Repiphanies, Arch Supports, And FitOldDog’s Journey To Barefoot Running And Back Again

I love that book about running, but I’m not a Tarahumara Indian or a Kenyan, I’m a swimmer.

Hi folks, welcome!

Just because you can’t handle barefoot running, does not mean that you can’t use it as a carefully titrated component of your arch (thus your running) training.

If I absolutely need my AAA stent graft, Rupert, for survival (a crutch), then I guess arch supports, for me, fall into the same category, essential crutches. Makes me feel like Tiny Tim, a really irritating Dickens character. Photo by FitOldDog.

I really don’t like using arch supports for running, as I consider them to be a crutch, but it would appear, that for now at least, I’m forced to do so!

Ever since my interest in barefoot running, and increasing the effectiveness of my arches as I run, I’ve struggled with calf tightness and sore foot tendons. Having an abdominal aortic aneurysm, I probably suffer from some kind of genetic connective tissue disorder. Such a disorder may account for my failure, after a great deal of careful work, to undertake barefoot running for any length of time, even on sand and grass – but it feels like floating on air!

For several years, I’ve worked to run endurance races in minimalist shoes – which also feels like floating on air – but every time I develop calf and foot pain and tightness.

Then a few days ago, Deb said, “Kevin, you never complained about calf problems when you had those arch supports in your shoes, you even qualified for Boston. You’re not Kenyan, and you’re not built like a runner, more like a swimmer, so why don’t you go back to arch supports?”

I did, reluctantly, and the calf issue is melting away! Bummer! A good bummer!

I guess I need to consider it more as getting my gear to fit, rather than a crutch? This bike really fits, to the point that it forget that it is there. Photo of wonderful Deb with my great Guru. Photo by FitOldDog.

A repeated epiphany, or repiphany, in the form of FitOldDog had better continue to use his arch supports.

I’m not the first casualty of barefoot running thinking, even though strong arches are critical for low impact running. I suspect that a number of things will determine one’s success in this arena, including:

1. Body weight.

2. Genetics.

3. Whether you ran barefoot as a kid (I couldn’t in the city).

4. How carefully you approach the process.

5. Running technique.

[addendum from Marsha, with thanks from FitOldDog:

#6 Age. Face up to the fact that your tissues aren’t ’30′ anymore. Nothing wrong with using ‘crutches’ so we can fully participate in our lives. How is a knee wrap any different from an arch support? They are tools, not crutches. Women are so smart! -:)]

I still love that book, Born to Run.

Cheers,

FitOldDog