A breakthrough barefoot run – Jumping for joy (just very gently)

I have been a really organised blogger this week and managed to keep up with things. As well as Barefoot Beginner, I also have a love of beer. Not mass produced, fizzy stuff but locally brewed beer that is made with care.

I have been writing reviews with a friend for a few years and last year we took the plunge and started a beer review blog. The problem is that my heart just isn’t in it and it has withered on the vine. I really enjoy Barefoot Beginner but wasn’t enjoying blogging beer reviews. It has made me think about why I enjoy blogging so much. I seem to like the idea of putting people together. I enjoy connecting the people with the knowledge with the people asking questions.

So…three weeks ago, I launched my blog about microbreweries. I want to connect the really small brewers in the northwest of England with their public. It is a lot of fun and hopefully will lead to a pint or two being sunk in a few new places.

My beery collaborator is Phil, the barefoot procrastinator. Last Thursday saw the two of us out late in the evening on the pavements near home. It was cold, wet and blustery but after a few miles in my Vibrams and a good chat about our blogging plans, I came back invigorated.

I had a breakthrough run on Sunday morning. I have been running ‘The Chimney Route’ for over 20 years. It is staple of my running diet and is about 7 miles long. It is almost entirely on trails and is rough underfoot. I wore my 4mm Xeros for the first half and then slipped them off for a short tarmac section fully intending to put them back on again. I managed the next 3.5 miles without too many problems. My soles were singing by the time I got home but I am amazed. There is no way that I could have manged that route a while ago. I was jumping for joy (just very gently).

The next morning, my calves were protesting and the foam roller came out. I really enjoyed getting in there and giving the knots a good going over.

I had a good chat over Skype with Lindsey Cole. Lindsey does interesting challenges. She recently ran 140 miles to Barry Island to meet a man called Barry. She ran 200 miles to Manchester busking with a ukelele. Lindsey is clearly an accomplished runner and now wants to run a sub 3 hr marathon. She is worried about injuries and had found Barefoot Beginner whilst looking for some advice. I was really pleased to chat with her and pointed her towards Anna Toombs, Sam Murphy and Matt Wallden for further help. I am also delighted that she found Barefoot Beginner, it must be a good sign.

I also went wheat free this week. My wife has been for years and after reading ‘Eat and Run’, I have started to make one or two changes. I feel less bloated and more ready to run at all times of the day. It is something that I think I will persist with. It has coincided with me starting to eat more salads and that can only be a good thing.

So…it has been a very good week. I am looking forward to our group run on Sunday. We are heading off to run through the Cheshire countryside with Georg Schirmer. We are stopping off at his mum’s farm half way round for a few light refreshments. Who would have thought that blogging would have opened up my life in such a positive way. Happy Running everyone!