Back on the Trail

Okay, the ankle is holding up pretty good now. Still tweaking the diet thing trying to not gain too much weight. Intermittent juice feasting is the solution for now. Just finished off a bag of goji berries. Probably should have some juice now. :)

I was supposed to do my first marathon on September 4th on Beaver Island. I ended up doing the half marathon instead because of having to take about 6 weeks off due to ankle injuries. I felt good and ran well. My goal was somewhere between 1:45 and 2:00. I finished in 1:50. I was happy. I got first place in my age group. It's amazing how far you can go on 2 cups of coffee, a banana and a mango!

I discovered that too much training in my Vibrams and/or barefoot was exacerbating the ankle injury (peroneal tendonitis). But I know that I get a much better workout when I run minimalistically. I don't want to sacrifice all the hard work I've done building up my calf and foot muscles by wearing standard running shoes. But I know that if I train exclusively in minimalist footwear, I'll just keep getting injured again and again. Solution? Train part time in Vibrams and part time in running shoes. It seems to be working.

I have never been able to run as fast barefoot as I can in running shoes. I think that is why barefoot runners are not winning races. It is nearly impossible to compete with shod opponents. Running shoes are like a "cheat." They offer greater protection from the elements and make it easier to run because you are using fewer muscles. I do believe that barefoot running is more natural and allows one to have a better running form which will prevent most common running injuries. Running shoes mask poor running form and often result in injuries due to this. I realize that I need to maintain my barefoot running strength and form, but if I want to win races, I will need to compete on an even playing field--by wearing running shoes. This way I am getting the best of both worlds. And it seems to be working for me right now. I have so far been able to achieve a balance of barefoot running strength, form and skill with shod-foot running speed. I feel like I am finally back where I started (speed-wise) when I started barefoot running. I also realize the benefits of barefoot running. I know that it is the best way to run, albeit not the fastest. So, if I want to have a fighting chance at winning a race once in a while, I need to succumb to wearing shoes. And I guess that's alright with me. I'm not going to sacrifice my performance over a principle.