Barefoot Running Experiment

The phrase that best describes my experience with barefoot running is "it sucked." I went four weeks straight running roughly half an hour every day barefoot, then four more weeks trying to run in those Vibram Five Fingers shoes. After the first few runs I didn't go for more than a minute without wishing I was wearing my flats again.

Entering the second week of true barefoot running, I had developed rather painful blood blisters on the soles of both my feet, a nasty gouge in my left arch of unknown origin, and an inability to run faster than 10 min mile pace comfortably on pavement. I stuck it out for the whole month; it didn't get worse, but there was no sign of improvement. I also nearly fell multiple times on wet ground for lack of traction (both on the road and in the grass) , and I hadn't experienced real living until turning my ankle on a hidden tree root with no shoes on. All of that, and you get the pleasure of people looking at you like you are an idiot several times a run, which as it turns out is not far from the truth.

Running in the Vibrams was not much better. The blood blisters went away, and the traction was better, but it's just plain uncomfortable to run long or fast in them if you're not on a golf course. And you still have to be uper-conscious of where you are stepping as you go, so you can't really get going that fast--they don't do anything to shield your feet from rocks or sticks. I've read all the stuff about "re-learning" how to run more efficiently and improving your biomechanics, and there is plenty of merit to it I think, but I also believe even more strongly now that you can get the best of all worlds in minimal shoes like racing flats.

Maybe I can sell my Vibrams on craigslist.

5K in 98 Degrees

Jumping in a 5k race when you haven't run 3 miles in training is a bad idea. Running that 5k in 98 degree weather is an even worse idea. I decided to jump in the Crystal City Twilight 5k last night for fun and it was ugly. I managed a 22:58 but that required a slight surge the last .1 mile. To make matters worse, the tendinitis in my right knee has now flared up as a result of this all-out effort. Hard to believe I'm so far away from my 19:21 I ran last September when I was also out of shape. At least last year I would occasionally decide to run a mile fast on the track. This year, I've been running 2-3 times a week for 20-25 minutes total running at 9:00 - 9:30 pace. It's going to be a long road to the 18 minute barrier which was my original goal since I think that would give me a chance of an age group award (socks would be fine). For now, I'm content that I defeated all the 12 year olds and did not get beat by anyone pushing a stroller.

Not Quite Hasher Shape

I had the unpleasant realization last week that I'm not quite in good enough shape to run with the Hash House Harriers. The "Hashers" are an international group of non-competitive runners who mix running with drinking. Their "runs" are very similar to the Wild Turkey Trot we did in college except I don't remember us giving each other fun nicknames like Cunt of the Litter and Edgar Allan Ho.

The Hasher philosophy (beer drinkers with a running problem) is something I completely endorse. They celebrate the social nature of running while avoiding getting excessively competitive, serious, and lame. The only catch is that they run up to 5 miles during these social runs which include breaks to drink beer or shots. Lately, I've been lucky to get through a total of 25 minutes of running without my shins locking up or the tendinitis in my left me crippling me.

Perhaps this is my punishment for years of excessive seriousness and a failure to understand that running could actually be a fun social activity. Week by week I am gradually working my way up to 35-40 minutes of running without pain. Last Fall, I boldly stated in a blog my goal of winning an age group award (my inspiration was the socks that Marshall can now proudly display above his mantle). Nearly one year later I have the more modest goal of completing a Hash run. Instead of socks, my award will be a vulgar nickname which I will probably never write in this blog.