A preliminary big thank you to www.nerdfitness.com once again for highlighting this.
Last month I began to take dieting much more seriously, and had begun jogging a few times a week to compliment my new diet. Nike invested money and time researching the best ways to give my ankles (sprained once each) support, and I in turn invested a pretty penny (a thanks there to my dad, who I hope NEVER reads this post) on our family trip to Sicily buying my new replacement pair of basketball shoes, including special soles to take the shape of my feet .
 |
| Pretty sweet huh? |
This evening I tried my first barefoot jogging session.
 |
| \Today's tools/ |
Now, I am not saying those are bad shoes or anything - they do the job they are meant to do well. Time will tell whether I am right in thinking this is not the job for me though.
Earlier this week I happened across a post (http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/11/04/barefoot-running-the-great-debate/). I highly recommend reading this in depth analysis. I was intrigued - I walk around barefoot all the time at home, and am often unshod in my garden and while camping, and enjoy doing so, so this idea not only made sense but was encouraging. I had to give it a try!
The special shoes concerned me in that they were not only expensive but I doubted I could find a pair on the island (though I have yet to check), but I was frankly too eager to care, so this evening I went down for supper (frittata slice, orange, strawberry low-fat yoghurt) in a pair of jogging pants and a light hoodie (which I was also wearing for the first time, having always gone in t-shirts and shorts regardless of the seasons) and bare feet.
To save you an inspiring narrative of my first steps on the cool tarmac beneath my earnest feet I'll give you a breakdown. I'm not a very good jogger, I never have been. I could I suppose vainly say I am built as a sprinter, but I think it's because I possess more than my fair share of unfitness. However, tonight I can say that I am proud of myself for the good run I had. A brief analysis:
- More surefootedness and tactile response
- Easier posture maintenance (which usually gives me a lot of trouble and wastes a lot of breath)
- Greater comfort to my ankles (during and after the jog)
Perhaps I had just rested well, or maybe it was because I had eaten the right things that day, but I felt more focused, I ran further (3km) and for longer (perhaps 15+ minutes) than I have run in a great long time, and funnily enough I was not as tired as I normally am. NB: The figures are just estimates. I will be more accurate in future!
One appreciated shower later here I am writing about it (my first blog no less!). It's only the first day, so I cannot say for certain which is better, but this was certainly a good beginning!
P.s. In case anyone is wondering, I have not got a single mark on my either of my feet!!
 |
| This shot took forever for dilettante cameraman to take |
No comments:
Post a Comment