Hills for breakfast, hold the gnats

November 16, 2024

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Location:

Snoqualmie,WA,

Member Since:

Jan 31, 2008

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Boston Qualifier

Running Accomplishments:

Marathon PR: 4:17 at Portland Marathon, Oct. 2007

5K PR 24:37 2009

10K PR 52:58 2010

Have run 22 marathons to date.

No injuries, ever. :)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Qualify for Boston (4:05 for my age/gender) - or, perhaps, to use my desire for a BQ as a way to get in the hated speed work so I don't just get slower and slower over the years. This goal is "under (re)construction" right now, until I figure out whether it is truly what I want. :)

Long-Term Running Goals:

To continue learning about myself and about running, and to enjoy being a fit, happy runner for life. To always know why I am running and the best way to get the most (both mentally and physically) out of my runs. To keep a sense of humor and remain optimistic about myself as a runner. To enjoy running more and more with every passing year.

Personal:

Baby boomer generation. Jogged a little in my 20's and 30's. Started running seriously in 2002. Low-carb runner since January 2010.

I love long runs and cold, cloudy weather. I don't believe in "junk miles." I am an optimist. I adore dark chocolate, fog, my family, and knitting -- not necessarily in that order.

"As every runner knows, running is about more than just putting one foot in front of the other; it is about our lifestyle and who we are." -- Joan Benoit Samuelson

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	0.00
Brooks ST3 Lifetime Miles:						891.35
Vibram Five Fingers KSO Lifetime Miles:						23.77
Brooks ST3 II Lifetime Miles:						965.17
Lunaracers II Lifetime Miles:						198.23
Mizuno Wave Universe 3 Lifetime Miles:						104.14
Asics Piranha Lifetime Miles:						536.83
RunAmocs (Softstar) Lifetime Miles:						16.23
Piranha II Lifetime Miles:						219.53

Fri, Aug 07, 2009

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
3.04	0.00	0.00	0.00	3.04

55F, cloudy. Another beautiful day! Objective: short run in VFFs. 20 minutes strength.

I let myself sleep in a bit, so with only about 35 minutes to run I decided to make the most of it and do a VFF workout. I am still not very comfortable with the toe pockets. It's odd that that should be the only trouble I have with them. I wonder if I will ever really get used to it. I think I might be most comfortable in something like a moccasin, or these.

The VFFs are a lot of fun to run in. What has struck me the most is the fact that I can run on grass with stability. I believe I have mentioned on my blog in the past that even a little parking strip of grass will put me in danger of rolling my ankle if I'm in shoes. With the VFFs I feel totally stable and secure on all surfaces. Slow, but stable. And man am I slow in these! It just goes to show how much speed comes from the bounce of rubber in shoes.

Vibram Five Fingers KSO Miles: 3.04

Comments

From jun on Fri, Aug 07, 2009 at 11:28:59 from 66.239.250.209

I really need to get a pair of those.

From Carolyn in Colorado on Fri, Aug 07, 2009 at 11:32:56 from 24.8.167.243

Very interesting analysis of the VFFs. You know we're all watching you to see how you like them. The Feelmax shoes look interesting too. And no toe pockets.

From Snoqualmie on Fri, Aug 07, 2009 at 11:33:01 from 24.18.192.33

Stay tuned for other minimalist footwear workouts! I might try aquasocks and/or mocs sometime. I am still on the fence as to whether the VFFs are worth the $$. The toe pockets are really bugging me.

From auntieem on Fri, Aug 07, 2009 at 15:00:51 from 67.182.145.8

Interesting observation about their stability on grass. I guess its because your feet actually have to respond to changes in terrain, and they naturally compensate. Probably uses a whole bunch more muscles!

I think the toe pockets serve the purpose of keeping the toes slightly spread, adding to stability. When I notice how my feet run barefoot, my toes are slightly splayed. It helps us balance. The only time I've been unhappy with running shoes is when they seem to squish my toes up too much. It reminds me of yoga, where you lace your fingers between your toes and get a nice toe stretch!

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