Toasty toes and timing tools

 

I can't get anyone to go barefoot running with me in the middle of winter! Go figure. None of my Facebook friends (many of whom are Pagoda Pacers!) have taken me up on the offer. My 18-year-old daughter won't run outdoors in the cold, shod or not. My 23-year-old son laughed at me (it's okay kiddo - I enjoy bringing laughter to my loved ones). My husband calls it de-evolution and is hoping it is a phase that will soon pass (it isn't and it won't). I guess I will have to blaze this trail alone for now. Unless anyone wants to run with me on Friday...

Wednesday night I went for a 57 minute, 5.6 mile run with the Pagoda Pacers on the inadequately plowed roads of Shillington, West Reading and Wyomissing in the dark of night. I haven't run with the Pacers since late spring of last year, so even if it was light out I probably wouldn't have known anyone. It was three or so miles into the run before the one and only person introduced herself to me (thank you Liz - it was great running with you!). There were about 15 or 20 runners that were nuts enough to plow through the snow in the dark.

No trails on this run due to the several inches of snow that arrived the night before, but I was prepared if we would have gone off-road. Although I failed in my attempt to procure neoprene booties from the scuba shop on my last run, it is just as well. To prepare for this run I decided to try out a less expensive alternative... neoprene fin socks (see pic above). This time, when I went to the scuba shop to get the fin socks I waited until the scuba shop was actually open. It was the same salesperson that helped me with the booties on Monday night, so I didn't have to explain myself all over again...although I would have welcomed the opportunity just so that I can spread the joys of barefooting!

Neoprene keeps the snow and cold out but it also keep the sweat in. Fortunately, I anticipated this effect because it was shared by the barefoot runner who posted the idea of using fin socks for running in snow. He also shared his solution - socks within socks within shoes. The concept is that the shoes provide the grip, the fin socks provide the warmth, and the socks absorb the sweat. I purposely stood in several inches of snow to test their snow-proof abilites and sure enough I didn't feel the cold at all. I would recommend waiting to put the fin socks on until immediately before the actual run though due to the sweat factor. I walked around in my triple layers for about 45 minutes before the run and then ran for almost an hour and the sweat made the bottoms of my feet a little raw.

The neoprene fin socks warmed my feet, but my brand new Garmin Forerunner 405 GPS-enabled sports watch with heart rate monitor warmed my heart. It was an early anniversary present from my better half. We got an AWESOME deal on http://www.heartratemonitorsusa.com/ . The amount of data that I can get about my runs appeals to my overly-analytical, geeky personality. Good riddance inaccurate Nike+ sensor (I suppose I should mention that I was using it in a manner that was not intended.)! Fumbling with it on my run in the dark last night wasn't the easiest way to experience it for the first time, but I must of done something right because the data includes the time and distance that I ran, my best overall pace, my avg. pace for each mile, a map of the course I ran, the elevation changes along my course...the list goes on. LOVE it!

Today, Thursday, was a day of recovery. Tomorrow, the plan is to run one mile barefoot and two or so maintenance miles. Well, maybe a speed burst or two. I am hoping to finally get over to Grings Mill on Sunday for a long, slow, distance run.

A last note...not a good idea to try to set up a collapsable running/bike child stroller/trailer in the dark minutes before start time when you are running with a group if you have only used the trailer once before and it took two people and 20 minutes to set it up in the light of day. I am too embarassed to elaborate.

Happy Running! ....I dare you to join me on a barefoot run!

"You're gonna catch pneumonia"

hee hee hee...I stopped traffic today. I was running true barefoot, no shoes of any kind, for the first time when a guy in an SUV stops and pronounces, "You don't have any shoes on"... Like I didn't know that... " I thought I was seeing things but you really don't have any shoes on. You're gonna catch pneumonia". I began to reassure him that it is only an old wive's tale that being outdoors in bare feet during cold weather can give you pneumonia, but before I could elaborate with truths about lowered immune systems blah, blah, blah he interupts me and asks. "Why do you do that?" I explained that it is good for my legs and that it's fun, but I don't think he heard me. I think he was still in denial. "You're going to get calluses. You're feet will be like leather", he bemoans. I quickly retort with, "I hope so...all the better for running on trails". He must have given up on trying to help me see the insanity of it all, cause his final words were "Good luck with that" and he drove on. Smiling, I ran on. It was my best mile of running ever.

Just before my best-mile-ever, I ran 3 miles in my Bikilas. The idea was to run to the local scuba shop and purchase the neoprene booties that Ben and I checked out last night. I have been reading about other barefoot runners in cold climates that utilize this kind of footwear to run in the snow or just to keep their feet warm in really cold (below 30) weather. My bikilas are great year-round on dry ground, but they are NOT snow proof. My first snow run in them (see second post) gave me cold feet, literally. The wed night runs with the Pacers are usually trail runs and the local trails are still covered with snow. I, therefore, justified the purchase by "needing" them for tomorrow night's run. I couldn't wait to show up at the scuba shop in my Five Fingers. The guy that helped us out last night told us they were considering carrying VFF's and I wanted to encourage them in that direction. I never considered that they might be closed. They were. It was definitely not a waste of time though, because I had a great run. I even picked up the pace to my 5k pace on the way home to prepare for the Shiver by the River race the first week in February.

So much for only 2 miles today to save my legs for tomorrow night. I was just having too much darn fun :)

Oh, one last note... duct taping a Nike+ sensor to the top of your bare foot doesn't work very well.

Happy Running!

Mis Huaraches Nuevos

I made these myself! Seriously! Now, if you've read "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall, then no explanation is necessary. For the rest of you, these are (a modern version of) huarache sandals for barefoot running. They provide a little protection for the bottom of the feet while still allowing for barefoot running form and the ground feedback that barefoot runners appreciate. Huarache sandals are worn by the Tarahumara (Raramuri) Indians who are highlighted in the above mentioned book. I suspect that the Tarahumara, however, do not use neon-green poly lacing nor do they tie their extra lacing into a fancy design on the top of their feet. I also suspect their soles are not made by Vibram. Nonetheless...I ordered a DIY kit from http://www.invisibleshoe.com/ after inquiring about the legitimacy of the company on the Runners World Barefoot Forum. Assured that they were legit, I ordered the kit which contains an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of 4mm Vibram cherry sole material and (2) 6 ft. laces. That's it. They have excellent videos and written instructions on their website about how to make the huaraches and tie them. For a little more, they'll do the work for you. But I wasn't willing to wait. And I like to do things myself. I walked around in them all day yesterday and Ben (my hubby) kept saying, "Those have soft-tissue injury written all over them.". Pishaw. His doubt just makes me want to run in them all the more.

I ran the first mile of my 5+ mile run in my huaraches today. Sure is different than my VFF's! I have some adjustments to make such as trimming the sole a little and tweaking the tightness of the laces. I was able to attach the Nike+ sensor by strapping the shoe pocket around the thong part of the lacing. The run in the huaraches went well overall, but it took a little while to find a comfortable, efficient form and the knot on the bottom was distracting. It was freezing out today ( in the 20's with windchill), so I wore Injinji toesocks over my Injinji sock liners with the huaraches. My feet were not cold at all. Wish I could say the same about my face - at one point my eyes were frozen open from the wind.

After mile one I removed the huaraches and the outer sock layer and slipped my Vibram Bikilas over my sock liners. No sense in doing too much too soon. I attached the Nike+ sensor by removing it from the shoe pocket and strapping it down with the velcro strap on my Bikilas. It worked last time. Then, somewhere in mile two I hear in my headset "workout interrupted" or some b.s. but it was another 30 seconds before it actually registered with my aging brain. I looked down at where I had placed my Nike+ sensor and.....CRAP! The sensor fell out somewhere between mile one and mile twoish. 20 minutes of walking-back-and-forth later, our running buddy found the mostly white sensor in the white snow along the curb. I kept telling them that it was alright (even though I was p'ed off) and that it must be a sign that it was time to get a GPS but the hubby wasn't ready to let $29 literally go down the drain. After putting the sensor back into the shoe pocket and safely securing it to the shoe strap, like I should have done in the first place, we were back on the road.

Probably the most memorable experience from today's run was something I have never done on a local run before. On the trail, the nearest pit stop is always just a tree away, but whatcha gonna do in the neighborhood? I always empty the bladder just before I head out, but I guess there was something in the water 'cause around mile three I HAD to go. On this route we pass by the Doctor's Office Building at the Reading Hospital where runners are accomodated during the Reading Hospital Run so I took a chance...but it was locked (being Sunday and all). So the hubby suggested the emergency room. Really? Well, it could be an emergency if I don't get to go soon. What a sight we must have been. Two sweaty dudes in tights, a chick in shoes with toes, and a tike in the middle of winter in a bike/running stroller (no worries folks - completely surrounded by wind-blocking material and smothered in blankets). I guess they see it all in this area, because without pause the friendly guy at the door gave me directions to the bathroom and the security guard barely noticed me.

The rest of the run was relatively uneventful. Other than the frozen eyeballs. A couple of times I had to run with my eyes closed for a few seconds to warm the eyeballs up enough to see... pretty cool running with the eyes closed actually. Glasses next time maybe? The run ended up being somewhere between 5 and 6 miles around Wyomissing. Not including the walking aroung looking for the sensor (I hate Nike). If you  read my last post you may be wondering why we were in Wyomissing and not at Grings Mill. The trail is not stroller-friendly in the snow. Just felt I should explain myself on that one.

Next run will be Tuesday morning. Just a short two miler so that I can save my legs for running with the Pagoda Pacers Wed night, weather permitting. WooHoo!

Happy Running!

SNOW!!!

 

" (singing) It's the best day eeeeevvvveeeerrrrr. It's the best day eeeevvvveeerrrr."(repeat ad nauseum) - Spongebob Squarepants

So I was already psyched up for my run, having seen the blanket of white outdoors, when seconds before I headed out, the mail shoots through the slot and plops on the floor. Could it be possible? Dare I look?...Glory be, they're here!!!! And just in time. My feet are as snug in a bug in a rug in my Vibram Bikilas but I had just been thinking how nice it would be to have an extra layer to keep my tootsies toasty. Scissors, scissors, where are those....screw it...rrriiiiiiiiippppp.Injinji toesocks! Yay!

Out I headed for a couple of miles of bliss, strutting like a peacock (if this is even possible when running), in my beloved Bikilas and my new Injinjis. I see my footprint in the inch-high snow and I snicker. It pretty much looks like I am running barefoot in the snow - five toes and all. I imagine the second-takes and the look on the faces of anyone who would notice my footprints in the snow. In the softer, less high snow the print looks even more odd with a noticable tread pattern along with the five toe prints. I imagine their thoughts: Gorilla, maybe? Perhaps a call to animal control/the zoo is in order. Or the Feds.

It didn't take long for the snow to introduce itself to my new socks. My toes were wet within minutes. So much for toasty toes. No matter. It's such a great day for a run that I don't even care. The Bikilas are so breathable that if I stick to the plowed road long enough the socks start to dry out. It's a trade off I guess. The breathability is what makes them great for long runs in dry weather but just as air can come in and out so can water. Every time I have to move into the unplowed snow along the curb to make way for traffic my feet get soaked and I think of the barefoot runner in Michigan(?) who is experimenting with ways to stay dry whilst running in snow. I wish I had his water booties. He made a video of his layers - first socks, then swim socks, then a water bootie. Anyone know where I saw that video perchance?

Overall it was a great 2.6 miles in the snow. Except my dang Nike+ sensor thought I went 3.79 miles. Shoot. To calibrate or cheat on my Nike challenge...that is the question. I wish I could afford a GPS. Someone told me that they are able to use their Garmin 305 with the Nike+ website. I'm jealous. For now, it's back to the drawing board to figure out a more accurate way to attach my Nike+ sensor. The method pictured above is what I used for this run. It was strapped down pretty good, so I am surprised that it was less accurate than just looping it around the velcro strap on my Vibram Treks. Next attempt involves duct tape.

Even wet, it was still better than running shod.

Next adventure: running without shoes at Grings Mill on Sunday!

Today is the day that I made public, thus now officially have to follow through with, my resolution to run soley barefoot/minimalist for the entire year of 2011. Why? Because I can. I have always taken pride in being unique and doing things outside of the socially accepted norm.

For me the craze began the first time that I saw an advertisement for Vibram Five Fingers. To me, everything about them totally made sense from first sight. It took months to convince my husband that I was serious about wanting a pair of those "ugly gorilla-feet-looking" shoes. Seeing them in person, it took even more convincing that we should buy a pair of the grey and lime-green ones and wear them in public. He reluctantly shelled out the $80+ (Ron Horn discount at Flying Feet Shoes - thanks Ron!!!) and to thank him I wore them at McDonald's immediately thereafter. A girl around 10 years old told me that she liked my shoes. The adults mostly avoided my gaze.

One pair was not enough. The Bikila's were fine for fair-weather running, but I "needed" the KSO Trek's for cold weather. So guess what I asked for as a birthday present. He has since come to terms with my obsession, so I found myself the proud owner of a pair of size 36 Black KSO Trek's. LOVE them.

If two is good, then three is great! No, I don't have three VFF's...yet...but I do own a third pair of "minimalist" shoes thanks to a certain popular running magazine and the local athletic club that I belong to, the Pagoda Pacers (http://www.pagodapacers.com/). I was lucky enough to wear-test the Merrell Pace Glove before they are even released yet! I like them well enough. The blister on my heel will keep me from running more than 4 miles in them again any time soon though. But at least they are more socially acceptable in public!










And that leads me to my new project. Barefooting. Purist style. NO shoes . Why I get such an idea in 30 and below degree weather I do not know. But the weather is not my only challenge in this adventure. Having received an ipod nano for Christmas from my son, Jayme, I figured I would take advantage of the pedometer feature and track my miles. This led me to the Nike+ website (http://www.nikeplus.com/) which led me to the Nike+ challenges which after discovering there weren't any barefoot challenges invoked the rebel in me to create a barefoot challenge (named it Barefoot Blue +) on the Nike+ website which really left me with just one problem - where to put the Nike+ sensor....

I created the challenge days before deciding to try true barefoot running, so I already had a solution for my minimalist shoes...a shoe pocket. It worked okay with the VFF's. It was a little more accurate with the Merrell Glove's presumably because it was strapped down a little better with laces than it was with the velcro strap on the VFF's. But if I am going to log all of my miles toward the Nike+ challenge then I don't want to waste any miles. Therefore, I am working on how to attach the sensor to my bare foot. Why? Because I can. Here is a pic of my latest attempt.

Well, now that I have revealed my insanity, I would like to invite you to follow me this year as I venture outdoors barefoot (in general this term will be used interchangeably for no shoes as well as with the use of minimalist shoes as is reluctantly mostly agreed upon as acceptable use of the term in the barefooting world). What activites will I barefoot in you ask? I am looking forward to a 5k in February, a 10k in March, a half-marathon in May, training runs with the Pagoda Pacers, hiking at Hawk Mountain, Mountain Biking at Blue Marsh, and who knows what else.

Life is an adventure.