Easy Hints For Transition Into Barefoot Running Today
If you are like most runners, you will most likely be wearing the high-end technology sport shoes that are too common nowadays. However, one thing about such shoes is that they are heavily padded especially in the heels thereby making it comfortable for you to land on the heels. However, landing on the heels is against the natural motion of running and you are bound to sustain injuries. Yet, when you switch into barefoot running, you will be able to run without sustaining injuries.
Nevertheless, it is not usually comfortable to run barefooted from the onset. In fact, any attempt to make such a change suddenly could results in serious injuries that can keep you indoors for a long time. However, if you are able to make the change gradually, it will be easier for you to make the shift into going barefooted so that you can reap the rewards.
The easiest way of getting your transitioning is to walk barefooted whenever the opportunity presents itself. Hence, you can start by going barefooted while inside your house and even when you are doing some things in the yard or garden. More so, it is not compulsory that you put on shoes when you take your dog for a walk.
If you want the transitioning to be very easy, it will help you to toughen the skin on your feet before beginning the program. A simple toughening procedure is to immerse your feet in saltwater through the course of two weeks. The saltwater can be mixed with ordinary water in parts of one to two. Toughening your feet will make it easier for you to step on pebbles on the trail.
When you are finally ready to start going barefooted, you may want to start on a field that has grasses. This will enable you to have an idea of what it feels like to run barefooted. You may expect to experience more feelings in your feet because the muscles will be awake. This should then lead you to trying yourself in a paved road or a trail.
Notwithstanding, the runs that you will have in the initial stages should be for a very short time and must not attempt to cover much ground. In fact, the farthest distance that you should go during this time should not be more than half a mile. In addition, you need to avoid pushing your body beyond its natural limit especially when you feel some pain in your legs.
You will also need to prepare a schedule of how to alternate between wearing minimalist footwear and going barefooted. Thus, in the early days of the run, you will need to run longer distances with shoes on your feet and shorter distances without putting on shoes. After some time, you should be able to run reverse the schedule.
Nonetheless, you will discover that you are finding it more convenient to run without shoes than to wear shoes. When this happens, it means that your transitioning into barefoot running is already complete. One of the advantages of making this shift is that your walking and running posture will be improved.