Barefoot Running Acceptance By The Masses
I have a theory about barefoot running acceptance. I'm thinking that coastal
barefoot running is more widely accepted because of the proximity to beaches,
warmer climates, etc. Here in the midwest, it seems there is less acceptance of
barefoot running because people's logic would dictate that since there are no
soft surfaces such as beach, sand, and warmth then it is unacceptable to
participate in something that you could only do seasonally. What really throws
folks' perceptions is when they see someone like myself out barefoot running in
winter weather. It just does not add up to them. Barefoot
running becomes harder to accept by those who don't understand when more
variables such as surfaces and weather are factors. At times, I think it makes
them angry because it goes against their understanding and their mores.
Sometimes, it seems that I get the most negative vibes and comments from
runners. It's like they can't understand or refuse to understand the logic
behind barefoot running, so they choose to get angry or to hurl a negative
remark. It's almost like if they acknowledged that BF running might be an
alternative then they would somehow have to evaluate it as a possibility for
themselves. Are they trying to measure themselves, as a shod runner to a
barefoot runner? Are they trying to compute whether the same effort at an 8
minute pace for both would somehow be regarded as a more superior effort for the
barefoot runner? I have a rather objective running friend who has mentioned to
me the possiblity that shod runner's anger comes from the inability to measure
themselves with a barefoot effort since, in their opinion, barefoot running
would be harder or even impossible.
Things to ponder.