Just checkin' in...
Hey all! I live just NW of Tulsa and was wondering where all the other BF runners in OK were from. I am loving barefoot running! It's kind of like an interactive video game! I run in Tulsa @ Turkey Mountain & @ the Riverparks, and @ home we share a 1/2 mile driveway loop w/the neighbors. The dogs really like running @ home. They can run off-leash, which they really like (me too!)
Anyway, as others from Oklahoma join up, post and let's stay in touch!
Cheers!
Mike
Hey Ian,
It's great to have another BF runner in the area! How far is it between the parks? I've only been BFR since April '10, and not all the time. I run in VFFs most of the time, although I am making a commitment to trying all BF.
Do you run in any of the runs around Tulsa? If our time/distance works out, maybe we could meet up sometime.
Cheers!
The trail between the two parks is approx 1.5 miles and my current (or last) run distance is 2.1 miles barefoot. However, I have been sidelined for a few weeks now with a foot injury so will likely be starting fresh once everything heals up.
I did however learn one (painful) lesson from my last run - don't use my Vibram Five Fingers, especially when tired as you can easily hurt yourself! Yeah, I was wearing them when I hurt myself! lol Will be going barefoot as much as possible from now on.
I'm still planning on using some of the River Park trails, plus some trail runs at Turkey Mountain but it will be a while until I will be ready - my foot is still not 100%.
Ian,
I have a gravel driveway that I have been walking on ('cause running on it HURTS!) Barefoot Ken Bob would probably say that was good thing...that my feet were telling me to take it easy. Well, I'm getting that message from my feet very clearly, thank you very much. 
But running later in the day on the street/paths doesn't work for me right not because they are HOT!!! (and I am speaking from experience) 
Tonight I'm going to try a couple of miles on the track @ one of the high school stadiums. It is that rubber stuff so it doesn't burn my feet like pavement. I ran 3 miles barefoot on it about a month ago and wound up with a large blister on the ball of my right foot. 
So, blister is now gone...and I've been working on my form (bent knees, high cadence, lifting feet, etc.) I can't wait until all this becomes habit and I can think about other stuff while I run.
Keep me posted on how you are doing.
Cheers!
Yesterday I did my first barefoot run in over a month - was only about a 1/4 mile as I didn't want to push my foot tendons too much. Things are a little stiff and sore today but I'm definately happy to be moving forward.
Will be paying much closer attention on my distance increases and reworking my training technique so that I am doing a "out & back" distance instead of an "out" distance that then requires me to run/walk further than my intended distance to get back to my car. Hence my over-use injury to several tendons/soft tissue in my foot that is only now healing.
That's a smart strategy, Ian. I've done that before myself.
Running Nike Free 0.0
Just popping in to say hi. Currently in Thomas, just north of Weatherford.
I'm not actually from Oklahoma, but will be travelling there (from Kansas) this weekend (13Nov2010) to take part in the McNellie's Pub Run/Guinness Challenge in Tulsa. Any other OK BF runners going to be taking part in this race? If so, sloPanda and myself would love to join up with you before or after the race. (BTW...it is not too late to register for the race. Online registration is closed, but you can still sign up in person at both Tulsa Fleet Feet stores until Friday 12Nov2010). Hope to see some OK BF runners there!
I'm Jamie in Chickasha. I run my neighborhoods (usually four times a week between 5 to 7.5 miles a pop), though I'd love to find some trails. Look me up on facebook.
I just started barefooting in Nov. 10. I've also got a blog post up about the beginning of my adventures.
Hey Jamie! Welcome to the Oklahoma Chapter of the BRS!!
I actually grew up in Duncan, and my sister just moved from Chickasha to Ardmore. Small world...
I ran in Chickasha last summer. I started out at my sister's house (don't remember the exact address, just how to get there), and ran to the park with all the Christmas lights. Ran around that a couple of times, then headed west from the park on the new sidewalks they just put in, all the way over to USAO campus. Would have run back, but my calf seized up something fierce, so I had to call for a ride.
I had only been barefoot/minimal for a couple of months, so I wasn't ready to run that far, I guess. Haven't had calf issues in a long time, which is great because they sure would shut down a run.
Take it slow, and you'll be fine. Good running!
Cheers,
Mike Rives
BRS-Oklahoma Chapter President
I'm located to the south of Tulsa - not native to the area though. I haven't ventured out to River Parks or Turkey Mountain as yet as they tend to be pretty well used am I am only starting out BFR, so prefer the quieter path at Bixby. Plus I know the distance between the 2 parks on the path and am using it as my distance goal.