Strange Foot Issues

[Jennifer Mitol]

But only if you run barefoot. Now get going!!

[Ozzy McKinney]

Well that doesn't answer my question! :P

I believe that training in bare feet, starting small, progressing slowly, can probably yield positive benefits. The reason I didn't consider it before the injury? I could hike 20+ miles a day, never had sore feet, ankles, calves, etc. No blisters, no bruises, no nothing. Why fix what isn't broken?

Injury happens. Try different things: changing shoes, footbed, running surface, frequency of workouts, etc. No bueno. Going barefoot is painless. Sweet. Rock the bare feets a while. I'll keep doing it too, as long as it doesn't hurt. But..

If I am to approach the problem from the perspective of regaining what I have lost, or as we say in nursing, returning to prior level of function, can the barefoot philosophy return me to hiking as I previously did? With the goal of "thru"-hiking the PCT in 2014, I can hardly expect to show up in Campo next April in a pair of huaraches and hike 2600 miles in 5 months. The goal seemed totally obtainable (in my brooks cascadias) 3 months ago, and seem highly unlikely in a pair of comfortable, if inappropriate, Lunas.

So, I'm keeping up the biking, stretching, etc, with the intention of returning to modern footwear, even if it costs the respect of more enlightened individuals. I'm doing to keep rocking my flops, or bare feet, too. Because it is comfortable, and because I think it is beneficial, bit by bit, to maintaining strong feet. Who knows. Maybe years from now I will walk the PCT in huaraches, but probably not in 2014.

Disclaimer- I just demolished a sixer of Fremont IPA, and I'm not entirely sure if what I've just written makes sense to the sober.

[Bean]

Also have to resolve yourself for the the sad reality you might be aging and injuries are just part of that, even if we go naked for the rest of our lives and eat only fresh berries and salmon caught with our own teeth.

Disclaimer: 6 canned Blue Moon's (on #7) and one SoCo and Coke. Drinking because I'm in a walking cast/boot contemplating canceling all my summer trips after a very easy twelve mile hike left me hobbled with PTT. But I'll likely just go and deal with limping out.

[Jennifer Mitol]

Well Ozzy (which auto correct changes to "lazy," by the way!), ill ideally be on the pct in 2014…ill take care of that foot for you. Easy as pie :)

[Ozzy McKinney]

well in that case, ignore everyone who has told you anything but "You must go!" :-P

[Jan S]

"All I can say is that as an orthopedic specialist, very little has come around that has been better for my practice than the barefoot running/hiking trend!"

Judging by the blogs I've read about this is that a lot of people tend to simply over do it. Buying minimalist shoes and running 10 miles after you've worn overbuilt shoes all your life makes me cringe in pain just by reading it. From the same blogs I got the impression that pain is something you overcome by doing more of the same (and finding a good doctor a short while later).

And it doesn't help that a lot of people just seem to get simplified short version of the newest fad. Run without shoes! Hike ultralight! All of the fads I've seen make sense in a way but just skimming over 'Born to Run' or 'Ultralight Backpackin' Tips' and then doing without thinking isn't exactly the road to happiness. Although of course all the evangelists claim it is.

That said I think the whole less shoe thing has something going for it. But then I never liked a heel differential and have worn 'minimalist shoes' (Converse Chucks) as often as I could. Oh, and I come from a country that doesn't have a medical profession that only concerns itself with feet.

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