Flat foot? A handicap?
Bit of retrospection allows me to travel to my past as a
kid. I was not keen on exercise, nor
interested in games. I used leather school shoes with a hard sole. My
Toe was broader than others ; Broad toe shoes were scarce in the market. I
often had to do with larger size shoes, that had some space for toe movement, at
least, at front. The spread of the foot on side was restricted.
As I grew older, I needed shoes that were beyond size 9. Many
shops in those days, did not have shoes
for 'giant' feet. Bata Northstar series came to my rescue, it was a bit costly
for my pocket.
But by the age of 16, my foot was completely flat. Lotto launched basic sports shoes, that had
arch support . Without much thought, I purchased a pair. It was a really bad
investment as my Socks wore off at the Arch and I got blisters.
Flat foot would have been a problem, if I
wanted to enroll in the army. "You will have to march long distance. Also
Flat foot is a BIG PROBLEM if you want to run or sprint." chirped my NDA
friend. There ended a dream. At the back of my mind I nursed the thought that I
had a handicap compared to the rest.
Large size boots were a problem, when I started Mountain
climbing. I never got a pair of the right size to fit crampons on (The double
layer leather boots came with a larger sole). Also I had to deal with a larger
overhang from toe to arch, while climbing rocks. (It was easy to get wobbling
knees when climbing and fear was not the only contributor.)
I had to do with Size 10 boots while my Foot had grown to
size 11. (Felt like Gulliver in Lliliput)
My first trip to the USA, I observed a "shop on
sale". Size 11 shoes were abundant and extra wide shoes were also
available. I purchased Air sole Nike at mere $25. The NIKES did a good job at cushioning the foot. I was
pained, when the cushion got punctured and leaked. I ran my first 21km in my
NIKE leaky air cushion shoes.
During another trip to Boston, I bought a pair of Size 11
Reebok. I used them to run my 1st full marathon. I had bad blisters. I thought,
I owed them to badly fitting socks. "Nothing should go wrong with a well designed
shoes"! So, I purchased a pair of Reebok low cut socks and ran the full
Mumbai marathon. During this marathon, I observed..something was still wrong
with my knee. I attributed this to a rapid descent injury from my last
expedition. (I never questioned my Gait.)
My shoes always felt hot and I felt uncomfortable after 30+
km stretch. At the same time my Friends
Sujit and Umesh had done the Mumbai Marathon in lesser time, Barefoot!
Umesh attributed the credit to BF running. I started
practicing Barefoot. I must say that Umesh followed barefoot religiously in ANY
terrain (Even Auroville trail marathon). I was more skeptical and got into the
BF phase very gradually.
My first switch was to Floaters, that allowed me to move the
fingers.I was glad that my feet remained much cooler, than inside shoes. I also
tried with Bathroom flipflops with a elastic band to hold to my foot , like a
sandal.This light weight contraption lasted me for quite a while. I did not
improve my run time..BUT I was in much better shape at the end of 21km.
My feet had tasted freedom for the first time in their life.
They did not heat up and the long run was a lot more bearable.
I ran without shoes at a beach and then at the racecourse.
Different muscles started complaining. Did the sole hurt? Obviously! No gain
without pain. I stuck to the BF routine and soon I knew the proper landing
technique. My slipper had worn out at the heel. I was landing on the heel. I trained
the foot to land on the ball of the foot. Later I noticed that mid-foot landing
was the best.
I could now Spread my foot fingers as much as I wanted. The
poor fingers never used so much freedom. When I ran in sand, I realized that the
Toes were helping me to claw at the sand. This clawing is impossible, with shoes
on. I was using the full capacity of my feet for the first time in my life.
How do you deal with rubble? Does it not hurt you?
Yes.. It would hurt a lot at Initially. Till, I found that if I
stretched the muscles underneath the base I could run over smaller stones with
less harm.This was a matter of training. It was something similar to the movie
the 36th chamber of Shaolin. The first lesson where the monks had to mover over
logs floating on pool of water to get to their meal. The newer monks sank in
the pool. The proficient moved across fast, just skimming over the little
buoyancy the logs offered.
"I got to be swift. Move fast. no long strides."
Cadence! small fast steps?" Less impact to foot.
Barefoot running is self taught! There are no guru's here. Also, It is a gradual transition from Shoes to Ground. Also,
what works for one may or may not work for another.There were cases, where BF
runners started going back to "Bare Minimal" shoes. The cost of such
shoes???? I could purchase a double layered Mountain climbing boot at the same
cost. (Something that was dearer to me, than a pair of running shoes.)
I ran my Hyderabad marathon barefoot in 2012 August after 5
months of BF training. It was a personal best. I should confess, the Shaolin
technique did not work, after my legs were tired. My legs pounded the dirt
inside the university campus and pained a lot. Yet it was this run that
converted me completely.
Bare foot changed my approach to life. I understood the fact
that shoes would not improve my performance. Barefoot running also taught me
modesty. (All my life I was accustomed to wear shoes at school/ in workshop/ in
mountains or at office. I had never thought of a life without them. I could understand a little bit of Gandhiji!)
Did I ever get infected by running BF? Road side Shit?
Never till date! I clean my feet with hot water. Cold/ice
bath if feet feel tired.
If the road is very dirty, I wear vibrams.
What about glass pieces on the road?
Smashed beer bottles on the road! It is a hazard that I have
to live with.
My feet have been pierced with thorns and glass at times,
but I could pull it out and keep running.
A barefoot runner scrutinizes the road, a lot better, than a
shod person. Instinct develops with practice. During a university campus run, I observed a small dead snake, on the
road and no one else did!
Which are the best roads to run BF?
All roads that have a heavy traffic are good. You just need
to find the right time to run on them. Better wake up early!
What is the best part of BF running?
It is the connect with the earth. This supposedly removes
negative energy/vibes..I dont vouch for that, but the fact that it feels better
than a layer of sole underneath
You intended to talk about Flat feet..Why feed me all this ?
I was coming to that part eventually. It is hard to believe
but I am one of the few who can vouch for this change.
I have developed a better foot arch than before after all
this BF running.
I realized it after a few months while I was washing my feet
after a run.
I was shocked and surprised. I had flat feet all my life.
This was a big one for me.
The proof? The image at the top of this article is my
footprint in the sand during a beach run.
You will notice how the ridges are formed. Though running in
sand is a different game, It shows the points where the foot digs in the most
and forms ridges.
The first thing I did was to send a message to Bare foot
Ted.
I recall the first time when I heard of people going
barefoot. It was MF Hussain..Yes! the great Indian artist..thrown out of a
restaurant, as he was barefoot. At the time, I had thought that he was crazy.
Now.. I am just another artist, that understands him better, with time.
How do you know if nothing went wrong in 2 years, what
beholds in future?
I have absolutely no clues for future. But I feel..if
something worked for 2 years why not
experiment for more and find out?
IMPORTANT:
You should decide for yourself. Do not try to follow me.
Also, do not follow anyone who
claims that BF hurts. :) S/he may not be running correctly or may have other
problems that I, may not have.
BF is a unique way to understand running and improve from
mistakes by first hand feedback. You would not pound the legs as you do in
cushioned sole, but use and develop them more naturally.
If not completely BF, try to make your own Huaraches. :)
(Above was written when I had not read Born to run, though I
had met Bare foot Ted.)
Few links that Support above:
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