January 31, 2007

Well, today's winter 10 mile barefoot run was another adventure! It started snowing here in Overland Park where I work at about 9:30 this morning and I went out about 11 a.m. to run. Temperature was 19 degrees but felt colder than yesterday's sunny 15 degree run. Could be that the wind was blowing snow pretty hard from the southwest.

Left Pic - Starting out the snow was negligible. Right Pic - An hour and a half later at the end of my run things were getting covered.
 

My feet were a little cold for the first half mile and then they warmed up quite nice. In my opinion, there is nothing more cushy and comfortable than running barefoot on a half inch of new snow! Not only is it soft, but the coolness of the snow feels so good as it caresses the arch, the ball and the heel. It's like getting a cold foot massage! I kept thinking as I was running how this might be a good treatment for Plantar Fasciitis. If folks roll a frozen water bottle on their foot, how much better running in snow? Hmmmm ...

So, no adverse affects from the sub-20 degree temps along with constant foot strike in snow for 10 miles at a 9:19 pace. I am blessed!!

Other than a bit of winter dryness and redness or flushing from the cold, there was no sign of numbness or lack of good circulation.

Back to Barefoot Rick's Winter Barefoot Running