glidergirl

• 1.5 miles pure barefoot around Research Park (and Matt thought I had thrown in the towel...NEVER!!  I can serve two masters...)
• Went home, got my Nike Frees on, ran 5 miles of the East High loop

To my surprise, things feel good, even after City Creek on Sat!  When I'm running in just my barefeet, I stop when the bottoms of my feet start to feel sensitive and when I feel possible hot spots/blisters.  At first it's fun to feel all the sensations (my favorite is running through puddles) and then after a little while it becomes too much and that's when I know I need to stop.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/103352080

6.5 easy miles on the east high loop :)

Gave the barefeet a rest today and wore regular shoes (but no orthodics).  My legs/feet feel stronger and they land different now, so it just may be working.  It's also as if they know that school is almost done (uhhh....like TOMORROW). 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/103587186

• 5.1 very slow miles of east high loop (started in Frees, turned back to put on regular shoes)
• stopped at east high track and did 1.5 miles of barefoot (feet felt great, could have run longer if I had more time)

When you are rebuilding your conditioning or you're on a recovery day (today I was suffering from both) and someone whizzes by you light as a feather, do you ever feel like saying "yah, well I can run a 1:40 half and a 44:48 10K." ?

I have finished 1 of 4 finals and have about an hour break before the 2nd starts. :)  I'm already getting sad that it will be over today.  How does something so hard and life-draining do that? (or am I the only one that gets that way?)

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/103798902

• 6.25 miles with regular shoes on east high loop
• stopped at east high track and did 1.25 miles barefoot (this may be cheating, but I've started wearing thin socks so I don't get blisters...I know they say you should run in your skin so that you don't over do it, but my muscles and tendons are way tougher than my skin is so it was holding me back =0) )

Thoughts on barefoot running so far... 

I feel like it has definitely made a huge difference, even just the little bit I've incorporated.  My heel cords are much MUCH healthier.  My footstrike is so much more even throughout my midfoot, I no longer land on the outsides of my foot.  I utilize my big toes more and that side of my foot in general as well as all my toes.  My heel barely touches the ground, which never was a problem for me - my heel never touched at all so I loaded my calves way too much.  Now I have a good balance of landing on my midfoot and letting my heel barely touch as well. 

The barefoot sessions help me to feel what my natural footstrike should feel like and now (it took awhile) I've been able to transfer that to whatever shoes I'm wearing, although my regular shoes muffle it quite a bit, at least I'm not getting injured anymore!  And it also seems to really stretch out and strengthen my heel cords and my other tendons and ligaments.  As far as shoes go, by far my favorite "shoes" have been the Vibrams.  I may try them again to see if I get that same pain where my toes bend.  If that doesn't work, I think I'll order the Vibram Classics since they don't go as high up on the foot.  I don't like to run in my Merrells (I love them for daily use though) and I sent the Evo's back....both of them have soles that are hard (they make a click clack on hard surfaces) and the Vibrams are super soft so it's almost the same as barefoot, just like wearing a thick sock.  I really love those things.  As far as more padded minimal shoes, I'm not sure how I feel about the Nike Frees, I honestly would prefer to go barefoot than run in these. I like to wear them for everyday uses, but for some reason I don't like them running.  But I want to transition out of my regular shoes with the heel drop completely and at least have some minimal shoes if I don't want to run in Vibrams or go barefoot on a particular day or for a race.  Maybe I'll try Allie's Hattori's to see what they are like.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/103989497

• 1 mile up to the trail in Vibrams, stashed them in the bushes, put on my Nike Frees
• 4 miles on Bonneville Shoreline and back home (really liked running the trail in the Frees)

Nothing like this view to remind me that I am indeed free... I keep forgetting that I am, in fact, done with homework, done with tests (except NCLEX), and I do not have clinicals!  What a beautiful, liberating view. :) 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/104304230

• 10 easy miles - South Temple route that I haven't been able to run forever!
• Between mile 4.2-6.2, I took off my shoes and carried them for 2 miles while I ran barefoot in my socks!

If you were to tell me last December (or even just a month ago) that I would be running my old 10 mile route, in my Nike Frees and 2 of those miles were barefoot, I would have laughed!  It feels so great!

I ordered a pair of Saucony Hattori's today from www.runningwarehouse.com.   You really should check that website out if you haven't already.  Good deals, free shipping AND free returns. It's where I buy 90% of my running gear unless I can find it cheaper somewhere else, which is very rare. The Hattori's are normally $59 on the website, but I got a coupon in the mail today for 25% off so they were only $44.25 with no tax!

5.2 miles in the heat (only time to run today)

I probably stopped every .3 miles to rest in the shade for a couple minutes because it's so hot.  We're getting a treadmill this weekend (2nd attempt), so I can't wait to have that for these hot days when I can only run in the afternoon.  I took off my shoes at mile 3 and ran one mile in socks.  It felt really good to get the heavy, hot things off and have some ventilation and just run barefoot.  Then I walked 1 mile barefoot (not included in the 5 miles) and then put my shoes back on.  By then it felt good to get the cushiony comfortable shoes back on my feet. :0)  I ran the last mile home. 

While I'm running barefoot on the sidewalks, my eyes are on the ground constantly.  I do somewhat of a winding motion to avoid the obvious holes in the sidewalk, but otherwise it doesn't really hurt to land on twings and small rocks, etc.  You can usually see the bigger rocks and you automatically avoid those.  It really doesn't hurt at all, especially after giving your feet time to get used to it by walking barefoot first for awhile.  Every now and again I step on something that sticks to my foot or socks and it hurts to land on it again, so I just stop and brush it off and move forward.  The track is my favorite because of the texture (it feels like a massage on my feet) and it's clear of holes and big rocks.  It's just more convenient to pull of my shoes and include the barefoot running during my normal run.  I'm eventually planning on running in very minimal shoes (like Vibrams or Hattori's) for the entire run someday.  The barefeet running (in socks) is just to slowly transition and teach my feet how to land correctly and to strengthen my feet, heel cords and legs.  It's definitely working for me.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/105517915

• 5 miles of east high loop (1.3 miles were in my socks)

• 5 miles at 9:36 avg pace

Two fun new things happened today:

1) Ran all 5 miles in my newly arrived Saucony Hattori's (Allie you're right, they are AWESOME!).  My favorite minimalist shoes so far.  The perfect mix between Vibrams and Merrells.  They hug your feet like a sock or water shoes and give you plenty of room to spread your toes out.  And they're soft and cushiony, but not too much cushion so you can still feel in control.  They only weigh 3.8 oz and they have no heel to toe drop.  They are a lot more minimal than Nike Free's, so I had my regular shoes ready just in case.  I could start to feel that I may need to change into my regular shoes around mile 4 or 4.5, so I just finished it out because I was too lazy to stop and change shoes.  As for the sizing, I got a size 9.5 which is half size bigger than my regular running shoes.  I wear an 8.5 for every day shoes, 9 for regular running shoes and for Merrells and Nike Frees and a 9.5 in the Hattori's.

2)  I got to run on my new treadmill!  Treadmill Attempt #2.  We bought one off ksl.com a couple months ago and had an awful, awful experience (it ended with the guy totally lying to us, selling us a complete lemon that didn't work, then saying "sorso ry, there's nothing I can do"...and then us leaving it in his driveway as a statement - that felt really good actually!  LOL  We're so mean).  Well, this week one, of James' coworkers came to him and asked if he would be interested in trading.  She asked if he could build her one of his custom computers and they would give us their new-ish treadmill that only had 30 hours on it.  While I was at work last night, they brought it over and James got it all set up for me and tested it out even.  He showed it off to me this morning.  He said "compared to this, that last treadmill was a dumpster dive."  I was relieved!  I guess I was a little nervous the same thing was going to happen (that it wouldn't work). I ran on it when I woke up at 2pm and it was SO nice!  It's a high quality machine (NordicTrack Viewpoint 3000 I believe).  It even has a fan to cool your face off while you're running.  It was MUCH easier to run 5 miles in 72 degrees indoors than try to run 5 miles in .3 mile increments outside in 90 degree weather.

We're off to Bear Lake for the weekend.  Hoping to get a few miles in tomorrow on some beautiful terrain. :) 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/106004490

• 12 miles near the Minnetonka Cave and campgrounds (6 miles down the road towards Hwy 89/Main Street and Bear Lake, 6 miles back up)

We stay at the Porcupine campsite.  It's a nice place and has a stream running along the road.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/106573602

• 8.5 miles easy running - 5 miles in my Nike Frees, 3.5 miles in my socks

I never really plan to take my shoes off when I start a run, but it seems that every time I get onto 13th east I want to throw them off and have a party for my feet and legs.  They really like it, it's true when they say it's fun.  I thought it was funny when I would read that in the books about barefoot running, but now I've fallen for it and I'm sold LOL. :)  I think it's just because it's more interactive with the ground I guess?  I put my shoes back on after my feet tell me it's not fun anymore.  I don't really feel any soreness or sharp pains, my feet just get tired and the fun wears off (and I'm sure if I kept running they would be really sore).  My feet and legs feel stronger and stronger and I rarely have to think about how to land properly for the healthiest form.  Like my friend Bryanna once told me: my feet are starting to feel like shoes! haha

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/106796888

• 3 miles on the treadmill in regular shoes

Couldn't go to sleep till noon after work because of a required CPR class so the semi that ran over me today must have been carrying an extra load. I love that I can roll out of bed and jump on the treadmill on days like this.  It's amazing that a little jog can make the groggy feeling go away faster than laying around the rest of the day.  I love that I can be out of the heat and I can stop if I need to use the restroom and I don't have to commit to a whole loop so I can stop when I feel like stopping (or if I run out of time).  Looking forward to a nice run tomorrow morning outside. :) 

• 6.5 miles, east high loop, regular shoes

The feet didn't feel like going barefoot today so I didn't push the issue.  BTW, no more CrossFit.  Now that I can run to my heart's content, what's the motive? :) 

Just felt like taking a couple days off this week.  Felt good. :)  I'm out of school, but we're busy with family parties and activities before school starts again (for James) and I have my NCLEX next Tuesday that I'm studying for.  We've also been looking at houses and getting all the paperwork needed for the loan requirements.  We are under contract for one in NSL and will most likely be moving October 7th if all goes well!  I've already starting designing my routes (although I will really miss my loops up here).  There are fun places to run in Davis County (that is where we grew up), so if anyone wants to come up that way sometime, just let me know!

I liked this quote:

"I am thankful that there are different seasons in life and training. I have learned to embrace each season realizing how important it is to allow the body, mind and spirit to fully cycle through each..."  -Ryan Hall

Running has definitely gone on the backburner right now!  Either I'm burned out from school and studying or as a way of preservation, my body is not giving any energy reserves for running while we get the process of mortgage and moving behind us and while I take the NCLEX next week and transition to being a nurse at work (and of course there's still full-time hours to fulfill at work, that's about all the exercise I'm getting right now!).  Either way, I may not have much to offer on the blog in the next while!  Hope you're all doing well.

• 5 miles of East High route (with 1.5 miles barefoot)

I figured the day would come this week that I would want to run, but I didn't think it would take THIS long!  7 days later!  Woke up with sore muscles (from inactivity!) and I was restless and stir crazy (started setting in yesterday).  It was so nice to get out there!

Didn't have my Garmin.  I left about 6:15am and probably did 10 min avg pace.

3 miles today and then core work, nothin fancy!

5 easy miles on the treadmill in the early evening.  I was grateful for my treadmill so I could have some good stress relief.  Isn't running so great?  I ran in my Hattori's; legs and feet felt great!

Mitch's ab video (about 12 mins)

• 6 miles, east high loop
• core work (Mitch's ab video...it's the same one I do everytime, nothing special)

It was nice to get outside as the sun was coming up!  Ran in my Hattori's outside for the first time, I love those shoes!  It was much more fun than taking off my big shoes and lugging them around.  Feels like my feet and legs are just about 100% adjusted to running in minimal shoes.  I am going slow and my volume isn't very high, so that has probably helped.

Off to spend the day with my little sister who has the day off work. :)