It’s a lovely clear and sunny day, my legs are feeling good and my feet are happily encased in their new Merrells so I decide to push it up to six miles.

Metronome set, off I go along my usual Sunday route, that is the canal towpath. This morning is a busy morning – there is a fishing match going on and lots of runners, cyclists and dog walkers who have also been enticed out by the mild weather.

The canal is also heavily populated with house boats of all shapes and sizes – not all posh ones like you see in London, but a myriad of ramshackle barges, small motor cruisers and several unusual, individual and possibly home-made designs. It’s a bustling and vibrant community and this morning lots of the inhabitants have ventured out to chop wood, walk their dogs or just stand around drinking tea and chatting.

One mile in and I overhear some anxious women discussing which direction their wayward dog has gone. Half a mile further on I notice a lovely collie wandering around on it’s own, I then witness it poo in the grass verge – not good. Is this the missing dog I wonder? I approach it to check its collar, its very friendy. Mmmmm what to do? Ok the possible owner is not far away, I shall run back and check if this is the missing dog.

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Previous posts:
Barefoot running store review: Terra Plana, London ^[1]

Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick ^[2]

Danielle’s barefoot running blog – The crocodile from Peter Pan ^[3]

Back to square one with a lesson from Lee Saxby ^[4]

Compression and a mid-life crisis ^[5]

Store review: Running Bath ^[6]

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Back I go, but they are gone, I ask a fisherman if he knows anything, but he just grunts at me – I think he is alarmed by my constant 180 beats a minute ticking. Ok back to the dog then, shall I call the number on its collar? But just as I reach for my phone a runner with her own dog passes, so I ask her opinion.

“Oh, that dog?” she says “ Its always here, belongs to one of the boats I think.’

Great - wasted time, disrupted run and I am completely out of my rhythm. Not only that but I feel really let down by the anti-social dog owner who lets their dog poo freely, with no regard for other towpath users.

Now do I continue to my three mile marker or turn short? Ok, on to the three mile mark and back into my rhythm. My continued plan of relaxing into the pace seems to pay off, I concentrate on my technique and settle back into it.

The rest of the run is fairly uneventful, except I realise how much harder it is to stay focussed on the beat here in the great outdoors compared to the treadmill. Everyone is so friendly, and my attention is continually distracted by the constant ‘hellos’ and ‘mornings’ from fellow runners, joggers and cyclists.

Maybe I need some mean shades to block everyone else out, so that I can concentrate. But then again maybe it’s nicer to stay friendly.

Happiness is a sunny, friendly run in the beautiful great outdoors.

Distance: 6 miles (well probably nearer 6 ½ - 7 miles with the diversion)
Shoes: Merrell, Women’s Pace Glove
Course: Canal Towpath

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Resources:

www.merrell.com ^[7]

www.vivobarefoot.com ^[8]

www.chrismcdougall.com ^[9]

www.terraplana.com ^[10]

www.runningbath.co.uk ^[11]

www.compressport.uk.com ^[12]

About this blog

This blog is all about my experiences as I embark on converting to barefoot running – I will investigate the market, sort facts from fiction (hopefully) test the footwear and attempt to run the Bath Half Marathon in March wearing my barefoot shoe of choice.

What is barefoot running? Barefoot running is not actually barefoot in most cases, but a new style of minimal shoe and a more natural way of running.

Why barefoot running? Many people believe that the technological advances in running shoes over the last 20-30 years are unnecessary and could be responsible for many injuries. Barefoot devotees say simpler footwear allows the foot to build up it’s own strength and protects against injury better than any shoe can.

Who am I? I am a 45 year old woman, mother of two, twice a week runner and co-founder of Sportsister. I was in my younger days a pretty decent canoeist and sportswoman, now I am pretty average middle aged woman.

Where did it all begin? For me it all began with, the now cult book, Born To Run by Christopher McDougall published in 2009. Chris embarks on research into his own running related injuries and refusing to believe he will not ever be able to run again goes in search of the Tarahumara Tribe in South America to see how they can run hundreds of miles a week barefoot well into old age and yet we cannot.

I love this book, I love the slightly anti-establishment element that challenges and questions, I love the renegade characters featured in the ultra marathon world and I love the fact that Chris has founded a whole movement. Plus now he can run and even attempt ultra marathons.

What do I hope to achieve? I am hoping this adventure will re-invigorate my interest in running, help me stay injury free and lead to me running more! Ultimately I would like to find the time to train for a marathon and I even fantasise about going further – maybe 30-40-50 miles. Towards the end of my time as a canoeist I found myself persuaded to enter a 125 canoe race (non stop) I could not believe it was possible, but it is and I went on to complete it two more times. I would like to see if I can run a long way too…