Only a week away, and each second seems to be moving faster than the other. Normally I don’t get over-excited about marathons, being more a longer distance type of runner, but for this last week of training the Oakland Marathon stands as my final prize in my barefoot running quest.

When I started running 12 years ago, I never thought about what I actually put on my feet. I would think more of the race, my training, the distance, and a number of other factors that seem to pile up as runner’s trudge through the daily grind. Probably the most important factor-shoes, was almost an afterthought when I started this as my ‘other career’.

I think something most people don’t consider when they run, are the two mittens that wrap their feet, they help in so many ways, and no one thinks how shoes can actually make you a stronger, faster, and a more efficient runner. Read more…