It was actually 1.35 miles last night … to be exact. :)
By the way, I love pushing the envelope for my own personal gratification … but I also love the message YOU should be receiving from my antics or experiments…however you want to charactarize them… YOU HAVE NO EXCUSES!!
Diabetic or not! Says a former obese diabetic…. :)
I ran at night which added to the ‘danger’ factor but hey! … I didn’t want anyone to see me. They may think I’m crazy or something. :)
There are links at the end of the post for more information on barefoot running… but just know, I did NOT go from the couch to barefoot running on pavement. It is a progression… I’ve been exercising and running barefoot on grass for over a year.
My First Barefoot Mile
Three days before… on a whim while at the local high school track … I decided to try barefoot running. I ended up running 3/4 of a mile (3 laps), at that moment I knew I was going to try to run a mile… barefoot.
When I woke up the next morning and my feet were in great shape… there was NO doubt in my mind that a mile was in my future…. or at least the attempt.
I had decided to wait a week and run a mile on the track… it has softer asphalt and very few rocks etc.
But then … last night, after dark I was watching TV after stuffing myself at dinner and I decided go for a jog. Then the next thought was …
“I’ll try jogging barefoot on the road … and I’ll take my shoes in case it gets too rough … literally and figuratively”
Next thing I know … I am jogging lightly on the road. Though it was dark, thanks to the street lights I
could see if any large sharp objects were in my path and the first .2 miles were uneventful. At that point the road turned to rockier asphalt and I had to start jogging on the concrete sidewalk.
I had not expected this and I was concerned about it wreaking havoc on the skin of my feet. I made a conscious effort not to push off with my feet on each strike but to pick them up more straight up and down.
** By the way – when running barefoot on grass or pavement… I ALWAYS run on the balls of my feet. My heels may ‘touch’ the ground … but only lightly. The “heel to toe” foot striking MUST go away… for obvious reasons.
Yes there were a few times where I felt sharp pain … when stepping on a pebble … but after running barefoot you learn to react very quickly … your feet, skin and senses are much more ‘alert’. Though I stepped on a few small rocks… as you can see there is no permanent damage.
I am NOT suggesting that YOU as a diabetic go running barefoot on pavement.
I am suggesting that SINCE I DO …. YOU have NO EXCUSES not to exercise…. so DO IT!
Here’s an informational post about barefoot running, “New Barefoot Challenge” , This is a post and vid of me running in the snow … barefooted, “Snowy Primal X”
My toes, feet, ankles, knees and legs ALL feel great the next day. I will run again on pavement barefooted … not sure of what my goals will be regarding miles. I’ll just see what happens. :)
Here is my Diabetes Warrior Info:
My Diabetes Meal Plan ( a true diabetes diet, not like most of those promoted by American Diabetes Association)