The Barefoot Race - Reflections by Race Director, Caleb Scoville

It’s a simple title for a simple event, I agree.  But the importance of this event is large.  See, one person CAN make a big difference, a huge impact on the barefoot running movement and on other's lives at the same time, as did Caleb Scoville.  The importance of many small events just like this is even larger once they have been combined.  How can you make a difference in the barefoot running community, and better yet, how can you make a difference in the world around you?  Caleb did just that.  He had a goal and a vision, and although he did not hit the numbers he intended, he left a footprint (a bare one at that) for the future, a start that can change many lives when we all join in to make a difference.

Caleb explains his goal, “[My] goal was to have 500 people or more come together and participate in something, that to my knowledge, hasn't happened much and that is a barefoot race.  My vision is of something incredible for a great cause.  Whether you love, like, dislike, or despise barefoot running, you must agree that a race where all the proceeds go to cancer research is a pretty good cause.   Even if you don't run the race, you can still register, get a tee shirt, and watch or even walk the course because it is a walk too.  (If you want to argue with that, just go to St. Jude's and look a little kid in the eyes who has cancer, and tell him or her that.  That wasn't meant to make you feel bad, just for those who might argue.)  I love barefoot running, but the purpose of the race was to attract attention doing something a little unorthodox like a barefoot race.  I wanted to do something cool and something I enjoyed in order to help others, so that's what we did.  I also knew that a race at the park would mean zero car traffic, less liability, and less potential accidents.”

Caleb reflects on his 5K run and walk event, “Kiwanis Park is a large park, and the perimeter of it is a tiny bit over one complete mile.  I live very close to the park and run it often, so I knew when the thought came to do a barefoot race that I would hold it there.

There were about 20 of us, and we were all barefoot.  Since I knew the course, and I had done a poor job marking it, I decided to be a rabbit for the first mile and then resume my race director's duties, which turned out great because I can whip out a good mile, which I did, and then I was at the mile mark calling out splits and cheering on runners.

Now that I've had time to let it all sink in, I think I'm ready to post on how I think it went, things that went well and things that could have gone better.

Overall I have positive and fond memories of the race.  Every single runner ran barefoot and that was cool.  Shannon Banks, one of several who really helped, arrived right after the race started and said that it was an inspiring sight to see a group of runners all running barefoot.  Some people had emailed me about running with shoes because they didn't feel comfortable running shoeless, but in the end everyone ran barefoot.

Nobody got injured, at least to my knowledge.  Maybe I should have asked, but no one was limping, crying, whining, etc., so I think that was great.

We had a good mix of people.  My family came, and thank goodness, or we wouldn't have raised as much money.  Family and friends from Idaho came, and they ended up taking the first place men’s and women’s spots.   Former MTC teaching companions came along with former missionaries that I had taught in the MTC.  Then there were people from my home-town in Vancouver, Washington, down here for school that came and last but not least there were several people I didn't even know and had never met (I guess those go hand-in-hand don't they?) who showed up and impressed me.  So cool.

I definitely could have been more prepared.  I was scrambling at the last minute to get safety pins for the race numbers.  I also waited until the last minute to reserve the pavilion at the park.  Luckily, Shannon helped get the food and a sponsor, or I know for a fact there would have been NO sponsor nor food there.  It would have been sweet to have had a gun for the start--it was just me yelling "go!" and then being the rabbit.  The white lines on the ground were as weak sauce as any sauce can be.  I'm surprised more people didn't get mixed up on the course...

BUT! on the other hand, we raised $200+ for children's cancer research, which will maybe pay for a few beakers or a microscope battery, but it's still $200 more than they would have had, and I think even a little bit counts.  I had a lady out of nowhere approach me and ask when we were going to do this again, so we have at least one returning participant for next year.

Overall, I think I learned some extremely valuable lessons and gained invaluable experience that I could not have gained any other way.  I found out that I like putting on races and that barefoot races at big parks is something I especially like and something I think could become HUGE!

I'm thinking two or more barefoot races next year, but here's what I'm really thinking--A barefoot racing series where April, May, June, July, and August are races leading up to the championship race in September.  Each race is a different venue/park in Provo/Orem like Kiwanis, the Park by Timpview High School, Rock Canyon Park, the Scera Park in Orem, and I bet there's more in Orem I don't even know of.  With more time and advertising and students and hype and build up and EVERYTHING, I see this snowballing, like Jarom said on the Facebook page, and becoming something huge.  This may even be something I could make a living at, or part of a living.  This next April, I plan on the proceeds going to GiveOneMillion again, but after that, I haven't decided...Sky's the limit baby!”

How will you make a difference?