When I woke this morning it was to the sounds of a storm, the rain lashing against my windows - a noise I like until I remembered I was going to go for a 20min barefoot run. I like running in the rain, maybe not thunder and lightning - but rain, yeah it’s refreshing, cleansing - but barefoot ?? Mmmmm More on that soon.
My next thought was that it is National Day here in Singapore, the parade has been practised for 2 months, the place is ready to celebrate 52 years and it’s stormy - I didn’t want that for the country today.
I lay in bed, did some pondering and the rain quietened.
Up and out; me and my feet…
As I ran, I thought about this blog, what to write and why I wanted to barefoot run again - hey presto, there’s my blog!!!
A while ago I ran only in vibrams, I lived in Scotland at the time not such clean streets and parks as here but I could have - I chose to be semi -shod.
After returning from San Francisco, I decided to go bare, no vibrams, no sandal just me and the skin under me feet..
Why?
It teaches me a lot - how my foot is falling for one, which helps when I put trainers on again.
The main difference is I am aware,
aware of how the ground feels under me,
I have to keep my eyes open to the lay of the land in front, is there anything I need to avoid?,
I run slower so am more in tune with everything around me -
people, the wind, animals, noises, the voice in my head that wonders how fast I’m going!!!
Or not going to be honest. I did this morning ‘check’ my pace on the markers in the park - and I thought “oh that means I might be able to do the parkrun (5Km) in x time”… WTF. The competitive person in me - so I told her politely to shut up and run and enjoy the feelings.
The grass was squishy under feet, I can guess you’re wondering if there was dog mess…. There might be but I didn’t land in any - and what if I did? I’d wipe my foot down on the grass and carry on.
The puddles (remember my ugh to the rain thought...) warm and wet and fun to run through, who cares if your feet/trainers get wet; be the kid again.
Some pavement was a bit slimy, I was more tentative with how I ran not wanting to fall.
Areas of smoothness, bliss to run on, others more broken concrete - a bit nobbly and craggy, not painful just different.
The yellow markers for the blind provide an interesting texture, as do grates and manhole covers.
The sensations under foot kept me in my body, tuning in to being in the moment and loving the moment.
There is nothing to say I can’t do this in shoes, I’ve chosen to be without a while.
A client mentioned their friend had recently run around Singapore (160km maybe) barefoot… Not sure I’ll be doing that any time soon, but I am loving the experience it is providing me right now.
Happy National Day to Singapore and Happy Wednesday wherever you are.