Ouch, ouch, ouch-ouch, ouch, ouch ouch!!
I made a mistake today. I waited too long to get out there for my planned barefoot run and the shadow from the wall along my boulevard was not there and the tiles were hot -- very hot!
Last year I very methodically and carefully built my mileage up bit by bit. I started running only about 100 yards, then a 1/4 mile, until I could run a barefoot mile.
While I was gradually increasing my barefoot distance, gradually toughening the soles of my feet, gradually strengthening the unused muscles and tendons and ligaments and bones, I was also gradually acclimating the soles of my feet to the heat of the sidewalk. I eventually got to the point where it didn't bother me to run on a hot sidewalk, but even so, I planned my runs so that I didn't have the hottest sidewalks and so there would be patches of shade along the way for relief. I also would carry an emergency pair of Vibrams or flip-flops just in case I got stuck out there or something.
But this year I've been regularly running about 2 miles out there. There hasn't been a need to build gradually from scratch like I had to last year. Feet have felt great in every other way so I wasn't really thinking there would have to be any kind of re-conditioning for the heat.
But I was wrong. We had a kind of cold rainy spring and we just plunged straight into hot summer days this past week.
I sort of thought because I had kept my feet somewhat conditioned for the cold that they would be tough enough for the heat too.
Lesson for today: Cold conditioning is a separate state than heat conditioning.
I got out there and was trying to walk my 1/4 mile to my starting place and I could feel the burn on the bottom of my feet. I considered just going ahead with it anyway. I really didn't want to go back. I wanted to get the run done.
I looked across the street to see if it was shadier there. Nope.
I could have just ignored common sense and gone ahead and tried running. But deep down inside I knew that it was not a good idea to go ahead and run. Why did I know? Because my feet were telling me. They were sending really strong signals that I'd be in trouble if I went ahead and did it. I actually experienced myself block out the "voice" of my feet as I was considering the options, kind of like a mom might block out her kids' voice when she's thinking something over and not realize the kid has a good point. But suddenly the principle of listening to my body came back to me and what my feet were saying came into clearer focus. No, don't do it.
So, I made a decision to turn around and come back. I will go out later when there is some shade.
3 comments:
Good for you! I usually tell my inner voice to shut up..and I pay for it later.
Smart move! Always listen to your body.
Claire and Ken, you are both right! Today's run was great and I know it was good that I didn't foolishly burn my feet!
Post a Comment