JeffS
unread,Jan 10, 2012, 6:05:21 PM1/10/12Sign in to reply to author
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to Wickham Park Marathon
I have been seriously conflicted about running barefoot for long
distances at Wickham lately. First, if I have any fantasies that year
of finishing the 200, running barefoot on the first day is not a good
idea. And running on any other day really, not a good idea. Second,
the course is perfect for barefoot running.....except for the 40 yards
of roots on the area we all know well about. Running up it...not that
bad, but you would be surprised what a toll it takes on your feet on
that slight downhill when you come back. Every lap, your feet get a
little more sensitive to the 264 root nodules tapping lightly on your
foot pad. And yes, the sand does get HOT! It was a perfect day that
year with a lot of cloud cover, lots of water on the course in
Armaggeddon and feet washing stations, is why I made it to 45 miles.
I started getting a cramp in my arch (was not the hot sand that year
that made me put my shoes on) around mile 44 and I planned on running
the next day, and didn't want to risk hurting my foot or arch the last
5 miles, so the shoes went on. I also have found a good minimalist
trail shoe that I love running in, that is very light and drains water
VERY well, and is not 5 fingers. So unless there is a fake pebble or
branch or whatever for the barefoot division to win....I am losing
incentive to run barefoot at WP :) Still interested in the
wetsuit division though. No one else knew it but my buddy and I
brought our full body wetsuits to the race last year to try a lap, and
chickened out. True.