Barefoot Running

[Deadcompanions]

The answer is, now. I ran week 1, day 1 yesterday. I didn't realise it was going to be quite so demanding, stamina wise, but I kept up and felt great afterwards; looking forward to more runs. My running felt good: sockless in Vivo Barefoot shoes; landing comfortably on the front of my foot. But today: my poor calfs! I can hardly walk. Everything else is fine, thank goodness. It has to be said that Benjohn, you did warn me about this: that barefoot-style running would hit me in the calfs. I've been trying to look after them today. They don't feel damaged at all: just shocked and tight and sore. I'm contemplating realistically that they might not be recovered enough to take me for my second run tomorrow: I think it could be foolish to work them too hard at this stage. I'll be disappointed not sticking to the program if so: I'll see how things are tomorrow. But, well, there's Thursday and Saturday to catch up: I feel like my calfs should be recovered enough to go out again in a couple of days at most. Being inexperienced in running, I'm not completely sure I'm doing the right thing: should I be running through the pain (I don't think I could though), or am I right nursing my calfs back into shape (hot bath; massage; yoga stretching exercises) while postponing the next run for a day or so? Oh! is it ever a straight line to get to your goal?