Google search: calf pain

That's how I've started today. My calf muscles hurt so much, I'm back to having to take stairs sideways. Thankfully, several forums on minimalist running have reassured me this is completely normal. They say having a rest day between runs is essential and I should also practise 'chi' walking. I'm not entirely sure what this means, but I think it indicates walking 'mindfully' in order to give my muscles a good stretch. Ice is also recommended. Less than 8 weeks to the Ealing half-marathon. Not sure yet what I'll be running in. Or whether I'll still be able to run at all. Getting to work today should be interesting. I wonder if I can find someone to carry me?

Feeling hot hot hot...

Too hot getting changed in the work's toilets. Too hot trying to force my swollen feet into my Vibrams. Too hot running home through Regent's Park. However, it was my first proper run in what feels like months, ergo it was a good one. Issues: I'm not sure my right foot fits properly in the shoe. My toes don't sit comfortably in the toe gloves and this led to a stubbing incident on Marylebone Road. Another issue, I'm landing ever so heavily, which I try to address, but this 'fleet of foot' running style is extremely tiring. Halfway home I was already turning corned beef; three-quarters of the way and I was groaning like a tennis player. But I kept going and made it home in one piece. I practised my patented 'running backwards down Hillfield Road' technique in order to stretch out my calf muscles in the opposite direction so I'm hopeful I'll be able to walk tomorrow. This is all in preparation for the Ealing half-marathon at the end of September. I'm not sure that speed will be of the essence, if I'm going barefoot then I'll just be happy to get round. Expectation management in progress. (Stats: 4.24 miles; 43 minutes; 10.08 minute/mile.)

Best (bare)foot forward

In the spirit of investigation, I decided to walk home from work on Thursday night. Without my shoes.

I thought it would be a good introduction to the 'minimalist' running idea that Barefoot Ted et al have been talking about.

I was a little self-conscious as I couldn't fit my flip flops in my bag so I had to carry them. This drew attention to my al fresco feet and I felt a bit of a tool (that's been happening a lot recently). To distract myself from tool-dom, I started taking photos of my feet on the various pavements and roads they encountered. (I took 241 pictures in total. I got a bit carried away.)

Ted was absolutely right about pavements being an easy flat surface to potter on. It was all pretty much plain sailing (or walking?). There was one minor incident when something non-specific got stuck to my forefoot. (I'm hoping it was just a soggy leaf.) And I found you had to be especially careful around parked cars. (You see a lot of smashed wing mirrors when you're staring at the floor.) But on the whole, the actual walking experience was fine.

However, once I'd got home - and washed my dirty black feet (top tip: don't try to shower with your jeans on) things took a turn. They really started to throb. I'm sure this is normal as it was around the padded raised areas that must have taken most of the flack. But they were so sore, I couldn't put them on the floor. It was almost as if they were burning in places.

At this point, I berated myself for not waiting till after the half to experiment. But just as I was going to text my flatmate to bring me a bucket of ice, the sensation began to subside. And by the next morning they were pretty much back to normal.

So, not the most auspicious of beginnings; but then, even Barefoot Ted had to start somewhere.

(Stats: 4.67 miles (2.67 sans flip flops); 1.30 minutes; not sure of the minute-mileage, probably not a personal best.)

(Pic: Using my flip flop to flick something untoward off my foot. I never ever want to know what it was.)

You don't have to take your shoes off to have a good time...

...but according to Barefoot Ted, it helps.

Last night, I went to 'An Evening with Barefoot Ted' to listen to the virtues of barefoot or minimalist running. I'd encountered this concept before (in Chris McDougall's book 'Born to Run'). I have to confess, I was already a bit of a convert (in theory, at least.)

The basic idea being, the foot is a piece of highly developed machinery that is designed to work best when it's at its most natural; i.e. the more you distance it from the world (with padded expensive trainers, for example) the less you give it the chance to work properly. And that can result in the joint pain and jarring that is, traditionally, the runner's lot.

A little while ago I attended the Running School in Chiswick in an attempt to achieve a more fleet-of-foot, effective running style. Their proposition is that they can teach you to run - and then to run faster.

At no point, did they suggest I throw my shoes out of the window. But what I found interesting, in comparing the words of Barefoot Ted with those of Mike Antoniades (founder/head coach at the Running School), was the similarities. Their descriptions of the ideal running 'technique' were virtually the same: from the idea that we need to remind our bodies how to work as holistic machines to the concept of light, gentle forward-foot landings and the emphasis on balance and breathing. The only difference being, Ted would advocate that this 'ideal' gait develops more naturally when you take your trainers off.

This is oversimplifying it and you'll find more information on his website but, to me, Barefoot Ted made a lot of sense. To the extent, I was seriously considering ditching my sandals for the walk home from the tube station. Maybe I should change my name to Barefoot Lou.


(Pic: Barefoot Ted waxing lyrical at King's College. Apologies that my iPhone doesn't have a great zoom. And no, he wasn't completely barefoot. He had special sandals on.)

(Chris McDougall's book 'Born to Run' is a fascinating insight into ultra running, barefoot running and the mysterious 'running' tribes of the Copper Canyons.)

(More info on the Running School in Chiswick. Mike, incidentally, is one of the nicest guys I have ever met.)