Comments on: Barefoot Running (pt 3) – Patience, Puma and POSE

By: Cristina

Cristina — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:52:13 +0000

I enjoyed reading about your barefoot adventures! I’ve only just started out myself, and have hovered over the “buy” button for a pair of FiveFingers many times but not yet actually bought them. I’ve only done 2 very short runs barefoot so far, but it was a really good feeling. I did have quite a lot of pain after the first session (and that was only 2×90 second bursts!), but not in my calves, more in the tendons and bones around my lower leg. It took 4-5 days to go away completely. I agree with Jaime on the FiveFingers, I also believe that less is more, although as I live in Amsterdam and don’t really have easy access to undisturbed nature running, I have to stick with parks and pavements, meaning a higher risk of glass and other sharp objects. So I’m thinking it could be a good idea to be on the safe side. I really enjoy the sensation of the pavement against my feet tho, the different textures and temperatures. It seems to add a new dimension to the experience!

By: Jaime

Jaime — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:27:43 +0000

I personally find Dr. Romanov’s explanations utterly incomprehensible… I have a copy of his “Pose Method of Triathlon Techniques” and couldn’t really make any sense out of it until I read “Chi Running”. It is basically the same thing as POSE, although covered in oriental philosophical crap, but with much, much clearer explanations, and much, much less focus on non-running drills. Because while some time in the weight room is a great complement, especially working your calves and hamstrings, there’s no better drill than easy running barefoot itself, or so I believe.

After several of weeks of random, short barefoot runs, I’m now two weeks into consistent barefoot running. With the proper technique, my experience is that calves adapt very quickly, and I haven’t had any blistering issues so far. But I have kept my mileage much, much more conservative: I’ll be running 2 Km at noon today, and that will be my longest barefoot run so far.

I have mixed feelings about the Vibram’s: will probably get a pair this Christmas, but right now I don’t think I’ll use them except for some trail running, or over dangerous (as in broken glass to be found) routes. The less is definitely the better.

By: Martin

Martin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:38:54 +0000

My calves are hard as a rock right now, so I actually walk carefully with very small steps. I even went by car for lunch instead of walking. Yesterday the pain came creeping in the afternoon. The day before yesterday I ran 6 kilometres in my FiveFingers. Back then it felt really good and I didn’t experience any unusual pain, so I reckon this is just a temporary pain for muscle rebuilding (träningsvärk in swedish).
That is also the longest I have ever run in my Vibrams. Earlier, I have only used them for short sprints, walking and at the gym.
Now I just hope that the pain will leave me in a few days.