DISCIPLE OF SOLE

The way Ken Saxton sees it, everybody else is missing something.

Saxton, a 44-year-old Huntington Beach resident, took off his shoes for good this year, opting to bare his soles at work, weddings, restaurants, jury duty . . . and the Pacific Shoreline Marathon Sunday in Huntington Beach.

“You don’t insulate yourself from the earth,” Saxton explained. “Even in the Bible, Jesus told his apostles to go without shoes. God wouldn’t let people approach him unless they took their shoes off. It was just a matter of respect.”

The path that led to Saxton’s barefoot lifestyle didn’t begin with an archaic upbringing, but rather a painful experience while running the Long Beach Marathon in 1987. Saxton had purchased a pair of running shoes before his first marathon, but during the race he developed blisters and was forced to walk the last few miles.

“I did it with shoes on because I was like everyone else, I thought you have to race with shoes,” Saxton said. “And then I got these nasty blisters and for the next couple of weeks I couldn’t put my shoes on comfortably.”

Saxton began jogging barefoot on the beach, enjoying it so much that he began to run home from his job as a computer technician at Long Beach State, taking along a pair of shoes and bus fare just in case his legs tired during the 11-mile trek.

He also began researching other barefoot runners, including South Africa’s Zola Budd and Ethiopian policeman Abebe Bikila, who won consecutive Olympic marathons in the 1960s. Saxton’s detailed research helped him polish his running technique and lessen the pounding on his heels.

Saxton ran his first road race without shoes three years ago, then completed the Pacific Shoreline Marathon last year, his first barefoot race at that distance. Saxton finished three other 26-mile runs in 1999, including the all-downhill St. George (Utah) Marathon in 3 hours 20 minutes.

“The first time I saw him I thought he was a novelty act,” said Al Valdez, a self-described “shoe guy” who joins Saxton for an occasional beach run. “But it didn’t take long to discover that he’s actually good.”

Saxton, whose personal-best barefoot times include 17:45 in the 5K, 37:02 in the 10K and 1:25 in the half marathon, hopes to improve on his 4:12 clocking from a year ago.

“I like marathons better because they’re a little more relaxed, which is maybe why I haven’t done them as well,” Saxton said. “I’m looking to do under three hours someday soon.”

Saxton said he had to wear shoes maybe three times in 1999, but doesn’t see a reason to pull them out this year.

“I wore them to the junkyard, landfills and places like that,” Saxton said. “But I’ve got my garage cleaned out now, so hopefully I won’t have to go to the landfill.”

Saxton attended a wedding on Coronado Island without shoes two years ago and even convinced the Orange County Municipal Court to allow him to serve jury duty barefoot.

He had gone to the courthouse as a possible witness last year and was denied access to the building. When he received the notice to report for jury duty, Saxton responded with a letter to the court, explaining his beliefs and his experience at the courthouse a month earlier.

“I let them know what happened and that I didn’t want to be kicked out of court and have that held against me,” Saxton said. “They called me up and assured me the guard at the front door would have no problem with me coming into the courthouse barefoot.”

Saxton is a member of the Dirty Sole Society, a network of barefoot enthusiasts who share their passion on the Internet. In addition to providing interaction among barefooters, it also helps spell out legalities, such as the “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service” policy of many businesses.

“The Dirty Sole Society has not found any laws against going barefoot anywhere,” Saxton said. “We’ve called the Health Department and have letters from the Health Department saying there is no such law against patrons of a restaurant going barefoot.”

Saxton is also a member of the Orange County-based Snail’s Pace Running Club and has encouraged some of its members to try running barefoot.

“It’s something different and it’s along the sand, which is nice,” said Karen McCusker of Long Beach, who was joining Saxton for her second barefoot run on the beach. “But I still wear shoes during the week.”

Robert Geller of Belmont Shore was experiencing his first barefoot run with Saxton.

“Ken is the barefoot lifestyle recruiter,” Geller said. “He’s the spokesman, certainly on this coast anyway.”

Saxton estimates he will run between 1,700 and 2,000 miles this year. He is often asked if running barefoot is painful for his feet.

“Actually, the biggest strain is not in the feet but in the leg muscles,” he said. “People [say to] me after a race, ‘I get so many blisters from shoes, if I run barefoot it’s going to be worse.’ And I say, ‘Well that’s why I stopped wearing shoes because I got tired of getting blisters.’ ”

Pacific Shoreline Marathon notes

Registration is available from noon to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Huntington Beach Beer Co., 201 Main Street. Race-day registration starts at 6 a.m. Sunday at the same place. Cost is $75 for the marathon, $45 for the half marathon, $25 for the 5K or 8K, $40 for the 5K and 8K, and $15 for the kid’s run. The marathon and half marathon begin at 7 a.m., the 8K at 9 a.m., the 5K at 10:30 a.m. and the kids’ run at noon. Runner packets must be picked up at the Huntington Beach Beer Co. Friday or Saturday from noon-6 p.m. or on race day beginning at 6. Sunday’s Main Street Tailgate Party will feature live music.

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Pacific Shoreline Marathon

Orange County’s only major marathon will have its fourth running Sunday in Huntington Beach. About 8,000 runners are expected for the marathon, half-marathon, 8K and 5K runs, which start at the Huntington Beach Pier and run mostly along the coast.

What: Pacific Shoreline Marathon, half-marathon, 8K and 5K.

When: Sunday. 7 a.m.--Marathon, half-marathon. 9 a.m.--8K. 10:30 a.m.--5K. Noon--Children’s run.

Course: The 26.2-mile, marathon course has been altered to include a 7 1/2-mile loop inland to Central Park.

Details: Organizers are hoping to double the size of the marathon field, which was about 500 last year. Prize money is $800 for the first-place man and women.

Sideshow: There will be rock-climbing walls and an inline skating area around the start-finish area. A giant-screen television will be set up to watch the Super Bowl pregame show.

Information: (949) 766-1428, (714) 536-3525 or https://www.marathonrun.com