Opposites

We know a thing by its opposite. We know happiness because we know what sadness is. Hot means nothing without cold. Mozart is enhanced by Michael Jackson. Learning to run naturally without pain is learned by knowing pain. By embracing our failures we can taste success. Life is a process. Knowing an opposite enables us to get a "boost" of mood to appreciate more profoundly what we experience. Trying something new and uncomfortable enriches us in ways we can't predict from the comfort of our easy chairs. Set a goal and make it one that's not certain to be achieved. Try something new.

6 Miles on the Treadmill last night with 40 mins of core/stability before. Did one of the miles at 6:44 pace. Had to slow down because my technique was falling apart. The treadmill really abrades the soles so I have to be conservative. I don't know if it's the moving surface or the texture of the belt. Maybe it's a combo of both. I believe it can be helpful at getting me back up to pace though I must be cautious. It's not quite barefoot running.

I'm going up to Madison to watch Shev compete in her first Ironman tomorrow. I'm hoping she has a good day. I'm looking forward to it! She's ready.

Better; Better Yet

Monday, 23 mile bike at moderate effort -- Better

Tuesday, 8 1/2 miles barefoot -- Better yet!

I opened up tremendously the last mile (in those gay dancer footies) but I felt I really had the proper technique. I looked down and was doing 7:15 which in the good ol days of shoes would not have been worth the keyboard time but I was surprised to be back in these speed ranges. Now if I can only figure out how to get there with regularity.

A bit of confidence

Sunday was raining but not unpleasantly cold. We stepped from Running Central and the Whites opened up early for a promotion. It was great to get out of the rain. I was having trepidations because I've been unable to get over this 12 mile barrier. Sometimes you need a crutch to help you overcome what seems very difficult. Anyway, i found some modern dance "shoes" that you put your toes through like gloves. They are made for dancing on hardwood floors and provide a little suede cushion on the ball of the foot to prevent blisters. They only go up to mid arch. So no heel support or straps. Very minimal. I am in the learning phase and I wanted something that wouldn't allow for me to revert to my form in shoes. They took it for the team. By the end of the run they had big holes in the soles. This might be an indication I'm scuffing a bit. Regardless, now my feet are in pretty good shape for the next, albeit shorter, barefoot run. I believe the dance paw still promote a barefoot stride. It's not the same as being barefoot mind you, but it can be effective at getting you through an injury on the ball of the foot or to a new unattempted distance. I am happy I completed 16 miles. It's a new first. Now I need to do this distance without them.

After the run, I went up to visit my bud Ty and enjoyed roast pig and beer in Downers Grove. It turned out to be a great afternoon and my kids enjoyed all the kids that were there as much as I did. It's Labor day so I get another day from work. Very nice.

Transitional Notes; It's all in the feet

The biggest difference in running barefoot vs in shoes is the foot strike. In shoes you extend a bit more than without. Even the Vibrams encourage this. If you run in this form barefoot you will quickly get some pretty sore feet. Transitioning is less about getting your soles to toughen as to learn the technique. If you get it right, you avoid transmitting excessive forces into your feet, knees and hips.

My biggest obstacle is the memorization of the technique. It has to be unconscious. Another is the muscles and tendons are still strengthening. I've been wearing shoes for most of my childhood and all of my adult life. It takes time and work to get where I need to get. On top of all this is the chronic hip condition Osteitus Pubis. It makes me feel like the muscles of my lower abs and groin are doing all the work. This makes me very sore and it's most noticeable right at the beginning of a run. Dr. Ryan recommended I take 6 months to allow the bone and tendon to heal. I may be forced to do this but before I do, I'll do some research. That setback is gonna really cost me.

Drinkers Appear to Get More Exercise Than Non-Drinkers

Study: Drinkers Appear to Get More Exercise Than Non-Drinkers, but Longer Workouts Don't Outweigh Health Woes of Heavy Drinking



I was too lazy to get out of bed to do my workout this morning. I was dreaming I was racing in the Triathlon above. You know those dreams. The ones were you can't move. In this one I was behind the pack. For some reason, I had a calmness with it. I didn't mind the view from back here and had no urge to peddle faster. I couldn't seem to find the energy to get out of bed. Now I know why. Evidently, I haven't been drinking enough beer. The study (see link below) finds a positive correlation between motivation for exercise and alcohol consumption. Isn’t it great when you find out something you thought was bad is actually (kind of) good?

Check out this link!

God I want to drink that Kool-Aid

On Monday night the gang gathered at Running Central. Greg and Blair were there. Team RC is putting a crew together under Coach Greg and Blair to race Huntsville in December. Many of us are currently running Greg and Blair's program and seeing good results. Blair does the VO2max tests at Proctor and Greg uses this information along with the frequent time trials to help determine how the fitness is coming along. Based on my initial estimate, we should have at least a dozen of us going to race at Huntsville. The women coming should really help increase the teams visibility as we have some really strong girls interested this year.

Greg is putting a plan together tailored for each individual but based on the same race day. The biggest thing to keep in mind about having a coached plan versus a self-designed one is you HAVE to be committed to and maintain an open dialog. Trust in Greg and Blair and you will hit your goals. I know from experience. This plan allowed me to break 3 hours last year.

Patrick Arnold, our local mileage junkie, is seeing some serious results already. Greg has him "throttled" back to only about 90 miles a week.

"I would encourage any of you to try using the schedules that Greg can set up. It is hard work but it is a better schedule than anything I have tried before. I enjoy my training more than I did with Pfitzinger and I think it will pay off."

My biggest problem however is I'm still in the middle of my barefoot transition. Transitioning to barefoot is not at all about tough soles. If you hope to develop soles that are as thick and tough as shoes you will be disappointed. It ain't gonna happen. You need to learn a whole new way to run. Barefoot, I am landing with my legs bent much more than I previously had and landing more softly than I ever did before. I have to. Even in the Vibrams, I find myself reverting back to my pre-barefoot running style. You just cannot substitute for bare feet if you really want to learn how. I've noticed the change in stance means I don't yet have enough hip strength for long distances. This is tough for me as I am still struggling with the ostietus condition from the spring. Currently, my mileage and pace have taken a big hit. I am unable to run the BDI program successfully. Unable yet to drink the Kool-Aid. Man does it look tasty!