missed the race and what I step on.....or not.

"If you can see it you can avoid it."

I almost missed the race. Ok I didn't almost miss it but close.  I realized yesterday that my race this weekend,the Dam to Dam 20k, is actually on Saturday and not Sunday. I suppose I can say that it would have been funny to have missed it since I did actually realize in time.  Now I have one less day to worry about it!  I did figure out my Soleus watch and practiced with it. I also got all the pace times programmed in for my race. That race that I am not going to miss!

  After my post earlier and the mention of the mostly dead scorpion,  it occurred to me that one of  the first thing people ask when they find out I run barefoot is "what about glass" and that I should tell you about some of the things I have or have not stepped on.

Keep in mind that I have been running barefoot for a year now.

  Despite what you may think the roads are actually pretty clean. I have spoken to many other barefoot runners around the country and they all concur that even in bigger cities, it is possible to avoid dangers and run barefoot safely.  One of the keys to barefoot running is to watch where you are going. You scan ahead and look down with your eyes and not your whole head or it will throw off your form. To say "I watch where I am going" may sound condescending but think about running in shoes, you can go the whole run without much thought to where you are stepping.  (I am not much of a trail runner yet so I don't really know how this relates to trails.)

It is amazing how your feet and eyes work together after some practice. Feet and eye coordination!  Its like getting really good at driving a stick shift. Your eyes and feet work together and react without thinking much of it.  You see some poo and you hop over it or go way around.

So to address the glass. It's shiny and most often you see it and are able to navigate to keep from stepping on any. Just because glass is on the ground in front of you, doesn't mean that you will step on any or cut yourself. Like I said before, you learn to navigate around and over dangers. 

Speaking of dangers, I have stepped on far more sharp and painful things over the last year in my own home than I have outside.  I stepped on a staple a few months ago that was on my basement stairs (glad it was me and not one of the spawn).   I had the Steuwie Griffin "do I take it out or leave in" moment. I did pull it right out. It was a large staple and it went all the way into my heel and it hurt like hell! 

 The dreaded toy Stegosaurus and his buddy Ankylosaurus waiting to ambush my bare feet in the middle of the night on my way to the loo. 

Since I do love a list I will jot down some of the things I have or have not stepped on.

Stepped on outside

• snake in the grass . I do not run in the grass anymore.....at all. If you can't see it, you can't avoid it. Grass can hide all kinds of dangers.
• I have had 2 slivers of glass that were super annoying however came out easily with some tweezers.
• pebbles and small rocks.  I think its Birch seeds that are puffy with a hard seed in the middle. I will have to look it up for sure, but the puffy wears and washes off and what is left is a hard little pea sized seed.
• In the fall acorn or walnut shells are no fun but manageable.

Things I have NOT stepped on

• poo, dukey, turds, or excrement of any kind from any source.
• vomit 
• large chunks of glass
• beer bottle tops
• hypodermic needles
• insert crazy thing I couldn't think of here.

  When you first start being barefoot walking or running  you will notice the sensations of every surface and object to be quite intense and this includes the pleasant sensations as well. I have found that over time the intensity has lessened and my mind does not perceive the discomfort as profoundly as when I first started.  You get used to the little rocks and pebbles or seeds.  Its not ever a peachy feeling but it does wake your mind up to your form again and remind you to run light and smooth and in a relaxed way.

Alright friends I must end this here. Please do ask any questions of me you like and I will do my best to share with you what I have learned.  I am one tired girl after doing my first nuun sampling tonight at the Hy-Vee in Ankeny Iowa.  Its a little burb north of Des Moines. It was a prep event for the Hy-Vee Triathalon coming up next week.  So now I am finishing up my favorite snack of all,  a mug of frozen berries!  I have to limit myself and not eat several bags a day!
  Happy running all and thanks to the noobies for stopping by or joining up!
Ah yes before I forget I am going to post a Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil giveaway tomorrow so come back and sign up to win a quart jar of it!