The Challenges

The day I decided to embark on this journey of Barefoot Running, the challenges unveiled themselves one by one, few were expected and few unexpected.

1. Fear of going barefoot: I have never walked barefoot, I have a collection of good running shoes and now suddenly taking them off and walking barefoot was a challenge. Germs, scratches, injuries and all kind of negative thoughts were lurking on my mind. So, I started walking barefoot in my home only, it made me comfortable to walk without shoes. Was awkward intitally but in some time it felt good.
2. Shin strength: The more you start walking barefoot, more you will realise that your shin is not as strong as it should be. The tibialis anterior and gastroenemius muscles, both will hurt a little initially and that is totally ok. So before you actually go all beast mode , you must work on shin strength and calf muscles’ strength. I tried forward/backward lunges and warrior poses to make my lower legs stronger.
3. The unavoidable stares: People will stare at you. If you are walking barefoot, they will. All this while, its ironical as you are practising the most natural way of running, still, they will stare at you, with amusement and curousity. I started practising my barefoot walk/run during late evenings when it was dark and that too while strolling my daughter. People didnt notice my feet and I walked almost 300 meters every day.
4. Delayed progress- If you are practising Barefoot running, one has to be very patient, the progress will be slow and results will be delayed. Dont give up. The natural running requires too much adaptation, physical as well as mental, give it time. The phsychological shift and the physical shift needs time and let it take time. Do not push yourself and go slow.
5. It will hurt- The feet sole might develop callus, or blisters if you focus too much on the right walk instead of just going with flow and let the body adjust to it in its own time. Blisters are natural due to too much pressure on softer skin of feet , whenever it happens take rest and dont torture yourself. I have beem walking every alternate day and I always wash my feet with warm water +pinch of salt + coconut oil. It helps.