Coming Back From Injury

Well, after 2 days off dealing with very sore achilles tendons which are very serious and must be dealt with carefully, I returned to the pavement today and knocked off 7.24 miles in 1:00:12 . . . a nice steady 8:12 pace. My achillies feel pretty good with only a little pain. This is the best they've felt in 10 weeks which is about the time I ran the marathon. The weeks b/f the marathon my achillies were so tender that you couldn't touch them. Today is the first day, post run, that I could touch my achilles and put preesure on them. For the past 2 day I've tried a very different type of rehab and one recommended by Swedish doctors which is "eccentric achilles tendon and calf muscle loading and strengthening." It's a difficult drill and a bit scary with sore muscles . . . a bit controversial but I did it and I think it had a bit role in me coming back in 2 days and feeling this good. I'll continue to do this exercise permanently.

HHH

Searching for my "best" race

I'm searching for my "best" race. The word "best" as I use it means a combination of the following:

1. the race distance I most enjoy

2. the race distance I perform best;

3. the race distance that my body, mind and spirit thrives; and

4. the race distance where I minimize or eradicate injuries.

This morning I finished a fartlex. Overall, 7.22 miles in 56:46 with 2 miles tempos at 6:54 pace. Felt good but let's see how I feel later today and tomorrow.

HHH

100% Barefoot

Just finished a morning father's day run of 4 miles (0:40:00) completely barefoot on the streets. Felt no pain unlike with shods. Loved the faces of the cars watching in amazement as I ran by barefoot.

Whole thing is perplexing isn't it? Dirty little secret the shoe companies don't want you to know? Maybe we don't need shoes. Maybe shoes is the problem. Maybe running is not hard on your body; if it is, then you are running wrong and with the wrong shoes (or too much of the shoes).

HHH

BF & VFF combo run

Just finished a nice 3.05 mile run. 1.5 miles in VFFs and 1.55 miles complete barefoot on asphalt street. It felt great. I also loved the drivers almost coming to a complete stop in disbelief that someone could run down a street barefoot. Oh yea and I wasn't going flow; sub 8:00 pace.

HHH

Just a nice run

5.21 miles in 45:06. Mostly trail running. Fun spiritual run.

HHH

Continuing down the Vibram path

Finished my first VFF run over 8 miles. That's back-to-back days running in my VFFs. Let's see how I feel today. I'm getting use to barefoot running and it's amazing to think I don't feel like I need traditional shoes.

HHH

Reverse Split in the Vibrams

Just finished a 10k reverse split in the Vibrams. Front half in 31:24 (10:30 pace) and Back half in 24:19 (7:30 pace). Felt good and my feet are getting stronger.

HHH

VFFin' it and Lovin' it

Another move toward the conclusion that shoes are crap! Just finished 7.15 miles in 1:05:36. This included a long slow 1 mile warmup. I also ran 1.5 miles at 6.40 pace (part of it at 5:30 pace). And all of this practically barefoot (VFFs only). I run faster in VFFs and running shoes; I feel better; less injury and I can feel my toes and achilles doing what they are naturally suppose to do. Bottom line, no shoe can replace what the natural foot was created to do.

HHH

Easy Endurance Long Run with Good Discipline

Just finished a good endurance long run which is all about the time on your feet vs. pace/time. Just finished 14.2 miles in 2:23:19. I used my racing flats (Acics Hyperspeed 3's). I wanted to try my VFFs on a long run but my body clearly told me it wasn't ready yet. I generally running 6+ miles in the VFFs so I'll have to slowly increase the mileage until I can do a half marathon in them.

HHH

My Weekend Vibram Goal

My goal is to finish my first long run in my Vibram Five Finger KSO's. I hope to finish 12 miles tomorrow. If I can do that, then all my runs under 13.2 miles will be in my VFF KSOs. Then, I'll work to extend that to the marathon level. In the meantime, I'll stick with my low profile Asics Hyperspeed 3's for runs beyond 13 miles. Eventually, I want my VFFs to become the primary running shoe and only use the Asics for really touch trails or bad winter weather although Vibram makes a Flow model for cold weather running . . . I'll have to try it next winter.

I'll let you know how it goes.

HHH

It's All About the Vibram Five Fingers

I'm not a conspiracy person but it's getting very difficult, if not impossible, to refute the data that the fancy, technologically advanced shoes are BAD, that is, AWFUL for you. I just ran a comfortable pace in my Vibram Five Fingers KSO's of 6.4 miles in 52:28. This is a 8.12 pace which is a bit faster than my regular comfortable pace in traditional running shoes. More shocking is that for 1 mile I was sprinting at about a 6.40 pace. Now, that is a big deal b/c I haven't opened up to a full stride/sprint in many months and I did it and didn't even know I was doing it until I looked at my watch and realized my stride. And to top it off, I did it pretty much pain free. I'm recovering from several injuries and I basically felt very little in terms of pain as compared to my normal running shoes.

I'm starting to become a believer that the shoe companies are evil and know what they are doing to people. Hard to argue that barefoot running isn't the best if the indigenous peoples have been running long distances barefoot without injury for thousands of years.

HHH

Tuesday & Wednesday - Hittin' the Road

6.33 miles in 53:56 on Tuesday. 8.11 miles in 1:11:19 today. Currently averaging 40+ miles per week. Dealing with a few nagging injuries but one must keep pushing forward. I suspect many people don't run for fear of dealing with injuries but any activity includes having to deal with injuries. Remember, pain is inevitable but suffering is optional . . . pushing through the injuries and you will get stronger, mentally and physically.

HHH

Good Run Weekend

12.2 miles Saturday followed by 6.35 miles on Sunday.  All at 8,000 ft. in heavy winds.  Great endurance workout.

HHH

Returning to normal running schedule

Hit the pavement this morning for 6.7 miles in 56:31.  Nice and easy 8.26 pace.  I should hit the 40 mile mark for this week which will be the first time I returned to my 40+mile weeks since the marathon 4 weeks ago.  That sounds about right as it takes many folks 1 month to return back to 100% normal form after a marathon.

Nice Easy Run

Just polished off 6.19 miles in 52:58.  Feelin' good.

HHH

Great Tempo Run in the Heavy Rain

I love running in all types of weather but especially rain and heavy snow.  Today was a heavy rain morning which is a little rare for this town (this ain't Seattle).  I polished off 8.5 miles in 1:08:53.  A nice steady 8:06 pace.  The great thing about weather like this is that most folks decide to stay inside and it's so relaxing to be the only person pounding the ground.

HHH