"..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.

Bad Ass Grandpa

I have nothing new to report, due to my sprained toe. I played too much disc golf this weekend, which was a mistake as you pivot on your right foot when driving, right at the point of pain. D'oh. Anyway, last week I visited my parents, and got talking with my Grandfather. Turns out growing up in Pennsylvania, his Grandfather was too broke/cheap to buy shoes for the kids, so when warm, they were barefoot. All the time. Once in a while they would get cut while playing around the coal mines or railroad tracks. He was also a beast of a football player, which got him a scholarship and out of the coal mines. I asked if he ever had any injuries to his knees or ankles playing sports, and he had not, only one bad cut that put him in the hospital. Of course, in this era, shoes were pretty thin, no thick sneakers with coils or tubes or whatever. I just like the idea of Ed Masel, Marine, football star, coal miner, teacher and barefoot runner.

FIrst major injury

With my head in the clouds, I was not watching my step closely, and stubbed my toe. The tip hurt for a minute, and then went away. Not a problem. About 100 meters later I felt some strong pain on the proximal end of my toe. I had to limp home. AND to add insult to injury, I have to wear my old sneakers as a splint to allow it to heal. Strange, my sneakers are pretty uncomfortable now. Eye foot coordination still needs some work, apparently.

How is it

That I run two miles barefoot, and not a scratch on my foot, and later that day step off a curb and tweak my ankle? I blame my shoes. It happened on Saturday. I'm ok, very minor injury. I'll be running again today.

Puerto Rico

Running in Puerto Rico was very nice. It was mountainous, so I limited myself to avoid overuse injuries. Running uphill a gravel strewn road isn't bad, downhill is damn near impossible. Rincon, PR- I highly recommenced it to anyone who wants to be lazy in the jungle/beach (which is why I only ran once.)

Getting tough

Another run yesterday, a cool 1.5 miles, feels great. Weather is warm, the trees are in bloom, everything is gravy. I am confident the TOFP is something that will come and go for the next year as my feet adjust.

I broke a glass this morning, and cleaned it up, so I thought. I stepped on something which I thought was a bobby pin. When I reached down to pick it off my foot, I found this...
No, not the penny, the glass shard. Damage- none. They call me ol leatherfoot.

I'm back!

I had just about given up. I made an appointment with a podiatrist today, and was not looking forward to it. Went for a run this morning, and no pain what so ever. Felt fine! I really focused on staying loose, and keeping my cadence up. A barefoot runner told me I could be swaying from side to side, which might be causing my foot pain. I am thinking my pace was so slow, it was awkward, like when you are on a treadmill and its too fast to walk, and too slow to run. Kept it below a mile just to be on the safe side. I am very pleased.

Waiting

to run again. My entire life experiences involving running were not fun- pain was normal, expected, encouraged, drunken like smelly sewer wino piss. No more. Muscle pain is fine, but other than that, could be a problem. I'm 99% sure its not a stress fracture. Perhaps I'm re-injuring it by flying up the steps while watching By and Elg. Missing my zen. Time for some pizza.

New Goal, not to have a goal

My last run was Sunday, and it was a wonderful day out. I stepped on a stone which left my foot sore a few days, but no big deal. That's what I get for not paying attention. I did notice some TOFP, a sign I'm doing too much too soon. I found my pace to be much faster than I've done before.

Even though I am registered to race, I may not be running the Boilermaker this year. Speaking with some BF runners, I might not have the time. Everyone responds differently to training, and the years in the sweaty foot coffins take their toll. Its impossible to say how long it would take to prepare myself. My overall goal isn't to run the Boilermaker, its simply to run for the joy of it. The last few runs have been painful, most likely because I mapped out the gains necessary to achieve 9.3 miles and I'm running with that in my head.

So, maybe I'll just do the 5K. I am going to dial it down and stick with 1.5 miles for a few weeks, and slow down.

Why wear shoes?

Courtesy of Wendy Williams. That is all.

A week off?

This is no fun, I've had nearly a week off from running. I did run maybe 1/2 mile, but stopped while feeling some weirdness in my left foot. Turns out not only was my calf strained, but I'm also getting some TOFP (Top of the foot pain.) Important advice- don't listen to other people's advice! Two things to know- 1) start barefoot 2) once your foot lands (on the balls of your foot) pick your foot up immediately. My feet are weak and not used to running . I got too involved with discussing gait analysis and bio-mechanical jib jab. I even got a metronome app because I read 180 steps per min is the optimal for barefoot running. Think of the song, I'm Turning Japanese, which is easy due to the amazing "its so 80's" mix tape my sister made me in the early 90's. God, I wish I had that on my ipod. Anyway, I digress. The point is, I'm waking my science mind, and forgetting about my Zen mind. Ancient runners who ran down antelope on the vast plains of Africa didn't count their cadence. The Terehouma don't talk about their gait, they just go. Thats the best feeling, that I never found in competitive track and field... just running for the hell of it.

On my 1/2 mile run, a woman came running out of her house on the opposite side of the street and yelled, "Where are your SHOES?" I acted like I was checking my pockets, which was probably the funniest thing I could ever do to her, because she ran back inside and yelled "he checked his pockets!" Sometimes I hate standing out, but sometimes its great.

Oh, by the way, I am thinking of going back to shoes. These look amazing.

2 miler

Friday I ran a shade under two miles. It was a pretty good run, although I stopped at one point because my calf felt really tight. They have been pretty sore the past 2 days. After consulting the barefoot Yodas out there, I am trying to hard to keep my heels up, which essentially is an eccentric contraction (flexing a muscle while it is lengthening), which gives much more DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness.) I went out today, and I found that my calf is too sore. I followed my fellow barefooter runners advice and just tried to pick my foot up quickly once it touches the ground, but I'm finding my heels are hitting the ground. I need to be 4 years old again with perfect form.

102?

Barefoot Ted has run 102 marathons barefoot.

Wussed out because its 29 degrees out- running tonight when Eve gets home.

Word

Night time is the right time

I elected to take a night run instead of going out in the rain yesterday. A shade under a mile and a half. No problems, except for these blood blisters on my heel. No big deal, didn't notice them until later in the evening. I like running in the night- little traffic so I can run in the busier roads, and I don't think anyone will mess with someone running barefoot. They'd probably think I was Ninja in training. I'm officially registered to run the Boilermaker 15K in Utica NY. I have no plans of beating my previous Boilermaker time, or keep up with other people, or to be competitive in any way. Its a new day of running for me, out with the old, in with the Zen. Plus, I'm saving a fortune on socks.

OK now I get it

On a warm and sunny Sunday, I went for 1.25 miles, I was feeling great, like I could keep going, but I stayed strict to the plan of slowly increasing mileage. I found keeping my stride shorter is getting easier. I just have to continue focus on lifting my foot up once it touches the ground. Running purely on the street is much better than the sidewalks. Sometimes smooth rock, sometimes crooked brick, and sometimes cement loaded with stones. (Somebody hates barefoot runners) Speaking of h8erz, I'm getting some attention. A kid told me, "Old head (Philly slang for an older person) your feet is dirty as shit!" I told him nice language, and his Dad (probably) yelled out, "Whatchusay!?!?" I looked back, yep, he was talking to me. No time to talk, Old Head has miles to run.

Dirt McGirt

That's one mile of grade-A Germantown road grime on my feet. The weather is clear and rather pleasant, so my feet were not hampered by cold and water. Its a challenge for me to gooooo slooooow and really work on my form. Not pushing off, keep feet under center of gravity, increased cadence... its natural way to run but your mind wanders, you go too fast, your feet start to hurt..

I'm feeling great, except for the soles of my feet. Maybe my form is off and is causing pain, or maybe I'm still toughening them up. I found myself landing on my heel occasionally. I need to correct that.

Day 9

41 degrees and rain. I am currently staying true to barefoot runs. The skin on my sole is not feeling great, but I am trying to relax while I run, which helps. From what I've read, before transitioning to VFF or other minimalist shoe, you gotta learn correct form. This is can only be done barefoot, where the soles of the bare foot provide feedback to correct your form.

Why kick the shoes off?
From the book, Born to Run by Christopher McDougal,

"Dr Steven Robbins and Dr Edward Waked of McGill University, Montreal, performed a series of lengthy tests on gymnasts. They found that the thicker the landing mat, the harder the gymnasts landed. Instinctively, the gymnasts were searching for stability. When they sensed a soft surface underfoot, they slapped down hard to ensure balance. Runners do the same thing. When you run in cushioned shoes, your feet are pushing through the soles in search of a hard, stable platform."

Read more

Hurry up and heal

Annoyed at minor muscle pulls that are keeping me from running. Luckily its an off day. I've been barefoot pretty much 24/7 the last week. I just want to get out and run!

Off the track for good

I hit the streets for my run today after taking the weekend off due to a recurring hamstring annoyance. I ran 1/4 mile with ease, stopped to avoid the dreaded TMTS injuries. (too much, too soon.) The pavement was pretty cold, I wonder if that would be limiting when going for distance. My feet are usually cold from October to April. Perhaps building strength in my feet will increase vascularization and warm up my toes. (Note, those are not my feet.)

leatherizing the feet

I am going barefoot as much as possible to get tough. Eve, the twins and I went to Valley Green for a walk, I went shoeless Joe Jackson. Mostly gravel and small stones covered the path, with the occasional partially decomposed sticks (very soft) and horse poop ( very soft.) Do they sell feet sanitizer? The water running down the Wissahickon schist cliffs over the trail to the creek was quite cold, and made everything painful. One step at a time.

Why barefoot?

Evolution > Nike.

Walking on broken glass- day 3

I woke up to rain today, and went down to the Penn Charter track. I attempted to bump up my distance to 1/4 mile today, no go. I got to 200 meters, and continued the lap walking. I never realized how angular and "rocky" the surface of a track can be. I really must have some sensitive feet. I'm tempted to just throw on my Vibram Five Fingers, and start getting a work out. I'm going to just stop wearing shoes as much as I can to toughen up the skin. I'll just blend in Germantown as the tall, goofy, white, barefoot dude with twins. If I want to run the Boilermaker, I need to put some miles in.

Day 2

Feet are feeling good today. They were a bit tingly yesterday, but no real pain or anything. Taking a day off to be sure everything is gravy. Here is a New York Magazine article that got me started. For my birthday, Eve got me a pair of Vibram Five Fingers. I'd wear them when playing disc golf, or for walks in the woods. I'm not sure if I'll run the Boilermaker completely barefoot, or with the Vibrams.

Day 1

I got up early, and went down to the Germantown Friends track so I could easily monitor my distances the first several weeks. I understand injuries happen because people do too much, too soon. Not only do I need to get my cardiovascular system in shape, but also my legs, AND my newly found feet. My plan was to start with a quarter mile. Perfect cool morning- 32 degrees. I slipped my shoes and socks off at the edge of the track, and started off. Wow. This track is sharp, I thought. For some reason I thought the track at GFS would be a soft rubbery pillow. My goal would be to take it easy, and stop at a 1/4 mile. I had to stop at a 1/8 because of my irritated feet. Is it because the track is too concrete-like? Being cooped up in socks and shoes (even the barefoot shoes I wear ) the feet aren't used to sensations like this, and the skin is thin. We'll see how quickly the body adapts.