glidergirl

• 6.5 miles, East High Loop, 9:22 avg pace
• core work

It's getting easier!  Today's felt like last week's 9:40 or 9:50.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/89412272

• 6.5 mile super easy, slow jog (10:05 avg pace)
• core work 

It felt good to get out before the world woke up and just go and enjoy a nice run to process all that has happened this week!  60 hours of work, clinical or capstone; all my classes, all my homework...no wonder why I was so exhausted every night!  James is just about as busy with his work and school...we both fell asleep early last night without even getting ready for bed or saying goodnight to each other!  Capstone is so incredible at the NICU.  It's a dream to me really!  I'm doing stuff and practicing new skills all day long.  And I'm in the high acuity room so they had me jump in right away!  Usually the students have to start in the back and work their way up, but since I've been there for 2 years, I get all the good stuff. It's a great payoff for sitting through hours of class, taking tests, doing my clinical hours at places I would never want to work...etc.  And it all starts again tonight! I don't know what I'm going to do with myself when I only have 36 hours of work each week after I graduate!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/90001882

• I went for a nice 6 mile jog today, probably around 10 min pace (my Garmin was dead when I went to put it on, oops!)

• 2.3 mile barefoot jog above the zoo in my Vibrams (10:00 avg pace)
• core work

Anxious to hear how all of you did at UVM!!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/91583428

• 2 mile run (medium downhill grade) in Vibrams @ 8:15 avg pace
• turned around, walked to rest my feet, then jogged the last mile @ 10:36
• corework

My thoughts on barefoot running:

Hmm...today was my 2nd true run with the Vibrams and I am surprised at how much I enjoy running in them.  It's different than I anticipated, but in a good way.  I thought it would take longer to get used to, but it feels very natural and liberating.  In trying to explain it to James, I said "it's like driving a stickshift versus an automatic...there's so much more control and I feel much more steady.  It's also like driving a racecar versus a Hummer...I can hug the road like nothing else!"  (he's always talking about tires that can grip the road and hug the turns!)  I've had to run in thick shoes with orthodics for so long, but when I'm in my Vibrams, my feet get to feel every part of the terrain and my body automatically knows how to react...it's kind of wild and hard to explain.  The biofeedback is pretty strong, but it took me a little while to pick up on it because it's so automatic and it just feels like running.  The differences are very slight, but the more I thought about it while running, the more I felt the differences and the more I loved it.  During the last part of my run, I was noticing my back felt different and then I realized that my core feels constantly engaged without me even trying (as well as my legs) and everything feels aligned perfectly...it feels good!  My feet land differently as well.  In shoes they just land on the outer mid/forefoot which I think causes a lot of problems for me (not to mention my shoes are already worn down on the outer edges and they are less than a 100 miles!), but without shoes I use all of my midfoot and all of my toes, so there's more control and balance invovled.  It's actually less jarring to my body than running in shoes which seems counter-intuitive, but I guess you really do land softer without even trying to.   The body just takes over and it's fun!

I don't know what other runners experience, but I don't really have to think about how to run barefoot and it doesn't hurt...even going over rocks.  I can feel everything I step on, but the Vibrams have just enough protection that it doesn't hurt at all.  That said, I do have a few blisters already because my skin isn't tough enough to withstand the increased friction.  My calves are also very tight, so I have been rolling them extra long and I'll be suckering James into using the Marathon Stick on my calves tonight when we watch TV before bedtime. =0)  My achilles feels great though!  It's almost like the increased tug and pull from the lack of heel lift actually strengthens it and stretches it.  But I know that can become too much of a good thing, so I'll just keep being careful while I wait for my skin and my calves to catch up.  

Hmm...very interesting indeed!     

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/92210501

• 3 miles total (2 easy, 1 MP/tempo @ 7:42) in Vibrams avg pace 9:11...Zoo Loop
• corework

I am fascinated by music...it really moves me.  I feel so much joy when I'm out running to beautiful music with or without a strong beat, I like all forms!  And so far, when I'm running barefoot, I feel like I'm dancing out there!  (I also love to watch dancers on TV or in person)  Today I ran for 3 miles and after walking for a bit, I had the urge to run again to a cool song....unfortunately my spirit was willing, but my feet felt like mile 23 in a marathon so I had to stop!!  haha :) 

2nd round of hard core calf massages, stripping, rolling, and jaw clenching coming up soon!  (this is starting to sound inappropriate)  Keepin 'em loose and limber. ;)

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/92507789

• 2.25 easy miles in Vibrams
• I am tired today from school and midfoot feels a little tender (or bruised) still, so I cut it short.  It usually doesn't feel this way till 3 miles, but since it was still sore from Tuesday at the start of the run, I'll wait till Saturday or Monday to start again while it heals up.
• No problems from achilles and calves are completely knot-less now thanks to James

 http://connect.garmin.com/activity/92895621

• 4.5 miles down and back on 2100 east, 9:04 avg pace
• corework

Beautiful Saturday.  It felt smooth and good!  Kind of missing my runner friends...this is two Saturdays in a row going solo.  *GASP*  We all really should have been doing Ragnar together or something, everyone is having waaaay too much fun without us! 

5.5 miles during the hottest part of the day!!  It was the only time I had between capstone shift last night and work shift tonight.  I was slow, fat, tired, and happy! :) :) 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/94393618

• 6 easy miles, east high loop, avg pace 9:27
• core work

I love running on Monday mornings.  Last Tuesday was my last 12 hour weekly psych clinical for the semester and it's amazing what having 12 hours of life back during the week can do!  Also, we were able to go on a mini family vacation this weekend and I didn't have to rush home to get a shift in Sunday night like I usually do in order to go on a trip...I had the entire weekend off.  Life is looking up!  While there, I took a nice scenic jog in the 8,000 feet elevation...nothing like running later in the morning, in a t-shirt and shorts, surrounded by lots of snow, watching skiers fly down the mountain. :)

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/95231789

Just woke up and now I'm biding the time with homework and chores for the heat to pass...I don't know how much longer I can supress the urge to do City Creek so I may just have to give in tonight!  I was almost able to take over the entire patient load on my own last night at capstone.  I love being a nurse.  It makes me happy.

• 2 miles, avg pace 9:36

No City Creek today (left my mace at Snowbird and I refuse to run in secluded places without some form of self protection! I will get it back today from my mom and try again later)  Started on the east high loop, but my stomach was still full from dinner a couple hours earlier and it was not enjoyable, so I turned around to make it an even 2 miles and walked the rest of the way! LOL

• 6.7 miles, east high loop, avg pace 10:01

Nice, sustainable pace through the downhills and uphills.  It was enjoyable. :)  I still have tight tendons in my feet and heels (and sometimes my achilles on both legs, but not frequently) especially when I wake up or stand up to walk after sitting or laying down.  It goes away after a couple miles of running/walking.  I'm thinking it's from being on my feet so much with clincals and work?  So my calves are always tight I guess.  I think it will go away once I can start running more regularly and getting more regular sleep.  There isn't any sharp pain, so I'm just not going to worry about it right now.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/95655405

CITY CREEK :)

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/95969880

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