New Barefoot Baby Steps Game Plan

Here it is...

• Find a minimalist sneaker - leaning toward the Brooks Pure line (4mm heel padding, but can remove insole for zero drop)
• Wait until the end of Sept - that will give me over 7 weeks without running
• Start running with good form for VERY short periods of time (3 mins max)
• Continue to be religious about my doctor-recommended stretches and massage of my achilles tendon
• See what happens after three weeks and maybe increase to 5 mins
• In time work back "down" to my Vibrams

The following has nothing to do with barefoot running, but I couldn't resist! 

Image Source: TalkLikeaPirate.com

Status Check

No running for about 4 weeks at this point.  I have been faithfully doing my Doc recommended stretches every morning.  I have also been massaging and icing my achilles tendon and heel spur almost every night.  I have been walking wearing running or hiking shoes for each and every walk I have taken and most are only a mile, but I do have one 4.5 mile WALK under my belt recently.

Result?  I feel fine.  The heel pain is gone, no issues when I get out of bed in the mornings. My bruised cuboid bone is still a little tender, but no pain in the metacarpal areas, which is great.  My next appointment is on the 24th, so we'll see what she has to say then.

Image Source:  EnglishPatterns.com

So why am I so anxious to start running again?  Because I want to prove that I can.  It's that simple.