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T. 705 8264641Barefoot Walking
Posted December 4, 2011 | by Sue Kenney | in News | 9 responsesI’ve untied my hiking boots, tossed them aside and I’ve decided to walk barefoot. Almost everyday I go to the forest and walk on the cushion of leaves squishy my toes into the mud. Now that winter has arrived I’m tackling the snow and ice. I’ve been reading Barefoot Running to prepare for harsher conditions and found out that the brain signals to the body to send more blood and fat (yes fat) to the feet. This acts as insulation and it works. I feel stronger and healthier because of it. Can’t wait to tell you more.
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Good for you, Sue! What led you to transition from shod walks to barefoot walks? Was it the recent barefoot running/hiking movement? A spiritual epiphany? Just curious – everyone has their own personal reason for losing the shoes. Would love to know your experience.
Walk on!
Tommy
Tommy,
I didn’t even know about the movement. I wanted to walk the Camino barefoot cause the last couple of times I did it the bones on the soles of my feet ached so much it would bring tears to my eyes. I wanted to buy Vibrams but didn’t like them when I tried them on. Bought Merrell’s and ended up taking boots on the walk too. When I got back I received a message…Be Still…just showed up in my head. So I sat by the water and soon found myself taking my shoes and socks off. I often walked in the forest, shod of course. I left the shoes at home and started walking on the paths. Cut my feet a lot of roots and rocks, but it didn’t stop me. I loved walking in the mud and the streams too. One day, out of the blue, I started running in the forest. It was most most freeing experience I had in a long time. Then in October I coincidently met Arlen Schreiner, who’s company has the distribution rights for Zem Gear in Canada. He gave me a pair of Zems and I’ve been wearing them on occaision through the late fall and winter months. Love them. I wear them when it’s below freezing and take them off when my feet warm up. I was out in the snow today! So the answer to your question is that it is a spiritual epiphany. So many other life-changing things happened to me I’d need to write a book to get it all down. What’s your story?
Sue
Hy Sue
I’m don’t understand if you’ve already done the Camino barefoot or if you intend to do it?
If you do when you leave and from where?
Andrea
Andrea, I will be walking the Camino in May 2012 barefoot. The group I’m taking is leaving from Ponferrada to Santiago on May 21st. We’ll walk 225kms over 11 days. Are you walking the Camino?
So you will leave from Ponferrada on May 21st?
I am not on the Camino, but I’m planning to go in that period. I have to see for the holidays. I also like walking barefoot. I hope to meet you on the Camino.
Hi Sue!
In the eight months since my return I have been thinking about walking and feet and … My progress:
with Vivo’s -way better than Nike’s and N Balance- you toss out the liner once your feet are really up to it and then… I’m inspired to also go the full monte and become completely free.
Funny how walking the Camino can lead to walking barefoot. I walked last year from Le Puy -changed my life!
Took six months for my feet to return to “normal”
1) better walking shoes? I walk 5-10 km most days now, feet still ache after first 10 mins of walking -took six months for my “Camino feet” to recede but now I stop walking and ache goes.
2) research, thinking, research..
3) read “Born to Run” and started walking on my forefoot. Knee problems went immediately but feet still ached
4) OK time to dig out those NB minimal trail shoes I had carried as second pair, but only wore post walking, on Camino. Thiese I wore on and off, mostly off because winter came.
5) yesterday, this is a true story, I decided OK, back to NIke free’s. Whilst shopping, fortunately here in UK, Nike Free’s are not to be found, I was lead (Camino-induced spiritual/environment sensitivity syndrome) to one of the only” Vivo Barefoot” (a company I’d never heard of til yesterday) shoe stores in the UK -in Brighton Sussex. As soon as I entered I knew I had arrived! Amazing selection of intelligent, quality, minimal, heeless barefoot footwear and for most occasions from “beach to suite”
6) bought two casual, street walking pairs, immediately!
7) I walked into store with my usual 10 min, walking shoe induced, achy feet and walked out, I kid you not, with ache free feet, like Vivo barefoot shoes were made for me and knowing I’d just found the Way! Unbelieveable, NO transition, just ache-free.
Cheers, thanks for your inspiration
Robert
Hi Sue,
Can you sign me up for your April 16 workshop. I think walking barefoot is something kids intuitively do. Both of my daughters, now young ladies have walked when very young barfoot on winter streets. Nothing I could do to stop them! Diana Sherwin
Robert,
I love your story. It’s incredible how an injury forces us to look at other more natural options. Vivo sounds like a perfect match for you. I wear ZemGear and so far, they are perfect. I spend more of my walking time completely barefoot especially now that the snow is gone. I believe it is the part of a whole-istic approach to life that is missing. Keep me posted on how it goes. Would welcome the chance to hear more of your story.
Barefoot forever.
Sue
If you live near Muskoka check out the Barefoot Walk on Earth Day!
https://www.facebook.com/EarthDayNetwork#!/events/376216435734562/