Barefoot Soul Runner 

Have you ever wondered what the life be without legs and eyes ? 

Have a distant memory of my father mentioning it over time that the old age is not so painful if you have your legs and eyes managed in order. Couldn't actually make it out then about what was the deep implication involved there and then . 

Looking back over past 4 years of movement in life can much appreciate the value sense behind his constant reminder. 

So covering the background of what happened,  had a knee injury in Sep 2012 where happen to have an ACL tear surgery done . The years following were eventful in personal space as got married , had a startup etc . In short sprints of conscious realisation did some workouts here and there to cover the guilt of compounding fat in my body . However at the back of the mind there was always of fear of never to be able to revisit my leg injury again . With that caution devoid myself of all running and sports activity . Moreover didn't raise any alarm of the worsening of my knee conditioning with the gained weight condition. After a change of events moved to Bangalore with a kid . The health situation wasn't improving much here also , but tried few experiments with diet et.al and had mild progress along-way but without a  persistent habit change the outcome wasn't meant to last . With some series of events, took a sabbatical and had a solo trip across Karnataka and parts of Kerala . During that trip came to a deep sense of responsible realisation towards my health. Getting back from the trip , left my job and started my health journey.

Very first thing was to seek some external help in helping me get into a routine of workout . Naveen was the gym trainer who used to come quite often to our society . Got myself enrolled in his group classes session . What a nightmare it used to be in the earlier sessions , was also embarrassing at times to be not able to do certain body movements as well. Others in the group , felt were much better equipped with their body . Still was persistent with my efforts . Had an idea cross over my mind after having analysed the root cause of my half-hearted efforts . My knee injury . I was trained/conditioned for all these many years not to go any bit tough on my body especially with legs otherwise the consequences can put you years behind your improvement journey . In an instinct decided to be able to challenge myself for my legs and be able to run a marathon . All whatever was there to be borne by my body especially my legs will be provisioned in time . Without getting over my legs couldn't imagine a fitter me . So there it all started , a dream (with incremental associated physical movement) to be realised  in time . The initial runs were hard as there was no cadence , no breath control , no sense of recovery , no pre run routine . But definitely there was the spirit to take my chances against the odds and turn it into a realised dream of losing atleast 10 kilos . Faintly remember was 87 kgs then . That's fairly high for an average height 5'7" guy.  Was bordering conditions of early diabetics . 

So with Naveen got into the rhythm of exercises and learning about metabolism and diet control . With that also had my running routine in operation in parallel . Was gathering information about running and body with whatever came to me online. By chance of luck and blessing of God came around an interesting recommendation by someone about a book called Born to Run. Happenstance went through it and got lot of insights and motivation to run barefoot . One of the sticking point of the book which till date hasn't lost its impact is that - "Our feet has 28 bones (more than 10% of the entire body) and it balances the whole body , the design is so sophisticated and effective to allow all such body movements while staying grounded " Shoes take away the barefoot design power by making you adapted towards feel good comfort without being wary of the long term impacts . The take home was that I need to switch to barefoot running and initial one month or so of its adaptation journey . Was able to do that successfully and my God what an insight was that into my childhood days of carefree barefoot runs and the unleashing of the body thereafter . Was able to feel the freedom through my foot after foot adaptation and the journey thereafter . 

Also went towards making a big switch of getting my barefoot shoes for outdoor movements . After a month and half of extensive research zero'ed in on Merrell trail glove 5  . Got Animesh to get a pair for me from UK . After the shoes it was just signing up for marathon's and just giving my best. My first 21K was with Kaveri Trail and it was simply amazing . Till now have run almost close to 10 of them and counting . 

Previous to last run retired my merrell shoes and started running in Whitin shoes . These are also amazing after an adaptation cycle . Loving the journey so far. It's a complete mindset change with respect to running and associated life thereafter . Its a big change however small it might look :) 

Will be getting one for Juno soon.