Boot camp Melbourne

As I ready myself for my first barefoot run, I’m thinking of the Sherpas I came across on mountain trails in the high Himalaya of Nepal. On rocky pathways strewn with gravel and often covered in a thick layer of snow and ice they would push onwards, an enormous basket of goods against their back supported by a leather strap around their forehead.

More amazing than their ability to courier such a weight at such altitude was the fact that they did it without wearing shoes. Each time I pulled off the track to treat yet another bulging blister caused by my luxurious, custom-fitted, top-of-therange, leather, waterproof trekking boots, the barefoot Sherpas would smile, wave and wander onwards, never stopping until they’d reached their destination.

Oddly enough, I’m also mildly embarrassed by the thought that passersby may consider me insane. Why would
anybody jog barefoot when there are so many amazing training shoes available? There’s a grassy oval in front of me and I feel like a streaker at the cricket, about to expose myself. How did it come to this? Why am I even considering such a foolish thing?
Seven days ago I never would have dreamed of jogging barefoot. Then again, seven days ago I was a very different runner.
 

Day 1 Asics Gel Nimbus 12 (RRP $250)

I zero the odometer in the car as I pull out of the driveway. I’m
guessing the run back from the mechanic’s shop might be around
10km, but I’m not even close. When I arrive at the shop I see I’m
14km from home. I glance uneasily at my new Asics Gel Nimbus 12
trainers, which look as if they’ve been developed in partnership
with NASA, all silver and metallic bronze with their “biomorphic
fit” and “gender space trusstic”, and I hope for the best.
My usual run, performed grudgingly three times a week,
is 8km. I haven’t run more than 10km for several years. My
poor, 39-year-old, red-wine marinated body just couldn’t handle
it, I often tell myself. Now I’m about to put that assumption
to the test.
After just a few minutes of running I realise that I may have
arrived at the mechanic’s shop in a Nissan Pulsar, but I left in a
Rolls Royce. The cushioning of the Nimbus shoes is stunning. The
spring from the toe-off is actually noticeable, and no matter how
my foot lands – forefoot, mid-foot, or crashing down on my heel –
I feel enveloped and protected, as if I am indeed running on the clouds after which the shoe is named. I make it home feeling as if I could go further. I haven’t felt that way in a very long time.
 

Day 2 Brooks ghost 3 (RRP $200)

There is something strangely exciting and attractive about a new
pair of trainers. Before slipping into the newly-released Brooks
Ghost 3 shoes I sit and stare, turning them over, admiring the
graceful curves, the shiny, metallic accents and the macho bulges.
As a piece of design they are fantastic.
Fortunately as a running shoe they’re also top-notch. Today
I’m chasing my son, who’s on his bicycle, around an 8km lakeside
path. Despite the fact that these are not Brooks’ most cushioned
trainers (they are second to the Brooks Glycerin range), my feet are immediately at home. Forefoot cushioning and toe-off spring provide exceptional shock absorption and rebound, and the slightly lower heel encourages more of a mid-foot strike.
I begin to wonder how a foot should land when running. I’ve never known if we’re supposed to land on the heel, middle or fore of the foot. It’s time for some research.
 

Day 3 Salomon xt wings 2 (RRP $229)

But before we get nerdy it’s time to get dirty. I live a few hundred
metres from a glorious mountain trail, but running in traditional
trainers means downhill sections become dangerously slippery as
the shoes lose their grip, and sharp rocks cause pain as they jut
through spongy cushioned soles.
Enter the Salomon XT Wings 2, a pair of bulletproof trail blazers
that take this runner to places he previously never dreamed of.
On the trail I grin like an idiot, feeling as indestructible as I did
the first time I rode a motorcycle in full leathers. The chunky mix
of hard and soft rubbers on the sole mean loss of grip is never an
issue. Rock shock from sharp objects becomes a thing of the past.

The unique Quicklace system makes these an easy-on, easy-off pair of trailies. Most impressively, this incredibly stable and protective outfit is comfortable enough to wear road-running, and at 370g per shoe they weigh just 21g more than the Asics Nimbus.
A mix of serenity and landscape make trail running a very special experience, but with the right pair of shoes it could just become addictive. Add to that the fitness benefits of running on uneven and constantly changing surfaces and I’m suddenly very happy that I discovered my Wings.
 

Day 4 Adidas supernova glides (RRP $200)

My research tells me that the average runner should land on their midto-
forefoot, rolling to the forefoot before springing off. Amazingly, 65 to
80 percent of runners suffer injuries, many because they’re not landing
properly. I also read with fascination about a new trend involving
training in bare feet as a way to strengthen the feet and lower legs.
I vow to give this a go, but first there’s a bright, white pair
of Adidas Supernova Glides demanding my attention. The
Supernovas are the mid-level trainer from Adidas, neither as
heavily cushioned as the brand’s adiStars nor as minimal and
race-ready as the adiZeros. They’re very classy and clean in their
styling, more traditional and reserved than most modern trainers.
I like that – it seems better established, more real.

And as soon as I hit my 8km road course in the Supernovas I feelas if I’m running in a fresh pair of favourites. The padding is not so thick and plush that I can’t feel what’s happening beneath my feet, it is instead a perfect level of comfort, support, feedback and stability. As I concentrate on achieving a mid-foot landing, the Supernovas respond with vigour, the full-forefoot Adiprene providing plentiful bounce and guidance.
 

Day 5 Newton gravitas (RRP $250)

I’m learning and improving, becoming a more aware and
educated runner. As I do I’m rekindling a long-lost romance with
a pastime that should come so naturally to humans. One guy who
knows a thing or two about running is Craig Alexander, world
champion ironman in 2006 and 2008. When Alexander runs it’s
in a pair of Newtons.
These little-known running shoes are unlike anything I’ve ever
worn. Under and across the ball of the foot are four protruding
blocks of rubber that, when I walk, feel as if several pieces of Lego
are stuck under the shoe. But start running and the ultra-light
build combined with the action/reaction forces of the patented
“actuator lugs” actually force me to run in a more correct fashion.

I run more lightly, always landing on my mid/forefoot. I lengthen my stride and bound rather than land heavily. The Newtons actually control and improve my gait rather than allowing me to run lazily. They’re a revelation. A few minor foot cramps set in after 20 minutes, but this is only to be expected during my first outing with the Newtons as my running style is suddenly altered for the better. These shoes excite me – they will become an important part of my new training program.
 

Day 6 Nike free run+ (RRP $160)

Nike recognised early the movement toward barefoot running
and the result is the quirky Free Run series. I had previously
considered these super-flexible trainers a bit of a gimmick,
but decided to give them a go in my experimentation towards
barefoot running. What I discover is their sheer brilliance.
Free Runs are the ultimate transition between super-cushioned
and barefoot running.
Like the Newtons, the Free Runs promote mid-foot landing and
offer the slightly bizarre feeling of the foot actually reacting to
the ground below, rather than being encased and separate
from the action. The deep grooves allow enormous
flexibility, and this combined with the lack of weight
makes you feel as if you’re not wearing shoes at
all. They’re as comfortable as slippers, as light as
thongs and also happen to look fantastic with jeans.

Nike do not promote these shoes as the only pair you need, rather they’re a vital part of the
training and strengthening process. They allow the foot to move, to react, to utilise the muscles and tendons and senses that human feet traditionally used before trainers came along. Allowing feet to behave as they were intended, barefoot
specialists say, reduces injury, promotes proper running motion, repairs arch issues, solves many lower-back problems and strengthens not just feet but entire legs. Ironically, I am inspired by Nike to take off their shoes and give barefoot a go.
 

Day 7 Vibram fivefingers (RRP $159)

And here I am on a footpath by a lake, attracting the stares of
passing joggers and cyclists thanks to my Vibram FiveFinger
runners. It’s like a glove for the foot, a completely stripped down
running shoe that offers no cushioning, no structural support, just
protection from anything that could cut your feet.
As soon as I take my first tentative steps I notice something
wonderful happening. As my feet land my toes actually reach out
and splay, they search for the next piece of ground, they react to
everything they come across. My feet act like hands, gripping and
arching, sensing their way along the pathway, absorbing shock by
landing correctly on the forefoot, lightly touching down then flinging
me forward again. I laugh like a child because I’m actually having
fun. My feet are doing what they were always meant to do.

When I do step on a rock, my feet compensate by putting pressure instead on another part of the foot. I feel agile and strong, but I tire quickly. The FiveFingers are going to take a while to get used to – I have, after all, been wearing trainers for most of my life. But once I re-train my feet it’s obvious to me that I will be a better runner.

And so I’m finally truly barefoot in front of a lush, soft grassy oval. As I begin to do laps I am once again surprised by the smile that automatically appears. I feel young again. My feet dance and play across the grass, gripping and releasing, flexing and arching. I stop after 10 minutes as I know I must ease myself into this slowly, but even once back in my trainers my feet feel fresh and alive.

As kooky as it sounds, my feet feel happy after a barefoot run. Every run that I do from now on will, wherever possible, include a barefoot segment as part of my strength and technique training. So what have I learnt this past week?

There is a shoe for every purpose and more than one pair should be used during training in order to make the most out of our bodies’ capabilities. For the first time in my life I’ve booked into a half marathon.
I certainly won’t run it in FiveFingers, but these will be a vital part of my training. I now think when I run. I think about my technique and about how my choice of shoes is helping that technique. Every pair has something to offer, whether it’s luxurious cushioning, flexibility or gait correction.

Best of all, the enormous choice in shoes creates an excitement about running that is powerful enough to reignite a long-dead passion. No matter what the shoes cost, that’s worth every cent.

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