I haven't written about running much recently (possibly because I've been totally sloughing off on my training for this race), but I just ran a 20-miler today, and OMG...best 20-miler EVER. I can't quite pinpoint what made it seem so painless, but I think it was this:
Cool weather + salt pills + great running partner + reading Born to Run/possibly improved form) = awesome run
I don't think I've ever run such a pleasant 20-miler. Or even a 16 or 18-miler for that matter. I'm excited to see if I can maintain the same positive attitude/momentum on my 22-miler when it will no doubt be 10-12 degrees warmer. I want to be like a Tarahumara runner- do not fear the heat, eat the heat. If I can pull it off again, then it's settled- I'm doing another ultra someday. :-)
Born to Run is an amazing read, and a must for any distance runner. Not only has it influenced me to dream big, bigger than 26.2...but to also remember that the only difference between myself and any other ultra runner out there is not freaky genetics or corporate sponsorship...it's heart & a pure running form. If I want to run 30, 40 or 50 miles, I can.
And though I touched upon this on my previous blog post, the book has also made me want to try the hideous Vibram Five Fingers. When I first saw them a few years ago (though they've been around a lot longer than that), I was initially wary of another pricey fad shoe (I got suckered into buying $$$ MBTs that I was never quite sure worked). But this book lends great support to the idea that running as the human body was meant to run (that is to say, on flats vs. air cushioned heels) is not only healthier, but more pleasant/energy efficient. Of course I'm oversimplifying hundreds of pages of research, but it's a definitely a worthy consideration/argument. The book basically paints Nike (they're the scapegoat in this book, much like McDonalds is in the fast food world) as the evil, profit-driven money whores who design shoes even though they know that they are not as good as flats.
And...get this...you didn't hear it from me though...*whispered tone* the book references the fact that a lot of hardcore ultra runners think that Dean Karnazes is a over-hyped up, publicity-seeking pretty boy! Gasp.
See what I mean? This book goes against the grain, peeps.
But I liked it. It may have even helped me get over a mental block. If you're a half, full or ultra runner...give it a try. :-)
4 comments:
My husband and I have both read Born to Run, and you're right, it's totally inspiring. I'm not ready to shed the shoes just yet, but my husband has, and he runs entirely, 100% barefoot. He also has five fingers, which he uses when he's out in public.
I wanted to say a few things he's shared that are counter to what I would have thought. He thinks that running actually barefoot (no five fingers), and gaining your form that way, and *then* moving to five fingers is the way to go. He thinks that vibrams are great, however, they still deaden the sensation that your feet would have that helps you run properly, and if you build a muscle memory on your bare feet first, when you switch to five fingers, you will most likely keep that same form.
So he started with walking--only walking barefoot for a mile at a time. He worked up until he could run, and it took some time. However, over this time, he's never had any cuts and only one small bruise in all of this time. He figures that your foot figures out what's under you and moves to adjust minutely, keeping you safe. And so far, for him, he's been right.
Your feet don't get all gross and icky permanently when you run barefoot on concrete/asphalt, they get a little dirty, sure, but he comes home and washes them immediately. What actually happens are his feet get nicely exfoliated. His feet are probably softer than mine. So as a girl, this was an interesting side effect.
He keeps a little first aid kit in his bag with superglue and bandaids, and in the event of a cut he has heard of people just supergluing that spot until they get home. Your mileage (pun intended) may vary with this, but I know there are surgical superglues out there just for this purpose. However, no cuts yet! I've even seen us run through glass, but since you're also watching where you're going, you almost never stop on anything worse than a few pebbles (and typically not even that.)
Anyway, it's not for everyone, and you may not want to run entirely sans-shoes, but I was surprised at how well it has worked for him, and a friend of ours who was really heavy, lost 150 pounds, and couldn't run due to excruciating pain in his knees. Several orthos and procedures later, nothing in the medical field would end up helping him--but our friend started running barefoot and he now *can* run again.
Woo hoo! I *can* contribute and not just lurk! :)
I also wanted to add that different areas of your legs will be sore than you're expecting, but that will change as your form improves. He was shocked at how areas he didn't think about would be engaged, and then a day or so later he'd be a little sore from.
Wow, great feedback. Makes total sense, all of it. I'm leaning toward trying barefoot a few times on a track field first (mostly cause pavement is hot here), and seeing how it feels. I'm not in a rush though, mostly because I'm not not having form issues, just speed issues. But that may be from being slightly chubby. And unmotivated. But if I can improve form (and for now, all I worked on was standing up taller, leaning in, and relaxing my ever tense shoulder). It seemed to relax my legs in the process too. So for whatever reason, I was pain free after my run yesterday and today! Thanks again!!!
Awesome, glad you've not been having pain!
No problem! I'm mystified by the whole barefoot thing, but having seen my friend and my husband do so well with it, it's of great interest to me now! I may even join them at some point, but like you said, I'm not in a huge rush either (and yeah, a little chubby too. :)
Oh yeah, and Happy Mother's Day! :)
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