Haven't Run Yet and Micheal Sandler . . .

I still haven't gone running since the 18th.  Crap.  At this rate, I'm gonna be sloggin' through the SVHM.  I still have my goal of two and a half hours for the run.  I can probably do it, too.  But I'm gonna have to start running again. It's not because I'm lazy, I just don't want to hurt my foot any more than it is.  It hasn't really been bothering me much the last few days, so I'm taking that as a sign of good times on the trail.

Also, my cousin called me last night.  She told me that she wants to start running with me.  She hasn't run . . . ever.  I've downloaded and printed the SVMH Beginner Pre-Training sheets.  That's what I used last year to get me started on the endeavor.  I'll be giving her tips to make her running more comfortable so she doesn't go the the pain I did last year.  She wouldn't be considered fat anywhere.  But she does have a bit of padding she'd like to reduce.  And I believe it'll give her the energy she wants.  Though the way she runs her kids and her life, I don't ever see that problem.  She's a firecracker and one of the few people I know that I truly admire.  She has her shit together.  Single mom and all.

Also, last night, the local REI in Marina had a guest speaker, Mr. Michael Sandler.  I've read about him before.  I'm pretty sure he wrote about it in his book (which I bought and had signed), but his method of transitioning into true barefoot running is not recommended.  Before he started, he was an avid cyclist and rollerblader.  A professional in both sports.  He couldn't run because he had plantar fasciitis.  He even calls himself Mr. Plantar Fasciitis.

So in I think he said in '06, he was training for a Rollerblade sponsored trek across the US . . . in rollerblades.  Because of the pf, he was concerned about how to go about it without the debilitating pain.  He was saying that he had so much cushioning, arch support and stability control in his shoes that he was wearing very tiny shoes to prevent the arch from causing him the excruciating pain he was so used to having.  And they STILL hurt.

So . . . he's out rollerblading one day and he stops to contemplate somewhere and he comes up with the idea that'll it'll all work itself out.  Unfortunately it did.  As he begins haulin' ass on the bike path he was on, he comes upon a blind curve.  As he turns into it, he spots a father teaching his daughter to walk, but the father had stepped onto the bike path.  He had a choice of either nailin' the father and kid or try to get safely off the bike path.  He thought to himself, nobody hits a baby.  So he goes flying off the bike path . . . and ends up shatttering his leg.

I can't remember all that went wrong, but the femur missed the femoral artery by millimeters and he lost the ACL in his knee.  He pretty much has a titanium hip and leg now.  He was told he'd never be able to run again.  He was, as he said, broken.

Anyway, the point is that he did some learning and discovered for himself that he could run barefoot.  It took him about three months because he did it truly barefoot.

And boy, I'll tell you something . . . I'm not gay or anything (not that there's anything wrong with that) and I don't really check out other guys legs . . . but holy crap!  I took another cousin of mine because my brother (who I'd signed up) flaked on me, said what I was thinking . . . "Goddamn! Check out those guys quads!"

I mean seriously, he was a skinny guy!  Check out his pics online, but this guys legs were ripped man!  Not muscle man ripped but incredibly toned and defined.  You can even see where his ACL is missing on his left leg.

And he is one of the biggest hippies you'll ever meet.  And I don't mean it in a derogatory way either.  I mean this man is very spiritual and he truly believes that things happen for a reason.  I guess he believes in destiny and all that bunk.  I can't fall for that shit, but I respect the man because his faith makes him a rock!  And anyone that has that much faith is a man to be feared and/or admired.

He's a man to be admired.

GD

Tomorrow

Tomorrow I'm going for a run.  I probably shouldn't, but I'm gonna.  I'm also going to try something another runner recommended.  I'm gonna smoke a joint before the run.  I was told it allows you to focus and enjoy the run more.  Seeing as that it'll be my first hit, it'll be interesting . . .

Bummed

So I've been out of commission in running for a week or so because of my foot.  I gone to see my chiropractor a couple of times and he's given me some advice on treating it.  I have a mild case of plantar fasciitis and he treated it with this tongue depressor looking metal thing-a-mabob and it didn't hurt too much.  Afterwards, after icing at home it felt much better.

I was going to go for a run this morning, but I had a bit too much red wine and a restless night.  I gotta cut back on the beans as well.  I have to help out at my moms restaurant in a bit.

Tomorrow is my cheat day (eat what I want), but I'll be going for a run early in the morning.  Then I'll be hitting the bad food.

p.s.
lazy again . . .

Crap run!

The post title link is another example of a HORRIBLE run. I was supposed to go to a group run this morning, but I partook of a bit too much red wine and I ended up a tad dehydrated. I was sweating heavily and earlier than I was accustomed to. I guess I'll have to learn from it.

p.s.
too lazy to check spelling or grammar. blame it on the iPhone.

Another Fort Ord BLM run.

Click the title of the post and it'll take you to my latest run at the Fort Ord BLM. I did much better this time around. Completed almost 4 miles in under 50 minutes. Got at least 6 miles to do tomorrow morning at the group run. It's gonna be fun!

Barefooter guru Jason Robillard's Free eBook

One of the gurus of barefoot running is giving away his book on his website.  If you click the title of this post, it'll send you to the post on his website where you can download it via Mediafire.  It's a PDF.

I've already requested that he post it on Scribd so it can be available to everyone and not have to worry about download limits.  Once I get home tonight, I'll post it on there and make a link available here.  He wants people to read it and have it posted anywhere it can be posted as long as no changes are made to the document which is pretty freakin cool of him.

This is one of the guys that inspired me to just run really.  He made running sound fun and sort of gave advice on how to get yourself to enjoy running.  He just happens to also push the idea of running barefoot or at least learning the barefoot form.  As I've said, it took a while but I can run several miles on my midfoot and enjoy every bit of it (except when I fuck up my own foot by not paying attention to where I'm stepping).

Get the book and read it.  It may change the way you look at your shoes.

GD

p.s.
again, lazy. not checking grammar.

My first iMapMyRun: got a bit lost

My hour long "run"

So . . . the above link will show where I ran and for how long.  For some reason, I got a different time on my phone (59:27 for 4.03 miles).  The website shows 1:07 for the same 4 miles, so I don't know which is quite correct.  But the point is, IT TOOK ME AN HOUR!!!!

That really is frustrating.  If I hadn't screwed up my foot, I'd have completed it in about 40 to 45 minutes easy, even with all the hills and shit!  After about two miles, my foot had finally loosened up enough so I could run in good barefoot-form.  I wasn't barefoot though.  Not there.  The road was really rough and then it turned really gravelly then it went off trail.  A really rough trail.  Just read the previous post.  It was the same trail.

After I'd manage to loosen up, I pretty much ran the whole 2 miles.  Even with the climbs.  And boy, were there some climbs.  I actually enjoyed myself out there, though.  I was able to shut out the burn of the muscles and just move.  It wasn't too hot and there was a breeze.

If you look at the map, you'll notice there were some squiggly parts.  Those were the parts where I doubled back a couple of times because I got a bit lost and had to look for the right trail.  But that was alright.  I was laughing at myself for not paying attention.  I guess the endorphins kicked in and were making the run fun.

I'm probably gonna take the next couple of days off to let my foot get a bit better before I go on a run again.  It was a little difficult getting around this morning.  I hope I don't go apeshit crazy during these next couple of days.  I've actually gotten used to running every other day and itchin' to go on the days I don't.  I never thought I'd get the running bug.

But I guess that's not a bad thing, is it?

I think it may be time to begin doing some upper body stuff.  I haven't yet.  Maybe some pushups and crunches.  My only concern about pushups is that I get to the point where I can do a bunch in a row, like 50, and then begin to push harder than I should and end up screwing up my shoulder.  Always the left shoulder.  Hopefully I remember this time to just keep a schedule.  I think it's time for the Hundred Pushups.  I've been looking at this site for the last few months already.  But the shoulder injury always mocks me.  Maybe if I follow this plan, I won't hurt myself.

I'm gonna start this tonight.  I think the first day is just finding out your baseline.  How many "good-form pushups" you can do at once.  Good-form is key.  Don't cheat. That can lead to injury.  I gotta remember that.

Wish me luck.

GD

p.s.
didn't check grammar

New trail . . . oh boy.

So this last Saturday I was supposed to meet up with our group for a long run at 7:45.

Ummmm . . . I didn't make it.  A little too much drinky-drinky the night before.  I did go for a light two mile run around 11am, though.  It was a good fun run.  I still had to go for a long run this weekend though.

I usually help out my cousin by taking care of her kids on Saturday nights.  She doesn't get out of work until about 2am though.  So I usually stay up and read or watch a little TV.  Or have a little beer.  So she gets out of work and we drink and talk and drink . . . and I didn't leave until after 4am.

Mind you, I've was pissin' like a race horse because I was drinking two glasses of water for every beer I had.  Just my way of ensuring I don't drink too much and don't get fubar (for those who haven't watched Tango & Cash: FUBAR = Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition).

Later that morning, I was awake a little after 9am.  I couldn't sleep anymore.  I got up, showered and went to where my group was supposed to meet up for our run yesterday.  Unfortunately I don't think I did the "run" the group did.  The climb up was horrendous and really tore up.  I was wearing my NBMT's and even though well padded, I was feeling the bigger pieces of gravel.  My ankles really got worked, too.  So basically, I did a loop of about a mile and a half and I am feeling it.  Below is the link the the run I did:

My Demise

When I got home, I did the google maps thing and I think I found where they might have run.  It's mainly a paved road which goes to a gravel road.  Lot's of rolling hills so it'll be a pretty good workout.  Below is the link the the new and improved run:

The Fun Run

Now that I know it's not a "trail".  I may actually enjoy the run tonight.  I hope to complete it within an hour.  If not, no biggie.  It's a new path to enjoy.

Also, yesterday after that crippling run I went to Borders to pick up a book one of my friends recommended I read.  The 4-Hour Body by Timothy Ferriss.  He had it in PDF form and if it was a normal type of book, I probably may have read it.  But seeing that it's a reference type of book, I'd need a physical copy of it.  I didn't feel like going to Santa Cruz to one of my favorite book stores (Logos) which may have had a used copy.  But I did have a 40% off coupon for Borders.  So I went there to purchase it.

I'm glad I did get a physical copy.  I've read through the first few chapters and depending on what your goals are, you'll be jumping all over the book.  So far it sounds promising.  Hopefully I can incorporate my weight loss goals with my running goals using the book.

GD

A couple of things . . .

First is that I've gotta change my profile picture soon because I no longer have the goat.

The other is I've never really posted what my problems are as far as my footwear is concerned.

When I first started this whole barefoot-form thing I began with doing the whole 3-steps-a-second pace forcing me to take smaller steps and making me land more mid-foot than heel-toe.  I then was waiting for the Merrell Barefoot Trail Gloves to be released after reading the awesome reviews all over the net, especially Jason Robillard on his Barefoot Running University website.

When I got them I really enjoyed using them.  I was taking them on my runs all the time.  I didn't go back to "normal" shoes and still haven't.  After about a month or so, I began noticing that my two bigger toes began bumping up against the front of the shoes.  It was annoying enough to give them to my brother who wears a US size 8.  The Trail Gloves are true to size so I thought the 8.5 would be ok for me.  I had tried them on and they had felt great at time.  I had plenty of room in the toe-box for all my little piggies. Not any more.  I didn't want to travel all the way to San Jose to pick up a new pair of TG's so I figured this might be an opportunity to try another pair of minimal trail shoes.


I went out to my local mom and pop shoe store (Joy-pers) because I knew they carried a TON of shoes and they also carried the Vibram Fivefinger shoes.  I'd also heard news that New Balance had released a new minimal shoe line, the Minimus.  A couple of the reviews out there suggested the Minimus Trail to be a better shoe than the Minimus Road.  And considering I like running dirt trails, I figured that was a good thing.  I hoped that Joy-pers would have them in stock.

And they did!

I wanted to get the garish looking neon-orange ones but they only carried the black ones.  That was cool I guess so I asked for a pair of size 9's.

Too small!

The salesperson broke out the foot-sizer thing and he ended up fitting me in size 10's!  What the heck!  My foot got bigger!  I finally understood that the shape of the foot would change.  I didn't think it'd get bigger though.  I just thought I'd have more pronounced arch or something, which I now do.  Nothing crazy looking, just that I didn't have an arch before and now I do.

So I began using the NBMT's.  At first I didn't like them.  I thought the lacing on them wasn't as good as the MTG's.  They were harder to pin down as far as lacing them comfortably.  After a month or so of wearing them, I started calling around to find out if any shoe store carried them yet.  I finally found them in late April.  I got sized and ended up walking out with size 9.5's.

I was so excited, when I got home I changed into my running clothes put on my MTG's and went for a run at my favorite trail loop.  I had a blast in them.  I'd be sprinting the last couple-hundred yards which included a small steep dip (about 20 feet deep) and had fun.

Until I didn't.

On my last run with my MTG's, I was doing the ending sprint.  I had rained a few days prior so some parts of the trail were still a bit muddy and covered with crap.  On that last small steep downhill, I placed my foot wrong and on correcting for the slip, I pulled something on my foot.  It was a twinge of pain but I was able to run through it without being too much of a problem.

Unfortunately it was.

I had accidently injured my foot and now I had plantar-fasciitis (or however it's spelt).  I went running the same route a couple of days later because I didn't know any better about it and ran it ok.  But as soon as I cooled down and relaxed, my heel of my foot would hurt.  Not horribly, but it would take me a few minutes of walking around before it was ok again.

I looked up remedies and some of the stuff out there to fix it was too horrifying to even consider.  One of the fixes though involved a couple of simple tools you probably have at home. A small can of vegetables (like peas or corn) and a rolling pin.  You use the can after you've had it in the freezer on the bottom of your foot for a while, then you take the rolling pin and roll it on the calf all the way from behind the knee to the achilles.  And make sure you work the achilles!  Do that a couple of times a day and the eventually your foot will get fixed.

I stayed away from running for a week or so and tried it again.  No go.  Though it wasn't as bad, it would give me twinges.  I did my therapy that night, and the next day I tried the NBMT's.  After the run, things were a little tight but I had no pain.  Sonovabitch!  I couldn't use the MTG's until my foot was completely healed!

I've continued running with the NBMT's and they are now my everyday shoes.  I use them at work and my runs.  I love them now!  Here we are in June and I still use them.  Lately, I've been using the MTG's for my warm-ups before doing my harder runs and little by little foot is giving me less problems.

Also for my little therapy sessions, I purchased a sprint-stick (roller-massager) and a Foot Log from ebay.  About $40 with shipping from ebay.  The stick was about $17 and the Foot Log I think $24.  Great tools.  Just ice after.

Well, that's two relatively long post for today.  FYI, I love both my shoes.  The Merrells are great because they are helping in stretching my calf and achilles and the New Balance because they really are a great running shoe!  Look up the reviews on both shoes.  See what'cha think!

GD

p.s.

too lazy.  no grammar check.

Group training 06/08/2011

Every other Wednesday our training group gets together for some group training.  And every other Wednesday is lecture night . . . hopefully that makes sense.  One Wednesday training, the other lecture.

About a month or so ago our group went through a warm-up of a couple of easy laps around the track and then we started with something I was somewhat familiar with.  We were doing skips and high kicks and bird-drinkers (I call them that because that's what it reminds me of, you tip forward with one leg straight back until you touch the ground with your hands . . .)

And a some other ones.  And I was ok with that, but I wasn't focusing any more because I felt like crap from my previous run which I overdid because it felt so good.  Like a run hangover.  Great at the moment, but you pay for it later.

This week was different though.  I'd started doing fartleks that same week of run-hangover.  The ones I was doing went like this:
I would begin my warm-up by doing a nice easy mile of 10 to 11 minutes.  Then begin the fartleks by walking 45 seconds and sprint 45 seconds.  I did that for rest of the run as much as I could.  Usually about another mile or two and run back to the car.  By the way, I don't like doing tracks because it gives me more of a reason to end the session early.  If I'm on a trail, I gotta turn back around at my checkpoints.

Suffice to say by the time of our group training this last Wednesday I was completing six miles in an hour.  Imagine a 5 foot 6 inch guy of 250 pounds running six miles in an HOUR!

I did that at the SVMH last year and that was at the end of my training.  It took me three and a half hours to complete the SVMH last year because after that hour of non-stop running, I hurt way too much.  Feet, hips, SHINS. . . but I enjoyed it because I was able to turn my mind away from it by talking to other people and walk/running the rest of it.  I couldn't walk much after the race for a couple of days which put me off running for a couple of months.  After that, I tried to keep up to running a few times a month just so I wouldn't lose it too bad.

Right now, in the condition I'm in, I can complete the half-marathon in under three hours.  Maybe even two and a half!  And I won't be suffering too bad afterward, just maybe a little soreness.

So back to the reason of this post.  Our warm-up again consisted of running a couple of laps around the track.  But our warm-ups after were longer and little more intense.  Let me see if I can remember all of them.  I've already placed a request for the coach to make a list of the warm-ups for us because after doing those, I felt really good on the fartleks we were doing.  Those, by the way, were 90 second fartleks.

Warm-ups (I may make my own names for them)
Forward Arm Roll (20 WIDE circles)
Backward Arm Roll (20 WIDE circles)
Forward Lunge (20 lunges)
Backstep Lunge (20 lunges: these are more difficult because your balance isn't as good when you step backward that deep)
Skip (20 yards and back)
Side skips (20 yards and back)
Quick knee-highs (20 yards and back)
Quick butt-kicks (20 yards and back)
Quick forward-kick (20 yards and back, and make you look like a prancing horse the way your foot kicks forward)
Drinking bird (20 yards and back): take long step, drink. Take another step, drink . . .
Left rocket kick: like a quick knee-high, but only the left foot kicks up on every third step.  And you kind of kick it in a circular motion.  It rolls from the back to the front over the right knee.
Right rocket-kick (20 yards and back): like the left except with the right foot.
Ankle jumps (20 seconds): these you do from the ankles only as quick as you can!
Power jump (20 seconds): these you do like a squat. You drop til your thighs are parallel to the ground, your knees should NOT pass your feet and you jump as high and as quick as you can.


There may have been more, but that up there is enough to get you plenty tired and you still have to do the fartleks.  I didn't think I'd be able to do it, but I didn't do too bad.  I wasn't running the sprints I usually do for my fartleks, but I did keep up a steady 8 minute mile pace which had me breathing pretty heavily for those 90 seconds.  The other 90 seconds I didn't walk.  I couldn't.  My feet were real tight from the warm-ups and it felt better to keep the 3-steps-a-second pace (which had me on the balls of my feet) while taking those in small steps which was a bit faster than walking.  It was a jog.  But a quick jog I guess.  I did that for about 30 minutes.

I  . . . was . . . EXHAUSTED.  But curiously invigorated.  It was a weird feeling.  By the end of the 30, everything felt nice and loose.  No tightness or cramping.  I was very surprised.  My feet felt great, my legs buzzing.  I had a nice chocolate milk after the run and a nice chicken enchilada meal with whole beans and mexican-style brown rice, some lettuce with a spoon of guacamole and salsa when I got home( It took me a while to figure out how to do the brown rice, but I finally nailed it).

Yesterday, I should have gone at least for a light run but I figured I should use the sprint stick and the foot log to get rid of some minor kinks I got after the training.  I'm feeling great today, if a little sore which is expected.  I'll be doing those warm-ups again today before my run this evening and attempting the 90 second fartleks on that trail run.  I'm getting excited just thinking about it!

GD

p.s.
again, forgive the grammar.  too lazy to check my writing.

I'm gonna feel it tomorrow!

So, training for me began back in January.  I took it REEEEEEAL slow!  Like going out maybe (maybe) once a week for a mile or two.  Back in January I was still struggling with using some Nike's that I used last year (2010) for the SVHM.  They worked great, but I was still getting shin splints no matter what stretches and excersizes I did to try to strengthen that muscle and tendon group.

I'm a bit slow on the uptake at times so I never had that "a HA" moment whenever I took off my shoes and my feet felt better.  It didn't click until I began looking up alternative remedies for preventing/minimizing shin splints.

There was calf stretches and excersizes, taping (which was too much work for what I was doing), getting properly fitted shoes (which is a whole other rant) and a few other things.  But a few pages hidden amongst the all other ones having to do with getting proper shoes and such would pop up.  One caught my eye though, Barefoot Running University.

It's been so long, I can't remember what post I read that gave me the "a HA" moment of realizing that I had no excruciating pain whenever I took off my shoes.  I started reading the posts randomly.  What really tripped me out was that this guy, Jason Robillard, was an Ultra Runner.  I'd never even heard of an ultra-runner.

These bastards are futher muckin crazy.

Ultra runners run multiple marathons consecutively all within 24 hours or so!  The ultras go from 50 miles to 100.  At least that's what I got out of it.  I haven't researched it enough to be able give you complete facts.  But if ultra running wasn't crazy enough, Jason sometimes runs most of the race BAREFOOT!!!!

Oh, he has some alternatives as far as footwear.  From what I understand, he's used Vibram Fivefingers (as you may already know if you've been reading this blog, I'm waiting for the Speeds).  And he was tapped last year at some point by Merrell to help develop a barefoot (minimalist) shoe and educational website.  And I guess he's been using those for his ultras.

But I've come off track a bit . . .

The point is, I was intrigued by this whole barefoot thing.  I read the book that was mentioned by several barefoot sites, Born To Run (check out the reviews) and it really got me thinking.

I changed my running form of the lumbering fat bastard to the recommended 3 steps a second.  It took me a while to get it right (bought a small cc sized metronome at a music store), but I got it down.  Your calves really come into play more when you do that.  It forces you to take smaller steps, therefore making you land on or near the balls of your feet (midfoot). No more foot slapping, not that I really did that too much.  But you get the idea, you lose the heel-to-toe motion of the run and develop a softer landing by making the whole leg come into play.

I bet you're thinking to yourself, my whole leg already comes into play, right?  I'm not going to say you're wrong, but what I've noticed is that the toes really come into play by spreading out and stabilizing your landing.  The arch softens the landing by taking your weight and stretching out.  The achilles and calf work together for a better rebound.  And your hamstring is called into play more than the quads do when you run.

There's an great example that you can find on the Crossfit website under the Exercises & Demos page HERE and HERE.  What the video shows and one style of barefoot form running called the Pose technique.  There are others like Chi-running and stuff but, I don't want to get too much into that.  They all have the same basic concept from what I can see.  But in the Crossfit example, the presenter demonstrates something about energy conservation when running.  If you stand up, try jumping up and down  What's easier, taking a jump a second or taking quick jumps?  By taking the quicker jumps, you're allowing your tendons to really come into play and help with the long run.

I didn't mean to get too much into this whole barefoot-running-is-better-for-you rant.  It just turned out that way.  You can find better information than what I've posted on some of the sites I've linked to.  I initially intended to post about my training yesterday which was done with the Y's training for the SVMH.  I'll have to post that later, maybe today.

I know very few (if any people) are reading this, but I'll be glad to answer any questions that come my way.

GD

p.s.
please excuse the grammar.  i haven't really checked for mistakes :p

Test

This is a test. I'll be posting full report soon of the latest happenings.

Let us live so that when we come to die, even the undertaker will be sorry. -Mark Twain

My latest update and what I've learned on my recent run . . .

Just a quick heads up.  On the last post I had said my brother was wanted to ride back on the meatwagon.  True, but he did finish the race and got his medal.  Right now, it's one of his most prized possessions.  And his eight mile runs are with his beat up Sauconys.  But he's running with good barefoot-syle form (quick short steps with center-of-gravity-over-foot-landing).

I've been keeping up with my runs fairly well.  I've not completed less than three miles for the last two weeks per run and I'm running at least three times a week (four days last week).

I went for a run yesterday later in the day and I found out what not to do before a run (boy, did I find out).

My brother wanted to join me, but he obviously went off at a faster run.  He was also going to begin using his Merrells again (half-marathon-disaster-shoes).  He made a huge point to himself to bring his other shoes as well so he'd run three miles in the Merrells and three in his Sauconys.  He doesn't want to go through the SCHM experience again.

I myself wasn't feeling too well.  I figured once I began the run, the nausea would go away.  It didn't, it got worse.  Two miles into the run, I had to stop because I was gonna heave.  I probably should have but forced myself to hold it.  I walked a couple of minutes and tried again.  I got maybe a mile before having to stop.  I pretty much kept that cycle going until I got to the car.

Once I stopped, I was ok.  I went to my cousins house to give my godson his birthday present and I watched him play frustratingly (Portal 2, online with a friend.  Neither had ever played).  I guess that was enough to cause the nausea again.  I had to lie down and breath slowly to relax.  I eventually split went home and went to sleep early (11pm.  I usually crash sometime before 1am).

After the run yesterday and all this morning, I've been banging my head trying to figure out what went wrong.  I'd had some pizza and beer the night before the run, but not enough to have caused the problem.  Breakfast consisted of eggs, cheese, tomatoes and corn tortillas with coffee (more like lunch.  I woke up real late).  I wasn't hungry when I went for the run and after the run I had some leftover chinese food (white rice, beef-broccoli, SSPork).

What I figured out though is that I think the coffee killed me.  I love my coffee STRONG.  I don't drink it with anything in it, just black.  I have a 4 cup french press that I usually share with my brother (he loads his with crap).  That day he didn't want any coffee, so I finished the whole carafe myself.  Did I mention I like my coffee STRONG.

Yeah, I think that did it.  It upset my stomach enough to cause the nausea.  Next time I'm stickin' to my 2 cups and no more.

I have to run today to make up for yesterdays dismal performance.  I'm hoping to do the 45 second fartleks today.  I'm feeling ok right now and I don't expect to do too bad.  I should be able to do six miles today.

My legs feel good and so do my legs.  Groovy.


VFF Speed

The above link is one of the sites I visit regularly.  It's to a contest they had but is now over.  I posted the link because of the VFF Speeds they were giving away.

I really want the black ones.  Photo credit goes to BirthdayShoes.com.  I've already pre-ordered my from my local family owned shoe store.  They're expecting them in July.  Can't wait!!!!

Heyyyyy . . . . how YOU doin?!

True to my USUAL form, I haven't been keeping up with this blog like I keep promising myself.

So . . . I'll just do my best and use this as a log of my experiences of my continuing transition to barefoot-style running.

So far I'll say it been painful, but fun. It is something I've not done since my youth (the whole being mobile and bettering myself bit). I'd originally purchased the Merrell Trail Gloves and really got a kick out of them. I had gone for a regular run then finished with the Gloves for a 5 minute run.

OW! Not immediately, but I definitely felt the calf soreness the next day! But it kinda motivated me push further. I did start slow. Increasing the time in the Gloves a bit every time I went out for a run until I took them to my favorite 2 mile trail loop.

I wanted to ignore it, but my feet wouldn't let me. I'd bought a half size up knowing that the shoes were sized correctly, but when you begin this style of running your foot can begin splaying. And my toes began bumping against the front of the shoe.

Shit.

I tried a couple more runs with them, but it was really beginning to bother me. I gave the shoes to my brother. He loved them. He's 21, five foot six, compact and muscular. And his natural running form is on the balls of his feet. He started using them for his lite runs before working out with his weights (I should say MY weights. I bought'em).

I signed up for the Santa Cruz Half Marathon and he wanted to try it out. We had a good four months to train up. I didn't do much more than three miles a week so when it came time for the half, I ended up opting for the 10K.

My dumbass brother on the other hand . . .

I'd purchased the New Balance Minimus Trails about a month before and had been getting used to them. I knew I wasn't ready for a half. I knew I could finish a 10K in about an hour (finished in 1:10). I KNEW my brother had not logged enough time in the Merrells to complete a half comfortably and I told him so.

He didn't believe me.

His race started about 10 minutes before my 10K and he looked good. Great form and everything. Then my race began. I completed three miles before I had to stop and walk. I expected as much and I did those three in a bit over half an hour. Not as well as I'd hoped. But I finished the 10K in 1:10. But I finished and got my shirt.

So I waited for my brother.

And waited.

And waited some more.

Let's just say he wanted the meat wagon to show up. The meat wagon for those unfamiliar with the term is what they call the ambulance when a runner gets injured or has a problem in a race and cannot complete.

He could barely made it back to the car, his calves cramping all the way. He had to sit in the car with his legs fully extended so they wouldn't cramp even worse.

I was giggling the WHOLE way home. He finally realized why I told him to do the 10K.

Since then, he's been taking it slow. He's now up to eight miles and I'm still at three, but a fast three (fast for me). Average of a nine minute mile. Go for a 6 mile run with walking and I can finish in under 70 minutes.

My brother and I have the Salinas Valley Half Marathon coming in August. I want to finish in two and a half hours. If I keep up my training and the improvements keep coming, I believe it'll be closer to two hours.

That's it for now. I'll explain a bit more of my experiences of being a short(ish) fat runner in training tomorrow. With some luck, I'll actually do it!