating and MovNat. And I have no doubt that this is going to be a milestone in my life in that sense. The run is going to be fantastic and I’m really hyped about it, but I’m also really looking forward to attending the barefoot running seminars during my stay there.
Anything else interesting you want to say?
Now days I´m back to my joyous inner child when it comes to training. I´m really passionate about exercise and especially running. I do it for my own sake, not to reach a specific time, but because I really enjoy it. My family enjoys it and it´s something that has greatly benefited us all. It´s all about having a healthy lifestyle, and enjoying the life that you have.
