AWARENESS+MINDFULNESS. MINIMALIST RUNNING SHOES AND AN ANALOGICAL WAY OF LIFE

Over a week ago, an injury was back to my left thigh-groin. It developed gradually and thus wasn't as painful as the previous time, around May 2012. This time it kept me just 4 days away from running and the recovery is being much faster than then (I go running daily). I decided to give try to some other kind of shoes, remembering what I had read a long time ago about barefoot running and almost-barefoot running (using minimalist shoes). Most of the time I've been using specific running shoes (in fact, more expensive than the previous pair) I've had either an injury or some kind of slight pain (usually on my knees). With the previous shoes it was a bit better, but with them I was prone to fall down. 

What if I try some shoes that allow my feet a better contact with the ground? Why not feeling every step and the ground more? I didn't have in mind to buy some other expensive minimalist shoes and I don't dare to begin running barefoot in almost-winter and in urban circuits (dirty and potentially dangerous ground)....so I went for some not-so old canvas shoes I had at home (5 euros at some summer sales in 2011 or so). It felt good on the first day and I didn't felt a sore leg after the running session, as it was during the recovery using my previous running shores. And that kept being so on the following days. I felt how my feet were behaving differently and I felt working some muscles differently than before (calves). It'll be hard for me to go back into cushioned-padded-technical-specific-and-so-on running shoes, with a thick sole....I feel now running requires a bit more effort (an study proved a higher metabolic effort when running barefoot-minimalist) but it's ok.

It's just my personal case, though...The transition was very easy and now I feel much better...But that might not work for many people, maybe. I recommend to get more information on the topic and get medical advice.

Making things simple, being more aware of the self and everything around...It's quite coherent with the process of becoming more "analogical". It's everyday harder to reach me via cell phone (I often don't bring it with me and it's almost always off but when I have to go to Barcelona or go somewhere by car....even in such cases I could keep it off and just turn it off in case I need it or feel I could need it). I try to sit at a computer just when I need to (check something, writing papers and stuff for university, practising languages, checking and writing emails...). I prefer to feel autonomous and appreciate every moment without interferences. Is it that necessary to be almost 24h connected? Is it that healthy to have to check one's cell phone every few minutes? Does it make much sense to meet somebody and end up each checking and using his or her own smartphone and interrupting the talk (i'm not talking about necessary calls or messages from work which need to be attended)? Isn't it better to focus on the present moment we're living and on the person we're sharing a moment with (and shut down phones but when we're expecting an important call)?

some links about barefoot and minimalist running:
---Biomechanics of Foot Strikes & Applications to Running Barefoot or in Minimal Footwear http://www.barefootrunning.fas.harvard.edu/5BarefootRunning&TrainingTips.html
---Barefoot Ted's Adventures 
http://www.barefootted.com/
---Correr descalzo… ¿es natural o es una locura? http://www.sportraining.es/2012/07/25/articulo-correr-descalzo-es-natural-o-es-una-locura/
---Nacidos para correr descalzos, según y cómo. (I) Orígenes de la Barefoot Manía y las zapatillas minimalistas. http://carrerasdemontana.com/2012/04/11/nacidos-para-correr-descalzos-segun-y-como-pros-contras-y-tecnica-del-barefoot-running/
---Nacidos para correr descalzos (II): Barefoot Running. Argumentos a favor y en contra de zapatillas minimalistas.. http://carrerasdemontana.com/2012/04/13/nacidos-para-correr-descalzos-ii-barefoot-running-argumentos-a-favor-y-en-contra/
---Nacidos para correr descalzos (3): Cómo correr descalzos. Técnica del barefoot y zapatillas minimalistas. http://carrerasdemontana.com/2012/04/24/nacidos-para-correr-descalzos-3-como-correr-descalzos-tecnica-del-barefoot/
---Running barefoot is better, researchers find
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2010/01/27/running-barefoot-is-better-researchers-find/
---Tackling The 10 Myths Of Barefoot Running
http://www.podiatrytoday.com/tackling-10-myths-barefoot-running
---The Barefoot Question 
http://www.runnersworld.com/barefoot-running-minimalism/barefoot-question

Having a good Старт

It was by chance, as usually, that I got to know about the microbus Start (Старт),  manufactured by САРБ, ЛАСЗ and ДАБ from 1964 until 1970. Several years ago I discovered East German cars and Fiat Polski but Soviet cars remained quite unknown for me. I knew the names of some brands (Gaz, Lada, Moskvich...) but didn't look for further information.

There's something attractive about Старт...its odd shape and dimensions, the retro kind of front, the impossibility not to notice it...I'm afraid there must be now just too few still "alive", but fortunately (that's something rather emotional...not rational since old cars are rather polluting) there are still Soviet cars to be seen on the roads and streets, just like there are still Trabis moving around in Germany, Seat 600 in Spain and old Fiat 500 in Italy (just to put some examples of wheeled treasures).The colours of vehicles in those years were also somehow special, not only in the East. Blue, yellow and green back there were very different from those used in cars nowadays. 

references:

wikipedian article (in Russian)