Sunday, July 17th . . . beautiful long run . . .

75 min. long run. Just loved it. Everything felt nice, easy and in rhythm. Ended with the last 10 minutes starting at 10k pace, ending at 4k pace. It honestly has taken almost 4 years for me to master my stride. I've had many defining moments along the way but now it's just so easy to run.

Harry

Saturday, July 16th . . . it's all clickin' . . .

55 min. run on packed dirt trails and roads. The last 3-4 days I feel like I've had the best running form since I started running regularly about 4 years ago. Everything is clicking, my choice of footwear has significantly narrowed, my arm placement, foot placement, and everything is in rhythm. I'm not sure how/why this occurred but I'm loving it. I feel like it's all coming together as a result of 4 years of continuous and committed running.

I've averaged 50-60 miles per week for over 3 years and I feel like I'm finally getting the pay back.

Harry

Friday, July 15th . . . getting back on track . . .

A nice easy 40 min. run this morning and things are getting back on track after a few days of running at off times to accommodate my daughter's tennis venture. She had a great tournament and all is well.

Harry

Thursday, July 14th . . . evening sneak in run . . .

I was able to sneak in a 1 hr. easy/medium run. I'm not a huge fan of evening running as I much prefer running in the morning but at this point, I'll take what I can get as I work around my daughter's tennis schedule. However, I have to say, it was an awesome run!!!

Harry

Wednesday, July 13th . . . kids rule!!!

A forced day off as I will be driving my daughter to a tennis tournament and I won't have time to sneak in a run so I'll be taking today off, and perhaps tomorrow although I'm going to try to sneak in a early evening run tomorrow night. The thought of taking 2 consecutive days is just frightening to me as it is not something I do. I love to run every single day :) although I have to admit, spending time with my daughter trumps everything.

Harry

Tuesday, July 12th . . . just feeling good . . .

45 min. run in Nike XC's. My feet needed a rest, so I opted to run in more traditional running shoes, although the Nike XC's are pretty minimal as compared to most racing shoes (I also remove the insole . . . it's tricky since it's glued in but I know how to do it :).

Nothing earth shattering to report. I feel good. My stride feels good. My body feels good. It's "all good."

Harry

Catching up . . . times flies when . . .

you are having fun running in the mountains:

7/9 - 40 min. easy run at 8,000 ft.

7/10 - 55 min. medium effort run at 7,000 ft.

7/11 - back home running at a nice easy 5,200 ft. 50 min. easy run but I switched from the Luna sandals to the Vibram Bikila's just for a change of pace and it was a very fun run. It was my first good run in the Bikila's which are practically new but they don't look new anymore :).

Harry

Friday, July 8th . . . got nothing today . . .

40 min. run at 7,500 ft. I had nothing left after yesterday's race pace workout. Just nothing left in my legs at all.

Harry

Thursday, July 7th . . . rain sends me to the treadmill

55 min. treadmill workout consisting of 20 minute warm-up, 15 minute tempo at 6:27 pace, 5 min. recovery, 7 minute session increasing pace every minute down to 5:26 pace, then 8 minute warm-down.

Harry

Wednesday, July 6th . . . dirt road fartlex

55 min. fartlex on mountain dirt roads. I run hard for 3 blocks, recover for 2 blocks, 6 sets, then run hard for 2 blocks, recover for 1 block. All at about 7,500 ft. in the Luna's.

Harry

Tuesday, July 5th . . . day off

took the day off; I don't know why but it just felt like a good time to take a day off given the 4 days of consecutive high elevation mountain running . . .

Harry

July 4th!!!!

45 min. recovery run in the early morning at the base of a beautiful mountain range . . . breath taking.

Harry

Sunday, July 3rd . . . livin' la veta loca . . .

I've had 2 wonderful days running in the Leadville's over some difficult mountain terrain (mountain trails and rocky country dirt roads) that has been too tough for all the previous minimalist footwear I've tried the past 3 years (it even ripped up the MWU3's in the past).

However, today I decided to use my Luna Originals (instead of the Leadvilles) and run the same trails/dirt roads in the Originals as I did in the Leadville's. I wasn't sure if it would be a wise decision as I wasn't sure if the Originals would provide sufficient protection. However, the Originals were awesome and I ran for almost 2 hrs. over tough and rocky stuff (trails and dirt roads) and I ranwith a full relaxed stride.

I was blown away. The plan was a recovery day where I'd run for 30-45min. but I was spending so much time amazed that I could run over this terrain in the originals that I finally looked up and I was 1 hr.from the house at the base of the mountains so I had to get back home butit all worked out wonderfully.

The Leadville's are great but I'll have to reserve them for even nastier stuff. The Originals are lighter and the ground feel is
supreme. I could see using the Leadville's for some hiking also.

HHH

Saturday, July 2nd . . . God's creation and Mental Fortitude

[CLICK PICTURE TO ENLARGE]

60 min. run including 6x600 intervals at 9,000 ft. on hilly dirt roads. This is the most challenging interval workout I do and I don't get to do it that often. It's a combination of God's creation and mental fortitude. The views are strikingly beautiful looking at the famous Spanish Peaks (La Veta, Colorado) but at the same time, running 5k race pace at this elevation is a challenge in its own right.

This is what pushes me through those tough 5k races when the pain sets in and I think of this specific workout and I realize all is good because no race is as tough as this.

The Luna Leadville sandals performed beautifully yet again!!! I finally have minimalist footwear for the tough stuff.

Harry

Friday, July 1st . . . finally

This morning was my first test of the Luna Leadville sandals. As many of you know I've been searching for true minimalist footwear for over 3 yrs. that I can use when I'm running in the mountains. I have my favorite spot in the southern Colorado mountains and my paths and trails range from 7,000 - 14,000 ft. over rocky trails and pretty rocky country dirt roads. This terrain has proven too much over the years for all the previous minimalist footwear I've tried including KSOs, Treks, Bikila's, Evo's and Ultra's.

Well, I just finished a 1 hr. run this morning at about 8,000-9,000 ft. in the Leadville's and all I can say is "Finally!!!!" They rock big time. I immediately took them to the toughest parts of my runs and it was exactly what I've wanted which is too feel the rocks but not risk a metatarsal injury especially as a forefoot runner. The gives the minimal amount of protection I need for this terrain which is exactly what I've wanted.

They have significantly more cushion than the Luna original which I normally run in now and they aren't great on roads but that's not what they were designed for. They were designed for the tough stuff and they are great in the tough stuff. They force you to stay alert and pay attention which is a requirement of any shoes I run in. I never want to float along without also being alert and I always want to run by feel and feel the ground as I move along.

Nothing matches pure barefoot but I've finally found true minimalist footwear for the easy stuff (Luna Originals) and the tough stuff (Luna Leadvilles). Of course, once my run was over, I had to take off the Leavilles and put on my Luna Originals for walking around. Other than running on the tough stuff, the Leadville is too much shoe otherwise but it's perfect for exactly what it's designed for. I suspect my feet will never tough a pair of regular shoes, not even racing shoes ever again!!!

More to come later . . .

Harry