Doing a marathon has become like a walk in the park for Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo, but his first long-distance run was unsurprisingly a very tough experience.
The First Half Marathon
The 2010 Chicago Half Marathon
Date: September 12, 2010
My Time: 1:45:29
By Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo
Update: January 30, 2023
I’ve completed hundreds of marathons and ultramarathons like a walk in the park, but my first experience in long-distance running was a very different story.
Practice makes perfect
Hunter-gatherers must practice persistence hunting to develop and keep their hunting skills. In other words, running regularly is the way to develop and maintain our exceptional abilities as endurance runners. The effort will then turn into a great pleasure, provided we run like our hunter-gatherer ancestors, i.e. on our bare feet or with minimal protection to prevent pain and injury.
As I explain in my book Running Barefoot for Human Survival, my first run over 21.1 km (13.1 miles) at 55 was understandably a very tough experience. Excerpts:
“I went to the gym four to five times a week for cardiovascular exercises and muscle building in order ‘to look handsome on the beach,’ as the Brazilians like to say. Then on July 5, 2010, I took home a free copy of the Competitor Magazine, where I came across an ad for a Bastille Day Race (5 km).
When the race started on July 7, at 7 p.m., a small group of very fast runners sped away, but the people just in front of me were moving rather too slowly. I left the trail and ran on the grass on the right to overtake them. Afterwards, I managed to keep the same pace until I crossed the finish line, admittedly breathless, in 24 minutes and 35 seconds. I went straight home with the feeling of having accomplished a patriotic mission, and thinking that the 2011 edition of the race would be my next run.
When I received few days later, by post mail, the trophy of the first male in the 55–59 category, I suddenly realized that motivation is all we need to run long distances, because we possess the extraordinary capabilities we inherited from our ancestors. In retrospect, I understood that the 40,000 or so marathoners who passed running close to my home in 2008 and 2009 weren’t performing anything exceptional. If only I had come to this conclusion earlier. I called my colleague Murad, and I showed him the trophy.
‘First male, congratulations!’ he exclaimed, with a triumphant smile.
He was gladly surprised, because he had unsuccessfully tried to convince me to do the race in 2009. Then, out of nowhere, all his efforts paid off, when I read that the Bastille Day 5 km was relocated in Lincoln Park, which finally triggered my motivation for running.
‘Murad, I have another great news for you and me, but I’ll let you have a guess,’ I said, also with a smile.
‘You’ll do the Chicago Marathon!’
‘Yes!’
‘Oh, that’s great! You have 15 months to get ready for the race.’
‘No, Mourad, I have just three months, because I’ll run the marathon with you on October 10. I can’t wait for the 2011 edition.’
I checked online training plans. I found out that most of their programs recommended at least a six months’ preparation, but I kept thinking I’d get ready in three months and I just needed to train intensely during the summer holidays. My first serious concern came up after two weeks of running, which I too quickly associated with bad luck: I suddenly sustained a very painful groin strain that forced me to suspend the training indefinitely. I nonetheless decided to participate in the Chicago Half Marathon, as I wanted to try to qualify for the front corrals of the Chicago Marathon.
The pain had already dissipated when I started the half marathon on September 12. I tried to follow the 1:30 pacers, but I got very quickly out of breath. Due to my lack of experience, I almost choked on at the first aid station, when I tried to drink while running. I still managed to complete the first 5 km in less than 23 minutes, breaking my record for that distance. When the 1:45 pacers caught up with me near the 16th kilometer, I felt I had to keep with them until the finish line, no matter the cost. I eventually achieved my goal, finishing the race in a time of 1:45:29; which qualified me for the corral C of the Chicago Marathon, but at too high a cost, as I ended up with exhausted legs, terribly aching muscles, swollen feet and a serious tendinitis—the so-called iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) in my left knee...”
The book Running Barefoot for Human Survival is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book format (French edition: Courir pieds nus pour sauver les humains).
I also did the following six half marathons in the before in 2021 and 2012:
2011-08-14 Rock n Roll Chicago Half Marathon: 1:39:17
2011-09-11 Chicago Half Marathon: 1:39:13
2012-05-12 Chicago Spring Half Marathon: 1:37:00 (PR)
2012-05-26 Madison Half Marathon: 1:39:38
2012-06-09 Chicago 13.1 Marathon: 1:38:56
2012-07-22 Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon: 1:44:01
Date: September 12, 2010
My Time: 1:45:29
By Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo
Update: January 30, 2023
I’ve completed hundreds of marathons and ultramarathons like a walk in the park, but my first experience in long-distance running was a very different story.
Practice makes perfect
Hunter-gatherers must practice persistence hunting to develop and keep their hunting skills. In other words, running regularly is the way to develop and maintain our exceptional abilities as endurance runners. The effort will then turn into a great pleasure, provided we run like our hunter-gatherer ancestors, i.e. on our bare feet or with minimal protection to prevent pain and injury.
As I explain in my book Running Barefoot for Human Survival, my first run over 21.1 km (13.1 miles) at 55 was understandably a very tough experience. Excerpts:
“I went to the gym four to five times a week for cardiovascular exercises and muscle building in order ‘to look handsome on the beach,’ as the Brazilians like to say. Then on July 5, 2010, I took home a free copy of the Competitor Magazine, where I came across an ad for a Bastille Day Race (5 km).
When the race started on July 7, at 7 p.m., a small group of very fast runners sped away, but the people just in front of me were moving rather too slowly. I left the trail and ran on the grass on the right to overtake them. Afterwards, I managed to keep the same pace until I crossed the finish line, admittedly breathless, in 24 minutes and 35 seconds. I went straight home with the feeling of having accomplished a patriotic mission, and thinking that the 2011 edition of the race would be my next run.
When I received few days later, by post mail, the trophy of the first male in the 55–59 category, I suddenly realized that motivation is all we need to run long distances, because we possess the extraordinary capabilities we inherited from our ancestors. In retrospect, I understood that the 40,000 or so marathoners who passed running close to my home in 2008 and 2009 weren’t performing anything exceptional. If only I had come to this conclusion earlier. I called my colleague Murad, and I showed him the trophy.
‘First male, congratulations!’ he exclaimed, with a triumphant smile.
He was gladly surprised, because he had unsuccessfully tried to convince me to do the race in 2009. Then, out of nowhere, all his efforts paid off, when I read that the Bastille Day 5 km was relocated in Lincoln Park, which finally triggered my motivation for running.
‘Murad, I have another great news for you and me, but I’ll let you have a guess,’ I said, also with a smile.
‘You’ll do the Chicago Marathon!’
‘Yes!’
‘Oh, that’s great! You have 15 months to get ready for the race.’
‘No, Mourad, I have just three months, because I’ll run the marathon with you on October 10. I can’t wait for the 2011 edition.’
I checked online training plans. I found out that most of their programs recommended at least a six months’ preparation, but I kept thinking I’d get ready in three months and I just needed to train intensely during the summer holidays. My first serious concern came up after two weeks of running, which I too quickly associated with bad luck: I suddenly sustained a very painful groin strain that forced me to suspend the training indefinitely. I nonetheless decided to participate in the Chicago Half Marathon, as I wanted to try to qualify for the front corrals of the Chicago Marathon.
The pain had already dissipated when I started the half marathon on September 12. I tried to follow the 1:30 pacers, but I got very quickly out of breath. Due to my lack of experience, I almost choked on at the first aid station, when I tried to drink while running. I still managed to complete the first 5 km in less than 23 minutes, breaking my record for that distance. When the 1:45 pacers caught up with me near the 16th kilometer, I felt I had to keep with them until the finish line, no matter the cost. I eventually achieved my goal, finishing the race in a time of 1:45:29; which qualified me for the corral C of the Chicago Marathon, but at too high a cost, as I ended up with exhausted legs, terribly aching muscles, swollen feet and a serious tendinitis—the so-called iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS) in my left knee...”
The book Running Barefoot for Human Survival is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book format (French edition: Courir pieds nus pour sauver les humains).
I also did the following six half marathons in the before in 2021 and 2012:
2011-08-14 Rock n Roll Chicago Half Marathon: 1:39:17
2011-09-11 Chicago Half Marathon: 1:39:13
2012-05-12 Chicago Spring Half Marathon: 1:37:00 (PR)
2012-05-26 Madison Half Marathon: 1:39:38
2012-06-09 Chicago 13.1 Marathon: 1:38:56
2012-07-22 Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon: 1:44:01