Sore-ing to New Heights

I finally got them. My brand new Vibram KSO's. I had been waiting for no less than 3 months to obtain the Holy Grail of minimalist running shoes. I was sitting on the bench by the front door just having laced up my right shoe, getting ready to go for my mid-week mid-tempo run when the doorbell rang. It was my Vibrams. Actually, it was the UPS man delivering my new Vibrams. So, naturally, I took off my Asics and immediately donned my KSO's. I was so quick to get out the door and try them out that I forgot my chewing gum (something that is a prerequisite for my runs as my mouth and throat get so dry otherwise). I guess I would just have to tough out having a dry mouth. It was only a 5 mile run, I would probably be alright.

My feet felt light and quick. I did notice that when I happened to step on a large piece of gravel, I did feel it--something that didn't happen with my regular running shoes. I was travelling at a good quick pace; even faster than my goal pace. This was very cool. But, by the time I hit mile four, I could feel the familiar sting of blisters forming on my inner upper foot just below my big toe. Now every step was painful, but I couldn't decrease my pace. I would just run through the pain and deal with it when I got home. I couldn't understand why I would be getting blisters in my Vibrams. From all the dozens of reviews I read about these shoes, blisters were not mentioned!

I had a 5K race in two days. I thought that would be good enough to give my feet a rest and resolve the blisters. I decided that I would probably just wear my regular racing shoes for the race since I didn't want to make the blisters even more angry. By the evening after my maiden KSO run, my calves were starting to ache. It felt like I just did a major workout at the gym isolating my gastrocnemius muscles. I hoped that two days would heal that too.

Well, by Saturday morning, the blisters were pretty much gone, but I could still barely walk without pain. So, with the help of some naproxen sodium I ingested soon after arising and some Bio-Freeze massaged into my sore legs just minutes before the race, I decided to race in my Vibrams. I wasn't planning on winning the race, just getting through it. This was a training exercise if anything. Well, there were only about 55 participants and about 20 of those were walkers, so I didn't have a lot of competition. I ran as hard as I could. Almost to that point where I feel like I'm going to puke and then back off a little because that would be just too humiliating. My initial paces were great, but by the time I got to 3K, I was ready to be done. I was tired. I guess I went out too fast. Well, I pushed myself to the end. I didn't set any PR's that day. I finished in 23:29. But the good news is that I was the overall female winner! :-) Not my best time, but I guess I got rewarded for my effort.

Today is Sunday. My calves didn't get any less sore after pulling an all-out effort running basically barefoot on Saturday. And, as fate would have it, today is the "Long Run" day on my training calendar. I didn't think I should be heroic and don the minimalist shoes today. After all, I was still dealing with trying to walk without pain. So, I put on my good ole Asics Nimbus 11's and headed out to the trails for a 13.1 mile (21K) jaunt -- slow and easy. Every step was torture. All I could concentrate on was the pain I felt with each stride. Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Even my iPod wasn't able to distract me from the discomfort. I didn't think there was any way I would survive 13 miles today. But, I would push myself as far as I could. This wasn't about speed, but endurance.

By the time I was about 5 miles into it, the calf pain seemed to subside. Either that, or some endorphins kicked in and dulled the pain. But it was still a laborious run. I wasn't going nearly as fast as my normal "slow" pace, but disappointingly much slower. It was humid and I was sticky, sweaty, and hot. I was tired. But I kept on going. I ran to Tobico Marsh and did the big loop twice and the small loop around the marsh once. I saw a black squirrel, a grey squirrel, several "normal" squirrels, almost got tripped by a scampering chipmunk and also met up with three fawns who pranced across the trail and then stopped about twenty feet away to watch me pass. I waved at them and (after I looked around to make sure no one was behind me) said, "Hi guys!" After a grueling nearly two hour run, I made it home and did and extra 0.2 km to boot.

Once safely inside the door, I could now fully experience and express my exhaustion and agony. I peeled off my shoes and socks only to reveal blisters on my blisters. My clothes were soaked and my face was covered with the salty residue I get when I know I put in a good workout. I downed a cold coconut water (this was the same coconut water I reminded myself was waiting for me if I hurried home and finished my run--my reward). Then, I headed to the shower, got dressed, uploaded my workout from my Garmin watch while sipping some freshly made apple juice and then crashed on the bed for an impromptu hour long nap. When I got up, my legs were even more sore and I could hardly move them, let alone actually walk. Ouch. I hobbled around for a while, played some games on the computer as a diversion from the soreness and later when I got up, it wasn't as bad as before. It's almost tolerable now. Nearly back to the level of moderate discomfort I had before I decided to add insult to injury with my half-marathon sized workout.

Tomorrow I have a day off of running. It's my cross-training day. Hopefully these legs will be able to pedal the stationary bike. I guess I'll find out. The next day, I get to do intervals. Oh, joy. I might even attempt them barefoot if I'm feeling bold enough. I hope my legs will have recovered a bit more by then. I know that this pain is just a sign that I'm using my muscles in a whole new way that theoretically should make me a stronger and better runner. I have another race next Saturday. I will be wearing my Vibrams. That is, if I am able to run at all.

Time to Get Serious

Okay Spring is officially here. We had some nice mid-70's days last week. Crazy for being barely April. Today is rainy and mid-50's but I'm not complaining. I started doing some barefoot walking (outside on the road). I'm still too chicken to do any real running. Mostly because I am only running 3 days a week now with my FIRST program and those runs are pretty intense. Too much for a barefoot noob. I would like to do some easy 1-2 milers on my off days, but finding the time to squeeze in an extra workout is not easy.

I have races scheduled pretty much through December. It is exciting and daunting. I have a 5K this Saturday and next weekend a 5K and a 6K. Three out of four weekends, I will do doing a 5K and an occasional 10K. I might do a half-marathon in late June, but I have to convince my husband to let me run during our family vacation (Big Ticket Festival). It shouldn't take more than a couple hours, right? He will probably still be sleeping in...won't even know I'm gone. :) In July is the Frankenmuth Volksläufe 20K, basically another half-marathon. And here's the big one: my first marathon (still just a potential at this point)-- the Beaver Island Marathon. This race looks AMAZING. It is on a remote island off of Lake Michigan, has a relatively small number of participants and is a Boston qualifying race! How cool is that? So, I think that when I finish my 18-week half-marathon training program (which should be complete my mid-June) I will get started on the marathon training program. :)

I completed a 7 day total juice feast last week. It was easier than I thought and I felt great. Now that I am back to solid foods, I feel tired. I will probably go back on mostly juice for a while. I had to break my fast because my husband flew home for a couple of days during Easter weekend and demanded that we go out to dinner. I had a "big salad." That's about as extravagant as I get when we go out to eat. I am a cheap date, but I make it for it when I go grocery shopping.

Now I am just waiting for my sons to get home from track practice so I can go for my interval run. I hate my interval runs, but will feel much better when it's done. I'm hoping all this hard work pays off and I can set some PR's this summer. Well, time to get back to work. There is no rest for the dedicated.

A New Leaf

Spring is coming. I know it is. I am watching the water dripping down from the deck above as the snow melts through the cracks. The sun is warmer, brighter and more enduring. 40 degrees seems "warm." Spring is a time for new resolutions, growth, and change.

I am looking forward to continuing with my F.I.R.S.T. "Run Less Run Faster" 18-week half-marathon training program. I am just into week 3. I ran 18 km yesterday. It was a beautiful sunny, clear day with temperatures topping out at a balmy 47 degrees. I should be a faster, more efficient runner by mid-June. We'll see.

I also look with great anticipation to receiving my "transitional" running shoes--the Vibram KSO's that I ordered in January. Due to high demand, they have been on backorder and are scheduled to be sent mid-March. I can't wait to start running barefoot, although I have to say that I'm not looking forward to any attention it might draw to me. I'm not doing it to stand out, be different or rebel against Nike. I just think it's a very desirable, more natural way to run. And I've read that it can allow a person to run 5% faster than if they were wearing running shoes.

Another welcome change will be the introduction of a new Excalibur top-of-the-line food dehydrator and a Hurom juicer that I purchased with money I received from doing some web programming. My Nesco has been very good, but waiting 4 days for Kale chips, dehydrated broccoli and spirulina-goji berry cookies is just too long! I look forward to making a lot more dehydrated goodies like corn chips, flax crackers and homemade fruit roll-ups on a regular basis. And as for the new juicer, I am preparing to go on a major "Juice Feast" lasting at least a week, preferably a month or longer. I'm not sure how well that will compliment my athletic training program.

I have been adding all the upcoming events to my calendar. It's going to get very busy. We have a big Kindergarten music program and dance recital coming up. Track season officially gets underway on March 15th and I will have at least one of my two teenagers participating in that. Hopefully two. Plus, lots of races coming up, from 5K's to 10K's to my first 20K on July 3!

I started my garden today. I planted most of my vegetable seeds in starter pots. I planted kale, spinach, lettuce, bell peppers, pear tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, Swiss chard, basil, cilantro, dill, cauliflower, broccoli, summer squash, and asparagus. I also planted some echinacea. I just need to get some cucumber, Roma tomato and zucchini seeds. I wanted to get my lupine flowers started, but I can't find where I put the seeds I purchased last fall. :(

I am glad the snow and ice are melting. I relish the sun's warm rays filtering in the many windows of our home. I look forward to hearing and seeing the river flowing again (and an end to the snowmobiles, motorcycles and four-wheelers zooming by on the ice at all hours of the day and night). I look forward to gardening, running, eating healthier and all the other many blessings that the nicer weather brings with it. April 4th is Easter Sunday, another symbol of life and hope. Spring is so full of promise and potential. I hope everyone takes this time to re-evaluate, renew, and restore; that we all make an effort to turn over a new leaf.

Baring My Sole

I love being barefoot. I only wear socks if the temperature dips below 25 degrees or so, but I can never wear socks to bed. I spend most of the summer months sans shoes. I keep a spare pair of Birkenstocks tucked in the pocket behind my driver seat in case I need to go into a store or do something that require shoes, but my preference is for perpetually naked feet.

I have envied runners such as Zola Budd and Abebe Bikila who have chosen to run barefoot, and in doing so, have excelled at their sport. I look at the litter-strewn gravelly shoulders of the roads and the broken-stick-and-tree-root-laden trails that I run along and think that barefoot running would not work for me. So, I have tried several different types of running shoes that would provide me with enough room to wiggle my toes (a wide toe box) and enough padding to cushion my underpronating, high-arched feet. After a lot of trial and error (along with several blisters, calluses, black toenails and sore knees) I settled on the Asics Nimbus 11's. I can't help but wonder, though, what it would feel like to run free--unencumbered by shoes.

I have made a New Year's Resolution for 2010. This year I will run barefoot! I am awaiting the restock of the Vibram FiveFingers KSO's. These will be my "training" shoes and my inclement weather foot cover. But I WILL run barefoot in AT LEAST one road race.

Barefoot running seems to be getting a lot of press these days. In this past Sunday's newspaper insert, Parade Magazine, there was an article entitled "Is It Better To Be Barefoot?" which spoke about the benefits of running barefoot. I also recently read and article in Runner's World magazine, "Should You Be Running Barefoot?" Runner's World also has a Barefoot Running Forum on their website where like-minded minimalists can get together to share their insights and experiences. The evidence seems pretty overwhelming that feet were designed to perform their best without shoes. It makes perfect sense to me and I am eager to test out the theory, but not right now when it's 20 degrees and the roads are covered with snow and ice. I am looking forward to Spring and the availability of the Vibram's.

I have to wonder, though, will it put more strain on knees? Will my feet ache from the constant contact with rocky asphalt? Will I be able to improve my speed and form? So many questions and only one way to get answers: wait and see. Only 75 more days until the "official" start of Spring, although I hope to start my barefoot journey well before then. I will keep you posted.

Intervention

I have to say, I find it absolutely amazing how non-vegan, non-runner, non-like-me people can criticize my healthy lifestyle. Inversely, it would be considered entirely inappropriate for me to openly criticize another person for having diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, obesity and/or an overly-sedentary lifestyle filled with poor nutritional choices. It is socially unacceptable to tell someone they are "too fat." So why would someone consider it acceptable to say to another person: "You are too thin!" or "You are too obsessed with healthy eating." I have been victim to these types of "interventions" and this is my response.

As my life has evolved and I have become more and more enlightened through my incessant research and education, I have taken my knowledge and practically applied it to the way I live my life. I have taken previously-ingrained bad habits and replaced them with good and healthy habits. For example, I used to reward myself with a bag of Cheddar Cheese Combos and a Sam Adams Cherry Wheat Beer. Now, I would not put that garbage into my body. (Well, I might have some beer once in a GREAT while...but definitely NOT the Combos.) Now, my idea of rewarding myself is giving my body something ultra healthy like a spirulina-gojiberry cookie, some yummy kale chips, or a green smoothie. And I would be indulging in this sort of "reward" not because it was Friday or because the kids were at the grandparents. The reward would be a compensation for successfully completing a 10 mile run in less than 90 minutes. My mind has changed because I have discovered what is best for me. My body has changed because I do what is best for me. I have taken my beliefs and made them into my habits. Since when is being "too healthy" a bad thing? Or more realistically, one must ask the question, "Is it possible to be too healthy?"

My happily overweight brother-in-law has an expression he likes to use regularly in regard to healthy living: "You don't live longer. It just feels like it." For him, eating nothing but nuts and berries would be torture. So, to imagine being forced into a raw vegan lifestyle, he imagines an ensuing misery. In reality, I have no desire to live to be over 100 years old unless it is God's will. Longevity is not my goal. I could get attacked by a wild bear tomorrow and my life would be over, regardless of how healthy my eating and exercise habits are. Rather, my goal is to live the healthiest I can possibly be each and every day of my life. There is nothing worse than to see people with chronic, degenerative, debilitating diseases which rob them of their livelihood and eventually lead to a slow and often painful death. If I have the tools to prevent going down such a path, I am going to use them! If I am ever stricken by such a disease, at least I will know that I have done everything possible to prevent such an occurance and have no regrets about living a lifestyle which contributed to my demise.

I have been told by well-meaning family members time and time again that I am "too skinny" and/or "I worry about you." I am at an ideal weight for my height and frame. My BMI is totally within normal limits and I even had a full blood analyis done to verify that my raw vegan lifestyle has not adversely affected my health in any way. I started running two years ago and have placed first in my age group in several races. I have gone from being someone who couldn't run a block without becoming winded to a well-conditioned athlete who is capable of running a half-marathon (13.1 miles) in under two hours. I am proud of myself and of what I have accomplished. It's too bad that my family is too "concerned" about me to share in my joy or offer positive encouragement.

As far as being "obsessed" with my healthy lifestyle--if I were truly overemphasizing my running or eating, I wouldn't have time to clean the house, do the laundry, drive the kids to all their activities, read stories to my preschooler, go to concerts and movies, work in the garden, watch t.v. with my husband, read books and magazines, or work on my websites. I cook "regular" food for my family and do not force my raw vegan choices on them, but always leave it as an option (an option which they will sometimes voluntarily choose). I believe that I have found a nice balance and have been successful in prioritizing my responsibilities to both myself and my family. It seems that the only people criticizing me are those who are "on the outside." Maybe these people are secretly jealous because they have been unsuccessful in following a more health-conscious protocol in their own lives. Maybe they wish they could fit into size 2 jeans. I don't know what their "deal" is, but I've had more than enough of it!

I am happy with my body and my diet. My husband loves the way I look. My kids aren't complaining about me being too busy with running or food preparation to care for them. We are all quite content. Why can't everyone else be?