Home > Blogs

‘Twas the morning after New Year’s

A Barefoot runners take on the classic children's Christmas story.

T’was the morning after New Years, when all through the house

Not a creature, was running, not even a mouse.

The groans and the moans were heard far and near,

With knowledge that, “New Year resolutions”, soon would be here.

The parents were nestled all slumped in their beds,

Whilst visions of knee-braces, danced in their heads.

With my sore ankles and my friends bad back,

We dreaded the C-2-5K plan we agreed to a long while back (Yes, I know I used “back” twice, this isn’t easy)

When out on the doorstep there arose a big clatter,

I crawled from my bed to see what was the matter.

I limped down the stairs and I saw by the door,

A parcel that was late from the mail order store.

The light from the street-lamp shining on through,

The door window to my parcel below.

To my astonished eyes, as I opened the parcel,

Was a book by a guy called Christopher McDougall. (That was pretty bad -please don’t groan)

An astonishing tale about a man, who couldn’t run jack,

Because of the pains, in his knees and his back.

Decided to find a lost tribe down in some Canyons,

To see if they had the secret of running long, fast ones (distances that is)

Now, Darn it! Now, Dang it! No pains and No issues!

On, running! On, training! On, road and on hills, and

To the top of the mountains! To the top of that hill!

Now let’s dash away! Dash away! Run away all!

As lost Indians that before trespassers came by,

When they met with strangers, would hide in the sky.

The story unveiled what I already knew,

That maybe I didn’t need my shoes to run too.

And then, in a twinkling, I had decided,

That these guys were right, I had been “Born to Run”[ed] (I really AM trying. Honest!)

As my enthusiasm continued and my passion lingered,

That maybe I should investigate these Vibram Five Fingers.

So out I stepped dressed in Lycra, from my head to (Vibram’d) foot,

With my toes feeling chilly and dirty with mud and with soot.

A butterfly feeling, powerful, deep in my stomach,

I wanted to run, like those runners from way back. (Yeah, that didn’t really work did it?  Sorry!)

My eyes, how they twinkled! My grin, oh how merry!

My feet were all cold and I was feeling sorry!

That I had started too fast and had not listened to advice,

Of Ken Bob, Ted, Jason and forum people so nice.

So I limped home, determined to try,

Again, after my grief had run dry.

But before, to read all the literature and guides,

To understand, what I was doing before taking sides.

My feet were all swollen; I felt sorry for myself.

But then realized my dream wasn’t left on the shelf.

I went back to the road and gave it one more go,

But this time I went barefoot and I took it slow.

I transitioned right and I took my time.

I listened to my feet and behaved this time.

After building up slowly, I continued to run,

And discovered that, my running could be fun.

I managed that 5K, and I ran even more,

After transitioning slow, my body wasn’t sore.

So you’ll hear me shout, as I run out of sight,

Happy Barefooting to all, but just do it right!

——————————–

I will be chairing a Facebook chat hosted on the Merrell Facebook page on, Jan. 5, 2012 at 1-2 p.m. Eastern.  If you are interested in Barefoot running, or you would just like to say ‘Hi’, please feel free to join me .

Check out the latest buyer's guide:

The best trainers in Canada under $150

We curated the best performance trainers under $150 to meet your 2024 running goals, while staying on budget