Welcome To Natural Running!

It is great news that science has confirmed that barefoot work will improve your running style.  You might well want to have a go.  But to try it out, you've got to get out there in the street with no shoes on your feet.  I've often found it helpful to remind myself that in fact, I've chosen NOT to do something (i.e. put on a pair of shoes), but still I hear people refer to me as 'the man who wears barefeet'.  I mention this because the social pressure to conform to the norm can powerfully affect a decision to do something such as put on your shoes to go out for a run or not to do it.  There's a whole lot of challenging habit-lock breaking should you decide to go out barefoot .  Your running style has to be modified as well as breaking the familiar routine of putting on shoes. Then there's the passers-by who will routinely help you to be aware that you are going against a tradition.  I take some comfort, as people make their comments that they're helping me to feel the force of habit. They also help me to realize  that habit is to the individual as tradition is to the collective. Both have something of the same Dark Force behind them.

I've been barefootin' so long that grey hairs start to predominate.  I opened the door recently to a policeman on my doorstep.  He was gently inquiring if I'd been out earlier without shoes.  By and by it transpired that an elderly local farmer, who had recently lost his wife from Alzheimer's disease had spotted my barefeet and rung the police.  I do occasionally notice an ominous look that says, 'Do they know back at the Home that you have got out again'.

It helps me as I go along to muse away on some ripostes to the comments people repeatedly make.  The teenagers on the corner are usually quite merciless but actually quite predictable. They usually come out with 'Forgotten yer shoes then'?  To which, 'No, I remembered my feet' works OK.  Sometimes I leap up in mock startled response saying, 'I know I came out without something'.  In similar vein the, 'Where's your shoes then?', query can be answered with 'Abducted by aliens'.

Running barefoot in Ireland often brings the question, 'Are you doing a penance?'  After being asked this a few times I came back with, 'Yeah – but hey it was worth every step'.

Only once have I been asked if I was a cult.  A good response to this might be, 'Somebody else said I was a stupid cult – at least I though that's what they said'.

It would be good to share some to the things people say when you're out barefootin'.  We could set up a 1-50 set of things to say back.  Send them in so we can post 'em.

Kids are usually fascinated to see someone in the street in barefeet.  It's a matter of family legend that I had a particular dislike of socks at a very early age.  I called them 'wooly bags' around my ankles.  The foot is such a sensory rich structure and to 'muffle' it in a sock cuts down sensory information and worn repeatedly numbs and degrades the foot's sensitivity.  The insistent way that toddlers kick off their shoes and socks , seems to indicate they don't really like the feel of shoes and socks that much. The sight of someone like me out without shoes and socks seems to get then wondering how I've managed to get away with it.  Being even less inhibited than adults they often quiz their parents about it – sometimes mercilessly.

I was standing barefoot at the cash-dispenser on a hot summer's day  when that 3 year old voice, the one that pierces through the air like a sniper's bullet announces:

“He's got no shoes on”

This classic opener was followed by  shushing from Mum who is actually stood right next to me even though the voice would still be heard at 400metres.

Another tug at Mum's coat. Then:

“Mummy he's got no shoes on. He's naughty”!

More embarrassed  mutterings from Mum. Then:

“Why's he got no shoes on”?

Mum in consternation:

“Well it is very warm today isn't it?

A pause of perfectly timed length and then:

“Mummy? Can I take my shoes and socks off”?

Parent get to think quick on their feet with their kid's enquiries.  One youngster opened up with the same line, 'He's got no shoes on!' Quick as a flash Mum came back with, 'He knows'.  And that was the end of that!

It must sometimes be bemusing for youngsters and a challenge for parents who struggle both to keep up with convention and try to protect their kids from some very real risks particularly in dodgy urban environments.  A four year old youngster once saw me in barefeet in a restaurant and, taking the matter into her own hands ,slyly took off her shoes and socks.  On seeing this her Mum drew her youngster to her and wagging a finger in her face said, 'Put your shoes on 'cos if you don't your feet'll spread.  And then you won't be able to wear shoes at all'.  This, is of course, quite  bemused the youngster.

My favourite kids and barefootin' experience came from another little 5 year old . This took place in quite a few degrees of frost. He insisted on taking his foot out of it's warm 'welly' and sock. Poised above the frost and so hot pink and vulnerable, I was half expecting to hear the same sound as  red hot metal plunged into water. Anticipating a yelp and a rapid scurrying back into the 'welly' and sock, I was  surprises to hear  him say ”OOH what a fizzy feeling” as he took off his other welly and sock. For the youngster this was just about life and the delight in an intense feeling. So here's to 5year old geniuses everywhere and to getting 'fizzical!