1.5 miles

Not much to report about last nights run.  I got 6 laps around the track this time, and while it was after dark I managed not to step on any unseen obstacles.  Beyond my 1.5 barefoot miles I also fit in another 8 miles shod.  The barefoot training felt fine.  My legs, or more specifically my calves, are getting much stronger, but my feet were still a little tender after the run.

My finance did go and try on a pair of the Five Fingers KSOs at Garry Gribbles this weekend.  She said they were very comfortable.  She did not purchase any (they didn't carry a color she liked), and I think she may partly be waiting for me to try them and provide a more in-depth analysis.  I, for one, am waiting until I can get some more distance under my barefeet.  I'm concerned that the amount of feedback I'm currently receiving from my feet when running might be reduced resulting in new problems from a poor running form.  I do not want to trade one set of problems for others, and so for the time being I'm content with my barefoot track work.

1.25 bare miles

This post is coming a little late after the run.  I got behind with other obligations the past couple of days, but not to worry, with a little laundry going I can fit in some time to catch up on my runs from the last couple of days.

Thursday
I was able to get out and get in 5.5 miles despite the heat.  Here in Kansas we are regularly getting up in the low to mid 90s each day, and it's taking quite a while to cool off in the evening.  This easily makes it a sticky 85 degrees at 8 o'clock when we get out to run.  Not exactly my favorite time of year.  Within that 5.5 miles I did 5 laps around the track, barefoot.  Giving me 1.25 miles of barefoot running for the evening.

This was a good night for my running as it gave some real qualification to my reasons for attempting barefoot running.  While I was doing the shod portion of my running I was feeling the typical pressure in my knees as well as pain in my right hip.  As soon as I started running barefoot this pressure/pain became completely absent.  I did have a little bit of "pain" on the outside part of my right foot.  This was hurting prior to me starting to run, not sure why, but it definitely caught my attention as I kicked off the sneaks.  Now, three days later it isn't bothering me at all.  I will keep it in mind but not worried about it.  Chalking up another successful night of barefoot running on the board!

Saturday
I love my Saturday morning runs!  It is my absolute favorite way to start my day.  However, this Saturday morning I had a little extra trouble dragging myself out of bed.  Therefore, I didn't get as early a start as I would typically prefer.  I was, once again, facing some hot, hot weather, and a deadline to get back and mow the grass (oh grass, such a love hate relationship is ours in the summer).  As a result I did not get in any barefooting this day. Just pulled out a 5 mile run, 2.5 m straight out and back.

I was intrigued to notice a little extra strength in my calves which led to some increased speed.  However, in my excitement I pushed out a little harder than I might have otherwise and ended up bonking a bit around 4 miles.  My final mile was spent focusing on keeping my head up and placing my right leg in front of the left, and not so much on pace.  Then I arrived back home and got the grass mowed.  If you can still spend 90 minutes out in the yard with a tempature of 90 degrees (and heat index of 100), the run couldn't have been that bad now could it.

1 barefoot mile (at a time)

Tonight I got out and ran 5.62 miles (measurement courtesy of my handy Garmin Forerunner 305).  While this isn't far for me at all, the big news is that one whole mile of that was barefoot!  I'm still just working on the high school track, but my feet felt pretty good and my calves barely bothered me at all.  I did keep it slow, just 11:15 on my 4 laps around the ring.

More so then increasing my distance tonight, I worked on listening and feeling.  I listened to my feet hit the track and tried to make as little sound as possible.  I listened to my breathing and made sure to keep it steady both by remembering to take deep breaths and by adjusting my tempo to keep my exercise in an easy, aerobic state.  I felt how my feet were landing, and worked to adjust my stride, speed, and posture to get the right landing.  The right landing on each step is a lot like the perfect swing in golf, or release in basketball.  When you hit it, you just know it's right.  That is how every step is supposed to feel, and it seems to take all the effort right out of the motion.  Like getting a freebie prize at the county fair (only I didn't have to fake crying to get it).

My run was very satisfying tonight.  I really enjoyed it, and it was great to have such, seemingly, substantial progress on my barefooting.

Don't you know that it is hot, hot, hot!

Went for a run yesterday.  Just 4 miles mid morning, nothing big, and planned to end with another three laps around the track as I did on Thursday.  However, by the time I finished up three miles, and was getting back to the high school, it had just gotten too hot.  Forcing me to take a pass on my track work.  The heat index was near 100 (F) degrees and there was absolutely no wind.  I figured the track surface was going to be blisteringly hot, and just more than my nubile feet could withstand.

So, I will look to get out there again Monday evening once it has cooled down.

Barefoot Running (take two)

After three days of rest, I'm happy to report that my feet are healed up and ready for another try at this.  So, I headed out for a 2.5 mile run which ended at the local high school.  After so much pain (shivers at the memory of) it seemed like a good idea to try this on a softer, and less debris strewn surface.  The high school track was just the place.

I did three laps around the track giving myself a total of 3/4 of a mile, barefoot.  The results this time around were much more promising.  While my feet still hurt a little, it's no where near the pain I experienced on Monday.  My calves are also feeling better, and I did increase my distance.  Success all around!



All the red on my feet is from the track.  Does kind of show me where I land, kind of like an ink test.

The Barefoot Professor

This is a great video to help understand the basic ideas of barefoot running. The seismograph illustrating the impact absorbed by the body at each landing was particularly eye-opening for myself.

In case anyone is having trouble with the video here, the link is below.



The Barefoot Professor

My feet on Day 1

Today I made my first attempt at barefoot running.  After an easy 2.5 mile run I ended up at the nearest park, took off my shoes, and ran 0.57 miles on the asphalt trail through the park.  It took me 6:25 to do, much slower than I normally run, and at the end my dogs were barking!  I then re-adorned my shoes and ran another half-mile home.

All the reading I've been doing over the last few weeks all said to take it slow, and they weren't kidding!  Now, several hours after I have finished with my run I have blisters on my big and second toe, and on the ball of my foot behind my fourth toe, on my right foot.  My left, while soar, seems to be fairing much better.  I've always had a severe over-pronation on my right foot, for which I have, for many years, worn Brooks Adrenaline motion stabilization shoes.  So, to find that my right foot is a little worse for wear at the start of this new chapter of my running is not surprising.  I am wondering if I am landing too far forward on my foot, or if it is just my "soft" feet needing to build up more thick skin.

I guess now I just need to let these blisters heal up a bit and try it again.  I think I might try to run on the track at our local high school next.

Hospital Hill

On June 15, 2010 I ran the Hospital Hill Half-Marathon in 2:02:25.  Now, after over a week of recovery, during which I have run not so much as a mile, my right hip and both knees still hurt.  What am I doing!  Perfectly sane people go out day after day, year after year and "run through the pain".  "Human beings," we say, "were born to run."  We say these things to ourselves convincing us that this is all normal, that pain is just a part of life.  We ignore that small logically based voice in the back of our skull reminding us that pain is the part of life that teaches you to stop doing the things that's cause you pain!


So, now after some admittedly amateur research I've decided to give barefoot running a try.  If nothing else, perhaps the pain in my feet will distract me from the other parts of me that hurt. :(