Barefoot Category in a Race - Should I Try It?
By Pigglies
@Pigglies (9329)
United States
May 24, 2010 11:35pm CST
So I finally found a street mile to race, and when I was about to sign up I noticed I could sign up for the open category or barefoot. Either way I'm sure I have no chance of being in the top 3 (unless only 3 people go barefoot), but I'm debating which I want to do.
I want to try a race barefoot, and I know my feet are up for a mile. But I also tend to run slower barefoot, mostly since I'm being cautious so that I don't hurt my feet. And I really want to try to break the 8 minute mile for the first time at this race. So I'm torn between having more fun being barefoot or enjoying an awesome first mile race and breaking 8 minutes (not sure it will happen yet though, and race conditions may be pretty hot since it's a summer race).
If I was fast enough to have a chance at winning something, I guess I would definitely pick barefoot. But obviously breaking 8 is nothing near top 3 for any category. I'm sure others will be breaking 5 minutes for the mile. So should I try to train to run faster barefoot? Or just keep my shoes on and race against my own best mile?
3 people like this
4 responses
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
25 May 10
Being your Jewish Mother for a minute , I choose With shoes and try to break 8 minutes.But what you should do is sit down and pick what you Really want to do the most.
1 person likes this
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
26 May 10
Yeah, I really want to break 8 minutes. I guess what I need to do, is figure out if I am actually slower barefoot. If I really truly am slower barefoot even once I've trained a bit more being barefoot, then I should definitely run it with shoes.
2 people like this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
26 May 10
Ok. Let me know what you decide. Remember I'll your cheerleader regardless! Go Pigglies!
1 person likes this
@liftyouup (86)
• Philippines
25 May 10
if you are to run in a race barefoot category make sure that the track is good meaning,no other things to hurt your foot like small stone,etc..
if you really decided to join on it,practice with barefoot..so that you can measure your performance..with a barefoot and not having your comfortable running shoes..
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
26 May 10
It's on streets, so there may be things that would hurt feet but I'm guessing with a barefoot category they watched out for things like broken glass.
I'd definitely practice barefoot first, I guess it all comes down to if barefoot is really slowing me down or not.
1 person likes this
@syndibee (799)
• United States
25 May 10
This is entirely personal. You seem to be more interested and focused on breaking the 8 minute mile on a 1 miler race. I think you should go for it with shoes.
I personally would choose the barefoot category but my goals are much different from yours. I would want to network with other barefooters and support the numbers. I would also not be intimidated by the one mile like I may be with a 5K because of my lack of training this year. I am in no way interested in speed racing. I have fun racing my own time on a treadmill but I am too competitive and too much of a novice to do it on a road race. I'd hurt myself.
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
26 May 10
I guess you're right. For me, while I obviously know I have no chance at winning a race, I go to races to do my best generally. I want that adrenaline rush and I want to see how fast I can push myself, and if it takes shoes for me to run faster I guess I'll have to go with that.
Maybe I'll try running barefoot during a "race" if I'm doing a charity run again where I don't buy the timing chip and I don't really care how fast I'm running. I did a charity race the week before the marathon and I had a lot of fun running a really slow 5K. I could do something like that again to just enjoy being barefoot. But mile races are so rare here that I guess I should actually race the thing rather than just running it.
I'm more intimidated by one mile than by a 5K by far. I've trained for 5Ks before and I know what I need to do with the training. I've never trained for a mile race before and I don't have the speed for a mile, but I'd still like to see how well trained I can get for the mile with approximately one month to train.
1 person likes this
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
29 May 10
I already do speed intervals once a week. I'll try them out barefoot and see if I can still meet the same paces. If not, it will be shoes for me.
They said I could add in more speed drills, plus fartleks. But whenever I do speed twice a week I end up getting injured.
Currently, I'm already sort of injured. I have no clue what I did to my right foot last night because I was just running normally on flat land. The only thing I can think of is that I was wearing cushioned socks. But today I can't put weight on that foot and it hurts like crazy near the outer right ankle all the way down to the midfoot. And since I'm a midfoot striker that is especially bad. When I tried heel to toe running it no longer hurts, but I can't focus on running like that.
1 person likes this
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
25 Jul 10
Hi, Pigglies. I think that you should just keep your shoes on and race against your best mile. If you go barefoot, you risk tripping up and hurting your toes and your feet. Plus you have the risk of being slowed down on the track. I think that it is better to run the race with your shoes on.
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
9 Aug 10
I ended up running the race barefoot. I was slowed down on the track, because it was a cloth track. But the main thing that slowed me down was the gravel just before the track! Still, I ran my best mile.
I was the only barefoot entrant though. I think the race was too small though, that was the main problem. I started off too fast since I didn't want to get lost but I couldn't keep up with the others.
I slightly wished I had worn shoes, but I still ran my fastest mile. Did not beat 8 minutes though. But I'll try again sometime, and next time definitely with shoes!
