Dumb-Dumby-Dumb Dumb

I wish I had access to smooth surfaces, nice grass and nice sandy or dirt trails. Instead I have access to a really great track and sharp pointy tar or nice cement, and rolling grass with who-knows-what in it. Well I bought the book Barefoot Running: A step by Step guide and didn't realize I am doing things backwards, maybe not WRONG, but definitely backwards. I should have went from shoes to barefeet to five fingers. Instead I ditched the shoes gradually worked into the five fingers and now and am working on barefooting. Even starting on the track isn't recommended since you aren't getting the "feel" of the ground, connecting with it and what not. So on Tuesday I took off my vibrams and went for a barefoot-no-holds-barred run. Out in the open, free feet on the pavement on the sharp tar and the roads and cut up concrete, jumping on the grass every once in a while and enjoying it. I did have a TINGE on pain in my second toe but didn't stop I just figured I ran over a rock. I ran my usual run (about 4 miles) and towards mile 4 I did stop to examine where the tinge of pain was...and it was definitely bloody. I was pushing off on my toes, something that will give you blood blisters the size of dimes on the front of your toes, but only the second two toes. I do notice on both pair of five fingers that this part of my shoes is worn off, so I have to work on curling my toes up! Well I know my homework and I will work on this, maybe a barefoot marathon is in the future? Who knows?

Bare-footing

SO like I said I have been gradually increasing the amount of time and distance I am running non-shod. Last week I spent a good amount of time at the track banging out about 3 miles in total. I did some speed work as well as some slower pace work. I did some wind sprints on the fantastic artificial turf (really does a HS NEED that?) Anyways all in all I did get some weird looks and a few whispers as I passed by people but no questions. At one point I noticed two kids who were playing Lacrosse decide that they wanted to run barefoot and took their shoes off to give it a try. That didn't last long. I also have been running more in my KSO's than in my Bikilas and have noticed quite a difference. When in my bikilas I think I tend to land on a flatter foot than with the KSOs. I am sure it is due to the heel to toe drop and the fact that the Bikilas have those "foot pods." One thing I am loving is just running in the KSOs, and unfortunately I have a small hole growing in the left toe of my KSOs :( Oh well just means I can get a new pair to break in! I am sure I will run these right in the ground, and for now I will. I need to start some longer runs (longer then 8 miles.) The heat and humidity are just SOOOOO terrible these days. Well that is all for now!

Training con't

I am well into week three and moving onto week four of training. Everything is goin great except the weather. Heat and Humidity SUCK THE LIFE OUT OF ME!! When I was training for the spring marathon and training all winter it was great because I could take off or put on whatever I needed to. In the heat, you can only take off so much. Training in the VFF's is going good also. I have been switching off and on between the Bikilas and the KSO's mostly because the odor that builds up if I use the same pair every day, good thing I bought two pair! I have also added in one complete barefoot run a week. I have mostly been going to the track and have worked up to a mile without shoes. It is great on a controlled surface like the track, smooth field or fresh tar, but other than that I am not ready to run barefoot. The mile or so has been good.

On another note I was on vacation and did some hiking in the minimal shoes. I had bought the NB Minimus trail shoes for trail running, but ended up just wearing my KSOtrek. So I decided to try some hiking in the minimal shoes. I use to wear the big hiking boots, but have been finding it hard to wear regular shoes. So I wore the KSOtrek on a hike up Bald Mt in Maine which is about a 2400 feet! The walk itself was about 1.75 miles. Pretty good in the shoes, I wore the injinji socks and between my toes hurt a tad, but nothing crazy.

The next day I hiked Saddleback Mt in Rangeley, ME in the NB minimus and I felt great! This hike was 4100 ft up! The trail we took was about 5.3 miles one way. I had run 20 miles in the minimus the first week I got them, no problem! The shoes worked out great and I didn't slip or trip, got a little mud in the bottom but we were hiking on the AT!

NYC Marathon training starts

I suppose if I blog about it, it will happen. So I figured instead of talking about running on the other blog I would dedicate this one to my NYC marathon training. Let me explain the title. I decided this marathon I would be racing in "barefoot" shoes. So to those who are PURE barefootists, I am not doing that, yet. For now I am training and running in Vibram Five Fingers. I have been running in both Bikilas and KSO's. I have been running in my VFFs for about 6 months now, so I have gotten use to them. I started slow with about 5 min or so and then worked up to now only running in them. I tried a few weeks ago to run in shoes and my legs DID NOT like it. SO here I am week of marathon training. This will be my second marathon, first in minimalist shoes. So far so good. My last marathon was 4:45 so I am hoping for somewhere between 4:00 and 4:15.
This weeks training includes the following:
Monday - off (I did run long on Sunday)
Tuesday - 4 miles ( I also included 2 miles speed work on the track in the PM)
Wednesday - 6 miles
Thursday - 4 miles
Friday - 6 miles
Saturday - 3 miles
Sunday - 10 miles (may move this earlier in the week)

That's all for now