2017 (39)
2018 (68)
2019 (88)
2020 (79)
2021 (86)
2022 (83)
2023 (72)
In my early days of awakening to health, I often looked back, feeling thankful,
experimenting, and reviewing changes. Since new habits came to stay, however, I
have stopped doubting and even limited exploring. Only bad news reminded me from
time to time of how blessed I have been. And the years passed.
My barefoot lifestyle has been inspired by and inseparable from running. I have
run two marathons and one 50k, all in Xero sandals. To me, running feels more
like a sport in cushioned shoes but a pure joy barefoot style. I run because
it improves my health and not because I need the thrills of beating a standard,
other people, or even myself in time or distance.
When shelter-in-place first kicked off, I picked up again the book Born To Run
by Christopher McDougal, and from it re-discovered a gem. These were the words
directly from the horse's mouth (pun intended, as Caballo Blanco means "The
White Horse"):
- Don't fight the trail. Take what it gives you. If you have a choice between
one step and two between rocks, take three.
- Lesson two. Think Easy, Light, Smooth, and Fast. You start with easy, because
if that's all you get, that's not so bad. Then work on light. Make it
effortless, like you don't give a shit how high the hill is or how far you've
got to go. When you've practiced that so long that you forget you're
practicing, you work on making it smooooth. You won't have to worry about the
last one--you get those three, and you'll be fast.
The lessons dovetailed nicely with my recent experience of micro-step running
which first came out of necessity as my right foot would hurt too much otherwise
and then became a pattern. Like a ritual, I repeat in my mind the two lessons
during every run.
Aug 2019, I discovered Roflex through Steven Sashen who pointed out in a video
that many suspected plantar fasciitis cases were caused by tight calves. The
tool brought instant relief. After the sharp pain in the right foot was gone,
however, it was foolish of me to stop rolling. I accepted the dull foot pain,
especially after a run, as fate. It was only in early 2020 I realized I should
continue rolling and make it a habit. It has since helped improving the foot to
the point where, with better techniques, I can handle 20+ hilly miles in Xeros.
Looking back, the concept of "Whole Body Barefoot" has been so right. Most
modern humans, even some martial artists, lack strong feet because of social
conditioning. I am far from a sociopath and have learnt to fit in by wearing the
"right" shoes for the occasions. Only that for health I choose to limit those
occasions and spend most time barefoot or wearing minimum shoes. Without a
solid base, exercising and building impressive bodies mean little in terms of
health. This is imminently true for elderly people and will be true for the young.
Changing to minimum footwear is a very effective antidote to the harm imposed
on us by modernity. Time will come when a pair of strong and healthy feet are
more chic than any gaudy, protective, heavily-marketed footwear.
But go slow. First walk in it and build up the miles. Enjoy.