And the Shoes Came Off!

Well, I've gone and done it.  I've joined the ranks of those "kooky" barefooters.  The Vibrams came off today in a grassy soccer field, which, apparently, is a tremendously great surface to run on.  Not only is it grassy, which is comfortable and soft, but firm because the ground has been packed down quite a bit by those busy-bodied soccer players.  It's the best of both worlds!  I don't have to worry about dips twisting my ankle and it's gentle enough on my pretty virgin feet.

And... believe or not, I actually am following the sound advice of barefooters everywhere, I took it slow.  I only ran around a couple soccer fields, I walked on the pavement and ran across a concrete lined bridge and then I stopped and put my Vibrams back on before I hit the gravel trail.  I'm not brave (or stupid) enough to run on the trail sans shoes quite yet.  One step at a time.  Literally.  It's funny because after I put my Vibrams back on, the minimal amount of material between the soles of my feet and the ground felt really thick.  The mind-body connection while running barefoot is phenomenal.  Wow.

I'm a bonafide barefooter and the abbreviation of my name, Barefoot Emily, is BFE - haha!  That one really cracks me up in my runner's high brain...

Tomorrow, we hit the beach - winter in Los Angeles rules.  Running will be a part of the day.  I hope it's part of yours, too.