I started my running life in a pair of whatever I had in the closet.  I seem to recall wearing a North Face trail shoe which I fished out of the bargain bin at the end of the season.  They looked like a running shoe and they were designed to run on trails so they must be good.  At least that's what I thought.

When my mileage increased to around 10 miles per week, I started to notice pain in my knees and ankles.  I grew up in the 70's where the coaches would scream -- "No Pain, No Gain!"  And that's what I thought.  I continued running.



I managed to suffer through a couple of months until I finally decided to see a doctor.  I hobbled into his office wearing my Doc Martins and complained about the pain in my lower legs.  He explained to me that I was not only wearing the wrong type of shoes for running, I was also wearing an unsupportive walking shoe.

Those Doc Martins sure were the trend for some time but looking back, I realize they had zero support.  Along with my North Face trail shoes, the Doc Martins went into the trash and both were replaced with shoes that supported my feet and within a short period of time, the pain went away and I was a runner.

It's hard to question success.  I had a problem, someone gave me advice and it had a positive outcome.  How can you look at that and say the advice was wrong?  But what if the situation were different?

Let me give you an analogy.  Let's say I want to buy a boat but I don't have the cash to afford one.  And let's say that someone suggests I purchase the boat on a credit card.  Problem solved!  Right?  Maybe.  But there are consequences for buying a boat on a credit card.

Now let's go back to my running problem which was solved but maybe not in the best manner.  At the advice of the doctor, I went to a local running store and was fit with a pair of running shoes which compensate for my mechanical issues.  I overpronate and the shoes compensate for that issue.  They do not correct the issue; they allow me to continue to overpronate but enable me to run without injuring myself.

Through various mistakes, I have learned that I shouldn't mess with my running shoes.  It usually ends in disaster and I've decided it's better to run in big clunky shoes rather than being injured.  But now I'm at a point where my big clunky shoes are not allowing me to progress beyond my current level.  This creates a huge athletic problem for me because I'm at a point where my running is starting to hold me back.

Over the past month or so, I've been listening to the minimalists discuss the benefits of bare footing, wearing Vibrams, and in general, creating strength in the feet and ankles.  At first, my internal alarm went off because the doctors and the shoe salespeople will tell you that going barefoot is bad.

I had a case of plantar fasciitis some time ago and the doctor told me that I should never go barefoot.  Since then, I walk around the house wearing slippers with orthotics.  But this barefoot-thing is starting to make sense to me so I'm willing to give it a shot.  I'll take small steps though.  (No pun intended.)



Before leaving Tucson, I bought a balance board which I've added to my core routine.  I started with 5 minutes of balancing in the kitchen (hardwood flooring) and I'll see where that takes me.  In addition, I went on a hunt for the ever so popular Vibrams and as luck would have it, I walked into the shoe store as they were unloading a large box with various sizes.  Score!

My first impression on the Vibrams -- I like them.  I will use them for short walking trips but I doubt I will ever run in them.  I wore them to the gym yesterday and it was more like having a minimal shoe than going barefoot.  They feel pretty normal and the only weird part is trying to get your toes in the correct toe holes.

I think the combination of minimal shoes and balance board will build strength in my feet and ankles.  At least that's my current theory.  Who knows, maybe one day I can ditch the big clunky running shoes for a nice racing flat.  Or maybe I'll be able to run a little farther and a little faster. :)

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