I headed out late Sunday morning for a nice 20-mile run in my Five Fingers. This is the longest distance I've gone barefoot, and it went well.
My calf muscles are bit sore, and the bottoms of my feet are tender, but otherwise I'm doing good.
I'm looking forward to attending Dr. Doug Graham's Health and Fitness Week. I'm hoping there will be someone familiar with barefoot running who can take a look at my form. I feel that my right leg isn't moving as well as the left.
But it appears that I'm on track for the Hartford Marathon Oct. 11.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Seventeen Miles Barefoot - Check.
This past Saturday I ran a nice 17-mile circuit from Hubbard Park to downtown Southington, back to the park, down to red bridge and back to the park once again. It came out to just under 17 miles.
I did it all almost barefoot in five fingers, of course, and I'm continuously astounded at my body's ability to adapt to this new type of running.
But the thing is that it feels so right. No strain. No effort. Just gliding along.
Some muscles in my feet, shins and ankles were pretty tired afterwards, but there's not a single injury to speak of. After running such a distance in my running shoes last year I was hobbling around.
As my muscles adapt, longer distances keep becoming possible, and I begin to see that the horizon of possibility for this type of thing is far greater than I imaged.
I've really been emphasizing proper form (to prevent another injury) and enjoyment over pace, but I looked at the clock today and the 17-miles was done in about 3 hours and 10 minutes. Not blazing fast, but not shabby either.
As my muscles adapt I'll likely be able to do better.
The route is maped out below:
I did it all almost barefoot in five fingers, of course, and I'm continuously astounded at my body's ability to adapt to this new type of running.
But the thing is that it feels so right. No strain. No effort. Just gliding along.
Some muscles in my feet, shins and ankles were pretty tired afterwards, but there's not a single injury to speak of. After running such a distance in my running shoes last year I was hobbling around.
As my muscles adapt, longer distances keep becoming possible, and I begin to see that the horizon of possibility for this type of thing is far greater than I imaged.
I've really been emphasizing proper form (to prevent another injury) and enjoyment over pace, but I looked at the clock today and the 17-miles was done in about 3 hours and 10 minutes. Not blazing fast, but not shabby either.
As my muscles adapt I'll likely be able to do better.
The route is maped out below:
Monday, July 13, 2009
15 Miles Almost Barefoot
I had a great run to Southington and back for a total of 15 miles Saturday. The sun was shining, everyone was roused out of their rainy torpor, and it was just plain fun.
I did it in my five fingers, which makes for a new almost-barefoot record for me. Perhaps two miles was actually barefoot, but my skin can only take so much of that before I have to put the fiver fingers back on.
I parked at Hubbard Park and ran to downtown Southington before looping back for a water bottle refill and another few miles to make 15.
Last year I was relying on a banana and celery mixture which I would pour into a waterbottle and sip along my route for calories to keep me going.
Yesterday I experimented with blended watermelon, and I found I liked it better than the banana mixture. Even water-down bananas are thick, and sometimes would lead to cramps over time. The watermelon doesn't seem to do this.
I also spent the second half of my run just following my breath and allowing myself to relax. After awhile it turned into a kind of meditation in motion. Very nice.
The map of my run is below:
I did it in my five fingers, which makes for a new almost-barefoot record for me. Perhaps two miles was actually barefoot, but my skin can only take so much of that before I have to put the fiver fingers back on.
I parked at Hubbard Park and ran to downtown Southington before looping back for a water bottle refill and another few miles to make 15.
Last year I was relying on a banana and celery mixture which I would pour into a waterbottle and sip along my route for calories to keep me going.
Yesterday I experimented with blended watermelon, and I found I liked it better than the banana mixture. Even water-down bananas are thick, and sometimes would lead to cramps over time. The watermelon doesn't seem to do this.
I also spent the second half of my run just following my breath and allowing myself to relax. After awhile it turned into a kind of meditation in motion. Very nice.
The map of my run is below:
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