DG_Allen Member

The VFFs are cool, but they do look "funny." I laugh everytime I see someone wearhing them. Those separated toes just look funny.

I'm a new barefooter and would be interested too.

1. Get outside like everyone else says 2. Sign up for a race 3. Have fun! Run at a park, run on a trail, run with a friend, say hi to your neighbors. 4. Don't "jog" but run easily and with less effort.

If you have flat feet, working on barefoot technique can strengthen them and help build your arches. Most of us have been in shoes our whole lives so our feet are weak and we have bad arches etc. Also, for people in cities, the sidewalks actually feel really good on your feet. It's very smooth. You have to learn how to let…

I'm currently doing my walks and short training runs in nature's shoes (bare feet) and my longer runs in Merrell Road Glove minimal shoes. I'm going to convert some of my training runs to barefoot running to work on my form. Like all the other barefoot zealots, I highly recommend giving it a try.

I agree completely!!

Someone posted this thread and it's got some really good advice. Used a lot of it for my 2nd 5K last month. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/279198-running-tip-so-you-are-about-to-do-your-first-race

Mine do that too. I had to cut my career as a cat burglar short because of it :-). My go off going up stairs. Make sure your squat form is good. Keep your weight on the outsides of your feet and our heals. Don't let your knees go too far forward and don't do too much weight so you stay safe.

My first one was 27: something and I don't have a time for the most recent because the course was mis-marked (they had to redo the timing as a 2.6 mile). I would have been around 25 minutes based on my pace. I'm shooting for a sub 20 minute before I get too much older and slower :smile: Good luck to you. Take it slow and…

Thanks for posting! It is inspiriing. I'm thinking about going for a full marathon in about 12 months. I've done a couple 5ks and have a couple more coming up. I think taking it slowly is the secret to not getting injured.

Have fun!

Yoga style push-ups with the elbows kept close to the body really work the triceps. They are pretty hard to do at first, so start with your knees down first if you need to.

I did mine in 27 minutes but I KILLED myself. Major pain for 10 days after. I think a better goal is to run at a good pace for you for the whole race and to finish strong. I'm no expert, but that's how races are run. My last 5k a couple weeks ago I was shocked at how many people darted off the start line and passed me and…

Look up on youtube about running form. Look for Pose method or forefoot running. When you "jog" and land on your heels, you stress your joints. If you learn to run on your forefoot it takes a lot of the stress of your joints. I did this (my form still needs work but it's better) and now I have no knee pain. Also, like some…

56 i'm on a cup of coffee right now too

I had Lasik. It went really well. Now that I'm 42 I need reading glasses sometimes, but that can't really be helped. Get a good doctor and follow the post op plans.

Cool! Once you do the 5k you'll be hooked. Running's like a drug - I swear.

Thanks! You seem to be the master of squatting disaster! I'll give it a shot with some dumbells in hand to start.

Real question for you guys. My knees are prone to pain and I've been afraid of squats with weights. To prevent knee injury I've been trained to avoid letting my knees extend past my toes and using the squat as mostly a glute workout and sitting back with my butt. I do this w/o weights and it seems to work pretty well.…

I ran my race on Sunday and all this advice was spot on. I wound up not parking very close to the start and I only had my stainless steel water bottle that I didn't want to leave at the start line. So, I didn't get any water for about 30 minutes before the race. I got a dry mouth a few minutes befor the start and had to…

I was having knee pain training for a 5k and it was mostly due to bad running form. I was landing hard on my heels when I ran. I now run landing on my midfoot instead of heel and I don't have knee pain anymore. There's lots of youtube vids on running form. I'm not sure if this is your case or not. You might want to see a…

Great Job and great time for your first Half. Inspiring!

That's why I asked! I thought I was too!! My wife posted a question on her knitting website (Ravelry) to see if there were people like her who like to untangle yarn. It turns out there were and she started a group that now has more than 1000 members. Our quirky habits aren't so quirky after all :smile:

My counting is more habitual and I can't really control it. Maybe I'll try to and then I'll be able to make it stop. I try to contol my pace with my breathing. If I'm huffing and puffing too much, I try to slow down. I find that I have trouble slowing down however.

Big bummer..

Wow, she's got the 'tude and she's stilla tween. Good luck with that :tongue: :wink:

Thanks for the tip on the earbuds. I'm being cheap and not getting some new ones. My wife made me feel kinda paranoid too about getting hit by a car that I don't hear coming up from behind me if I have the music on.

Now I'm going to count to 12.

I am a little nutty!

I feel so much better, I'm not alone! Thank you sjv and lporter! I have used music and that helps but my ear buds always fall out and that bugs me. I've learned to just go with it and use it for pacing. I'll focus on my breathing and my form (land on the mid-foot!) and try to quiet it if the numbers bug me. I'm hoping for…