Fully in

3.63 miles today, which is the longest I've ever run barefoot/minimalist shoes.  The question now, do I switch back to completely barefoot?  Or stay with my huaraches? 

I'm back

Returning to work was an adjustment, and I neglected running, sadly. I have started up again after taking the fall off, and have my goal back in my sights; I am running the Boilermaker barefoot. Signed up yesterday.

Although I have been wearing shoes to get through the winter- thick socks and huaraches sandals. They have been working great. Invisible shoes is the brand I use. I am hoping to go back to pure BF, but won't be opposed to running on 4mm of weird shoes.

"..challenges met, competitors bested, obstacles overcome.."

The Boilermaker road race was a success. I woke up around 6:30, quickly got ready, and was out the door with Brendan my brother, Meghan my sister (who ran 6 Boilermakers in the past) and her boyfriend Danny, who strikes me as very fast. Dad dropped us off on the side of the Arterial, and we walked up the closed exit ramp to the start. I was in good spirits, calm, and relaxed. Meghan and Danny moved ahead to their correct seeding time, Brendan and I found a spot to start, and waited for the masses to shuffle on, so we could squeeze in. The Boilermaker 15K has around 10,000 runners. The 5K 2000. We were finally running, and it felt good. Brendan shot off and did his own race soon after the start. I guess I am in good shape, as the entire race I felt great and people around me were huffing in pain. Or they are in awful shape and I'm just average. The race felt short, and I didn't try really hard, I just ran to run, and I loved it. Reactions from my barefootedness ranged from disbelief to support to sippin on h8erade. The train tracks leading to the FX Matt Brewery were covered in fresh asphalt, I'm sure only I and the other barefoot runners noticed this. Fresh asphalt sticks to your feet like glue, so the final 100 meters I ran with chunks on my feet. Took some scraping to clean em, too.

After the race, I met up with Meg Bren and Danny, and we went back to watch the 15K and cheer on the rest of Team Dunn. (And be ridiculous goofus', as usual.) Whenever we saw Team Beef (the beef council sponsored 70 people to run as advertising) we cheered for pork and chicken. We kept track of the top bearded runners up to 8, upon which scandal DSQ'd one gentleman for having a goatee. Oh, I also saw another BF runner, and ran with him to chat for a bit. At the after-party, I enjoyed the fruits of my labor, 2 ice cold Saranac beers, straight from the brewery. Yes, it tasted like Utica and it was glorious.

Not too much longer...

4 days till the Boilermaker. I am not in "good" shape, I think I'm in ok shape. The last few runs were the first time I've had a decent cardio workout from running. Oh well, as long as I don't lose to the guys dressed as the blues brothers. Oh yeah, they are running 3 times as long as me. Reminder to self- don't worry about beating anyone. You try and beat others, your feet will be angry for weeks. Stick with your pace!

Separate note: check out these basketball huaraches (traditional running sandals of the Terahumara tribe in Mexico when they are not running barefoot.) I think I'm going to make a pair. Tires are a pain to cut through.

Man, I'm slow.

My brother came into town and stayed with us. He's running the boilermaker as well and hasn't been training much so I figure perfect person to go for a run with. Nope, I'm slow. I was holding him back from his natural pace. I guess I haven't found my true pace, I have to give myself a year to get my feet in shape, and get up to speed.

Running meditation

Ever since I really discovered sports, around 6th grade, I played hard... really hard. I kept that ethic through high school, college and beyond. It didn't matter if it was practice, or a game, or play-offs, I gave it all I had until it was time to go home. This is all well and good for a spry 17 year old who has a 2 hour track practice, then goes to CYO basketball practice for 2 hours, only to play football after school the next day, and full court basketball most of Saturday afternoon. Post college, things change, and I've devolved to more of a weekend warrior. (Sure, I've taught gym, but you really don't go all out when an errant move could send a 7 year old into a concrete wall.) With barefoot running, I've HAD to slow down, to think of form, not fast. The result is a slower, easier run that doesn't demolish your soul. Which is what I was used to when I ran in the past. Worse yet, when I'd run to music. I'd be completely done by the time "Beat of the Brat" ended on my Ramones tape.

Take off your headphones, take off your shoes, and go for a moving meditation.

NY Times article on BFR

Looking at you, heel strikers.

Times.