I've been trying barefoot running recently and I think I'm hooked.
I'm kind of known for jumping into things full-bore without much forethought (see running with no socks in new shoes in the rain, also see bloody feet, or bonking hard on 3-4 hr rides because you brought only water and a banana, or any other number of epic adventures I have gotten myself into). I ran two weeks ago barefoot for the first time 3.5 miles on the run course of XTERRA Pipestem Creek and haven't really run since (other than race day). Well, today I did 5 miles barefoot and I haven't had that much fun running since I egged my 11th grade English teacher's car and got chased away by the police!!! (Sorry Ms. Reedy, but not really) Man, I felt like a tattooed savage sprinting through the forest chasing down my next meal!! It was as liberating as it gets. No weight on my feet making my legs ache, no weight on my feet hindering my every step, no weight on my feet keeping me from springing up every incline at full throttle, no weight on my feet keeping me from leaping over my dog Vince as he darted underfoot unexpectedly over and over again.
If you haven't tried barefoot running, you need to. Find a nice little park or a soft trail or ANYWHERE you feel comfortable running around with no shoes on and just TRY to run slow. You can't do it!! And the weird thing is I couldn't get myself tired. Remember when you were little (think 4-7 years old, shirtless, tan and chlorine dried hair from swim lessons that morning) and you could just run and run and run? Yeah, that's what it's like. I'm tempted to jump into another 1/2 marathon later this year after some callus building just to see what happens when you run 13 miles with no shoes on. Seriously, I think I would PR by 5+ minutes. If I do it though, I'd have to run with no shirt on and with full on leg, chest and back hair. Man-O-Lantern in full affect. I'd call it running Caveman (you've heard of going Commando, right? Same concept but different). I may even shave my beard into a creepy 70's handlebar stash. Bismarck 1/2 in September????
All I know is I may be able to justify a bike purchase in the next couple years with all the money I'm gonna save on running shoes. Frickin BONUS!!!
