Chug-along-chica!

2 miles barefoot with Sparky SOOO early, 10:08 pace.

2.68 Miles later with Christine at 10:20 pace, and I almost pulled a Superfly 'cause I had just drunk a biggish orange julius and it didn't want to stay put. Blech. But I have an iron stomach, so I was spared any extra humiliation, which is good, as I had already had my fill today.

Today has been all about humility. This morning on my barefoot run I was starting to feel really proud of myself. I hardly even feel it anymore when I run over little tiny rocks. My feet are like IRON! And just as I was thinking this, I stepped on a big, poky rock right on my forefoot, between my big toe and that skinny toe right next to it. It HURT, and I stumbled--nearly falling to the ground. Strike one. (I'm okay, though--don't think I even bruised it.)

THEN, later, I was at the grocery store with my precocious 3 year-old. I just had to grab one quick thing, and I was in a hurry. I was whipping around that huge, long car-shaped cart, and my 3 year-old says "Mommy, you are going the wrong way!" I hate it when my kids tell me what to do, so I said "Adam, don't tell me where to go...I know where I'm go..." and just then I bump into a large aisle display of ranch dressing, which collapsed, knocking bottles everywhere. I couldn't even figure out how to put the thing back together. But anyways, my little guy thought it was really funny. And for me, well, it's always nice to meet new people--especially grocery store employees. And nothing grounds you better than, well, getting on the ground and picking up lots of stuff. Strike two. So anyways, now I'm off to bed before the pitcher gets the better of me.

It strikes me that I may possibly be making headway on my goal to become tougher and have more self discipline. I bounced myself out of bed at 5:30 this morning so I could go run 2 miles barefooted with my dog before becoming fully conscious. I've got to tell you, I am still feeling reeeally excited about running. 3 more miles planned with Christine tonight.

Christine couldn't make it, and I just went out for another 2.17 at 9:37 ave. pace.  Most of it was at 10:05 pace, but the last .5 I was around 7:45 pace, which is my goal 5K pace.  I just wanted to get home. 

2 Miles barefoot before sunrise with Sparky.  I am starting to feel really comfortable with the early wake-up.  It's the 9:30 bedtime that is giving me fits!

Of all the ignominious running injuries one can possibly sustain while barefoot, I think I have located the stupidest: dogs stepping on you.   Remember that chow that attacked us recently?  He stepped on my bare foot and scratched my foot with his nastly ol' toenails.  That was my first barefoot injury.  Well, today Sparky lunged after a barking dog behind a fence, and ground my pinky toe into the pavement as he took off.  Now it is swollen and stinging.  Da!  He only weighs 17 lbs.!   I hope it is not broken, again.  Humph.
 

My little toe has been a little bit problematic for running.  Pretty swollen & difficult to get in my shoes.  Also hurts barefoot, though.  I find that the toes have a more more active part to play when running barefoot, and this particular toe seems to have decided that it needs a vacation from active duty.   Anyway, I didn't get in all my miles yesterday, which bugs me.  But today I was able to squeeze my running shoes on and go for a leisurely 4.25 at about 10:40 pace.  

So far 2 for today.  1 mile barefoot, which was pretty comfortable in most respects (no dog).  9:30 pace (I wasn't looking at my Garmin, usually I try not to go below 10:00 on an easy run.)

1 more with the pooch in shoes at 10:40 pace, and my right knee started to really bug me.  It is the same kind of bugging that I have had within 2 weeks of most of my races.  Feels like referred pain, not a real injury, but it still does hurt and causes a limp.  I am going to try to scrape the heck out of my quads and gluts with (don't tell Josse) the back of a butter knife and see if that helps.  He he he.  Don't slay me, it feels exactly the same!

I've decided not to register for the St. George Marathon this year.   Sasha's advice was to wait until I could run a half in 1:50:00.  He said that with 3 months of solid, uninterrupted training, I could probably do it on a favorable course.  But to me 3 months of perfect training seems a little out of reach at this point.  Maybe next year.  I am perfectly happy to focus on the shorter distances for another season.  Well, not perfectly happy, but happy enough.  (BTW don't bother leaving me a comment that I should just chuck Sasha's advice, because I won't.  As far as I'm concerned he is practically psychic when it comes to all things running.)

Update: 1.1 miles after scraping, barefoot, 10:30 pace.  Knee felt very good!  And there was much rejoicing...yea.

1.15 a little later, still barefoot.  I am beginning to really not trust my shoes.  Tomorrow I've gotta go try on new shoes.  10 miles planned for tomorrow.  If I get them in, all the credit goes to Adam for the swift kick. : )

GOOD LUCK AT THE SALT LAKE MARATHON TOMORROW FRBers!!!

4 miles at once--all barefoot. So that's a new barefoot distance record for me. (But I did wear socks.)

2 miles in shoes that shall remain nameless. I am chucking my old trainers--I think they hurt my knees. BUT I can't run anymore barefoot tonight because I am on the brink of getting a blister on my forefoot. And I HAVE to run 10 today (because of blog persecution). So I had to improvise. 4 more to go. The night is still young.

2 more miles...2 to go.

2 more. How tedious! Longest 10 miles I've ever run. The good news is that my knee feels absolutely fine. I think it is a combination of scraping, and chucking my running shoes that has done the trick. Next week I really have to get new shoes of some kind, though. Possibly Nike Frees or something like that.

Pictures! Can you guess which toe got smooshed by my dog?

Still, he's not ALL bad. Cuteness covers a multitude of sins.

As usual, he is completely under my control for the photo shoot. Just like he always is...at all times. ;)