Well, I had my first snow run barefoot. It was actually really pleasant - about 29 degrees out, and a coating of a half-inch of snow at the most. My feet turned red, but seemed to have a good deal of feeling most of the time. A little bit of pins and needles when warming back up, but nothing too extreme.
I ran 2 miles in 18 minutes. I stopped and talked to some nice guys running and told them all about barefoot running. All in all, very pleasant and much preferable to running in the rain. Little bit of tenderness throughout the day, especially where I had earlier injury, but nothing too bad. Ready for my next barefoot 5K!. So that's 4 miles barefoot 12/13-12/19. My goal for 12/20-12/26 is 8 miles barefoot. Long-term is back to 5 to 6 mile runs and 25 miles a week by the first 5K in March.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Running update 12/14
Alright, still barefoot running. I did 2 miles on 12/13 in a time of 15:40. The first mile was 8:30 and the second mile 7:10. I can say that wet & cold is very damaging. I had a very minor repeat of my earlier injury, and will keep me from running for a few days. To repeat: no fast running in the winter, especially with numb feet. To easy to make a form mistake that scrapes the skin right off my feet. Which it did before, and almost did on this run. So, my new dedication is to not run faster than an 8 minute mile. If I stay injury-free at that pace, then I can increase. But the 7:10 caused injury, so I've got to slow down. I'll start my mileage log back up (FWIW, i'll start it again 1/1).
12/13-12/20 - 2 miles barefoot
Record week: 22 miles in 4 runs
Speed PR's: 1 mile 6:08 D'allesandro 5K
5K - 20:18 D'allesandro 5K
Distance: 5.75 miles barefoot, all road 10/10/09
Gravel: 12 minutes on crushed gravel 12/1/09
2010 Goals: - No injuries (not one)
1000 miles barefoot (20+ miles every week)
Complete 5K, 10K, 1/2 marathon injury-free
12/13-12/20 - 2 miles barefoot
Record week: 22 miles in 4 runs
Speed PR's: 1 mile 6:08 D'allesandro 5K
5K - 20:18 D'allesandro 5K
Distance: 5.75 miles barefoot, all road 10/10/09
Gravel: 12 minutes on crushed gravel 12/1/09
2010 Goals: - No injuries (not one)
1000 miles barefoot (20+ miles every week)
Complete 5K, 10K, 1/2 marathon injury-free
Monday, November 30, 2009
Barefoot 11/30/09
Okay, since last post, I ran 8 minutes barefoot on Friday, and 10 minutes on Sunday. Friday set a cold temp record, at 34 degrees. Sunday set a gravel record with 10 minutes on all crushed gravel.
Feet feel good, still a little sting on the sides from my injury, but getting back into the swing. Should be adding a mile a week, and back up to 4 or 5 miles by New Years', and double digits by next years' race season.
Feet feel good, still a little sting on the sides from my injury, but getting back into the swing. Should be adding a mile a week, and back up to 4 or 5 miles by New Years', and double digits by next years' race season.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Back in barefeet!
Wow, my last post was Oct. 26 - and I haven't run barefoot since Oct. 17th! My recovery is really just beginning, and it's been a month since my wonderful & awful first barefoot 5K.
Well, my feet are finally healed on the side, pretty much. I can't believe it took a full month. Unfortunately, they are pink and very, very touchy. I have lost most of the callus buildup I spent months acquiring on my feet.
According to Gmap I ran a whopping .43 miles barefoot today, and felt every step. 3:53 for .43 miles, probably an 8:30 pace which sounds nice at this point. I then went on to run 3.2 miles in my VFF's, but I'm not counting that. BF mileage only. I don't think I'll run another BF race until next year, but let's hope I'm a little more prepared for that one. Over & out
Well, my feet are finally healed on the side, pretty much. I can't believe it took a full month. Unfortunately, they are pink and very, very touchy. I have lost most of the callus buildup I spent months acquiring on my feet.
According to Gmap I ran a whopping .43 miles barefoot today, and felt every step. 3:53 for .43 miles, probably an 8:30 pace which sounds nice at this point. I then went on to run 3.2 miles in my VFF's, but I'm not counting that. BF mileage only. I don't think I'll run another BF race until next year, but let's hope I'm a little more prepared for that one. Over & out
Monday, October 26, 2009
Barefoot Running 10/26
Okay, a lot has happened since the last post, none of it good! I got one 5.5 mile run in; it may have even been 5.75 now that I think about it. But then on the 17th I ran a 5K race. It was wet, and cold. My adrenaline was pumping because everyone was high-fiving me, and telling me how crazy I was, etc. Inside I was laughing, because a little 3 mile run is a walk in the park for me barefoot.
Or so I thought - I couldn't feel the ground, and I ran with such bad form that I wound up opening up huge, awful blisters on the bottom of my feet. I mean, you didn't even see a blister, it was just straight up bloody mash on the outside of my feet.
Basically, I supinated just like a runner in shoes would, and had terrible barefoot form. Now, on the 26th, 9 days later, I sit on the couch, unable to put on shoes or do much of anything as I wait for my feet to heal. It will probably be a month before I even get back up to 3 or 4 miles. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Moral of the story: Always, always run with your whole foot feeling the ground, and knees nice and bent low. The barefoot form I have in practice was fine - I wouldn't have run any slower if I used it. So, that's it - my barefooting ground to a halt on the 17th, and won't be back for quite some time. I'm not giving up though, it was my fault, not "barefooting"'s fault. Oh yeah - at least my time was good 20:18 PR,at a 6:34 pace. Wait 'til I'm back in shape!!
Or so I thought - I couldn't feel the ground, and I ran with such bad form that I wound up opening up huge, awful blisters on the bottom of my feet. I mean, you didn't even see a blister, it was just straight up bloody mash on the outside of my feet.
Basically, I supinated just like a runner in shoes would, and had terrible barefoot form. Now, on the 26th, 9 days later, I sit on the couch, unable to put on shoes or do much of anything as I wait for my feet to heal. It will probably be a month before I even get back up to 3 or 4 miles. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Moral of the story: Always, always run with your whole foot feeling the ground, and knees nice and bent low. The barefoot form I have in practice was fine - I wouldn't have run any slower if I used it. So, that's it - my barefooting ground to a halt on the 17th, and won't be back for quite some time. I'm not giving up though, it was my fault, not "barefooting"'s fault. Oh yeah - at least my time was good 20:18 PR,at a 6:34 pace. Wait 'til I'm back in shape!!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
October 10, 2009
OK, I'm still in it over here! I started a new google account, and it makes a pain to get on to this old account. Anywho, I just finished up a 5.3 mile run barefoot! I've got one more 5 mile run, and then move up to 5.5 mile runs next week. Maybe I'll just skip to 6's. It's been slow progress, but I haven't had any runs where I couldn't walk for the rest of the day, no blisters, nothing. No injuries to speak of in the foot, ankle, knee, hip or leg either. (of course, that's why anybody barefoot runs).
Pace has slowed from earlier in the blog, but I'm doing longer distances also. I think my overall mileage has declined so much it's resulted in some weight gain, which will straighten itself out over time. Pace-wise, today was 5.3 miles in 41:17. Well, now that I check it that's a 7:47 pace, so actually not too shabby. My last run was 5/39:30/ at a 7:54 pace.
I did a fun run 2 days ago, where I just did 3.1 miles in 21:30. Off my PR time in a real 5K, but still not too bad. I was beating myself up, but nothing wrong with a 6:56 pace. That's it for now, I wish I could remember to just log in here and post mileage if nothing else, but whatevs.
Pace has slowed from earlier in the blog, but I'm doing longer distances also. I think my overall mileage has declined so much it's resulted in some weight gain, which will straighten itself out over time. Pace-wise, today was 5.3 miles in 41:17. Well, now that I check it that's a 7:47 pace, so actually not too shabby. My last run was 5/39:30/ at a 7:54 pace.
I did a fun run 2 days ago, where I just did 3.1 miles in 21:30. Off my PR time in a real 5K, but still not too bad. I was beating myself up, but nothing wrong with a 6:56 pace. That's it for now, I wish I could remember to just log in here and post mileage if nothing else, but whatevs.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
barefoot running update
Man, I can't believe I didn't post for 10 days! Still running barefoot - I did an almost 5-mile run a couple days ago. I've done 4 1/2 twice now, and need to do 1 or 2 more 4 1/2's before committing to the 5 mile. Won another 10K race in my VFF's last week. One Saturday this week will be my first barefoot 5K, count on it!.
My feet hurt less, and everything seems to be going well. I believe I am a week behind schedule, but 5 mile runs will be an exciting milestone. I'm going to keep training with an eye to a March or April marathon.
My feet hurt less, and everything seems to be going well. I believe I am a week behind schedule, but 5 mile runs will be an exciting milestone. I'm going to keep training with an eye to a March or April marathon.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Barefoot running diary
Okay, back again with an update on 9/22/09. First I'd like to give my apologies to the barefoot running community. I wimped out and did not run barefoot on my 5K on Sunday the 20th. I didn't know if the course was all paved, and they had this weird timechip thing I wasn't counting on. These are pretty much excuses, I should've gone for it. In good news, I wore my Vibram's and won first place in my age group. I was 12th overall out of 406. About a 6:40 pace, but the course wasn't official, so whatevs. I won a rosebush!
Today, the 22nd, I set a new distance record and completed 4 miles barefoot with pretty much no pain at all. I have a little pain later on, but it usually seems to go away, just in time for the next run. I'm sticking with 2 barefoot and 1 Vibram run, and no days off. I have had no injuries since starting the barefoot/vibram only regimen. The Vibram's hurt my toes, and I may just dispense with them altogether if that doesn't improve. Today's 4 mile pace was about 7:20 (4 miles @ 29:31). I wish I could get back to jumproping, it's just hard because everywhere I go pebbles get underfoot. Anyway, that's all for now - 2 or 3 more days of 4 miles, and then we go for 4 1/2 or 5 next week!!!
Today, the 22nd, I set a new distance record and completed 4 miles barefoot with pretty much no pain at all. I have a little pain later on, but it usually seems to go away, just in time for the next run. I'm sticking with 2 barefoot and 1 Vibram run, and no days off. I have had no injuries since starting the barefoot/vibram only regimen. The Vibram's hurt my toes, and I may just dispense with them altogether if that doesn't improve. Today's 4 mile pace was about 7:20 (4 miles @ 29:31). I wish I could get back to jumproping, it's just hard because everywhere I go pebbles get underfoot. Anyway, that's all for now - 2 or 3 more days of 4 miles, and then we go for 4 1/2 or 5 next week!!!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Slowing down
Okay, this is the barefoot running entry for 9/17/09. I did 3.5 miles again, and will probably move up to 4 miles on my next run. Still getting some blisters, peeling, etc. but hopefully this will subside. Any day now!! Been running barefoot for a month, and it still pretty much hurts like hell every time!!
As far as pace, my last two 3.5's have been depressing: 26:47 and 26:35 today. It's not a terrible pace, about 7:35 but still slower than what I was doing. My PR at 3.5 miles is 25:47, which is what I did the first time I tried it. grrrr.
A couple things changed, I stopped jump roping before runs and I started riding my bike to the park. So maybe those two things are hurting me. To get my speed back I've started doing 2/week speed & long runs in my Vibram's. I basically run 7 days a week now, but at this low mileage it's not hurting me any.
On the positive side, I have no knee/leg pains at all, and I will be trying my first barefoot 5K on Sunday morning the 20th. I hope for a time better than 23 minutes. My PR is 20:52 and if I could do that, it would be wonderful!!
As far as pace, my last two 3.5's have been depressing: 26:47 and 26:35 today. It's not a terrible pace, about 7:35 but still slower than what I was doing. My PR at 3.5 miles is 25:47, which is what I did the first time I tried it. grrrr.
A couple things changed, I stopped jump roping before runs and I started riding my bike to the park. So maybe those two things are hurting me. To get my speed back I've started doing 2/week speed & long runs in my Vibram's. I basically run 7 days a week now, but at this low mileage it's not hurting me any.
On the positive side, I have no knee/leg pains at all, and I will be trying my first barefoot 5K on Sunday morning the 20th. I hope for a time better than 23 minutes. My PR is 20:52 and if I could do that, it would be wonderful!!
Monday, September 14, 2009
barefoot running blog
Wow, it's hard to keep up with a diary. It's hard on paper or electronically, I guess! Well, since the last entry, I've moved up to 3 miles barefoot, and today I just did 3.5 miles barefoot for the first time. My times have decreased a bit, but I've been riding my bike a couple miles to the park before running, and I suspect it's tiring me out just a little bit. Today I did 3.5 miles in 25:47. The first half was 13:12, and the second half 12:35. So that's a 7:22 pace, a bit slower than before. I think I'm getting slower because of the drop in miles run each week. I should come back, as I build up to 7 miles a day again.
In other news, I got my Vibram Fivefingers, and tried them out. Long story short, they are great for running gravel trails. I would stick with barefoot for asphalt & road races. I think in the Vibram's I did 3 miles in 21:43 a couple days ago so a 7:14 pac which actually sounds pretty good right now! My new routine will be 2 days barefoot, with 1/2 mile increases every week, and instead of taking a day off, I'll run a 5 mile run in the Vibram's and increase that by a mile a week. So in a month, I should be up to 5 or 6 miles a day barefoot, and 8 or 9 miles a twice a week in Vibram's. Let's hope!!!
In other news, I got my Vibram Fivefingers, and tried them out. Long story short, they are great for running gravel trails. I would stick with barefoot for asphalt & road races. I think in the Vibram's I did 3 miles in 21:43 a couple days ago so a 7:14 pac which actually sounds pretty good right now! My new routine will be 2 days barefoot, with 1/2 mile increases every week, and instead of taking a day off, I'll run a 5 mile run in the Vibram's and increase that by a mile a week. So in a month, I should be up to 5 or 6 miles a day barefoot, and 8 or 9 miles a twice a week in Vibram's. Let's hope!!!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Day 10 already
Wow I think this is the 10th day of barefoot running! Big news - I ran 3. 2 miles today in 21:27 seconds, which would put me at a 21:00 5k, which is pretty good for me. My PR in shoes is 20:52, and that was a mainly downhill course.
Now this next feature is strictly for the hardcore, but if you'd like to see what your feet might look like after 2-3 weeks of barefoot running, here are a couple glamour shots. Apparently I stepped on a cat before taking the one picture. I guess you'd have to paste this in a fresh window. God knows you don't want to see it without some work. http://tinypic.com/r/w82pfk/3 and http://tinypic.com/r/2na7k9l/3
Now there is some honest documentation!
Now this next feature is strictly for the hardcore, but if you'd like to see what your feet might look like after 2-3 weeks of barefoot running, here are a couple glamour shots. Apparently I stepped on a cat before taking the one picture. I guess you'd have to paste this in a fresh window. God knows you don't want to see it without some work. http://tinypic.com/r/w82pfk/3 and http://tinypic.com/r/2na7k9l/3
Now there is some honest documentation!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
9/6/2009
Day 6 of barefoot running blog. I ran 2.5 again today, again on the reservoir track. Feet are excruciatingly blistered in every way imaginable. Maybe I should only run this track before a rest day, or maybe, this is what will toughen my feet up! I'll see if I can do another run on this track on Tuesday. I never thought asphalt would seem gentle. Time was 18:18 for 2.5 miles. Still pretty fast at a 7:18 pace. Apparently I'm way faster without shoes. I'd love to see what I could do at a 5K shoeless!.
9/5/2009
Day 5 of barefoot running. Today I did 2.5 miles at the Reservoir Park walking path. It has a surface like a tennis court, and you can go super fast. So I did - 2.5 miles in 17'11". That's actually faster than a 7 minute mile, around a 6:50 or thereabouts. Almost pace for my 5K PR, which is phenomenal.
The bad news is this surface wears the skin right off your feet. I'm getting way more blisters and problems from this surface than anything else.
The bad news is this surface wears the skin right off your feet. I'm getting way more blisters and problems from this surface than anything else.
9/3/2009
Okay, this was day 4. Not too much but to say that I ran about 2.5 miles. Ran 19:06 barefoot. Nothing exciting.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
9/2/09
Day 3 of barefoot running blog. Still doing 2 mile runs barefoot on asphalt. Today was a banner day! 13:57 for 2 miles. Mile 1 7:15 and Mile 2 6:42. That's pretty much a record, even with shoes. I had one 5K at a faster pace, but it was mainly downhill.
This is fast, but I got a blister on my right foot, which seems to happen when I try to really burn it up barefoot. I'll take a blister for faster than 7 minute pace! Tomorrow, another 2 miles, then a day off, then I go to 2.5 miles! Maybe 3 if 2.5 is too easy. I was running 40 miles a week before barefoot, so this is quite a step down in mileage, but in about 3 months I should be back up to 7 or 8 mile runs, and they should be injury-free. Fingers crossed.
This is fast, but I got a blister on my right foot, which seems to happen when I try to really burn it up barefoot. I'll take a blister for faster than 7 minute pace! Tomorrow, another 2 miles, then a day off, then I go to 2.5 miles! Maybe 3 if 2.5 is too easy. I was running 40 miles a week before barefoot, so this is quite a step down in mileage, but in about 3 months I should be back up to 7 or 8 mile runs, and they should be injury-free. Fingers crossed.
Monday, August 31, 2009
8/31/09
Day 2 Barefoot running blog. On my profile you can see my picture from a race. With shoes on, and a large knee brace for an injury I was just getting over at the time. All the big-time runners who seem so on top of things are wearing double-calf compressors, knee bands, or other strange collections of leg wear. Which means they are all fighting some plantar fasciitis, knee problems, shin splints, it bands, hamstring tears and the like. What a waste!! According to multiple sources, running barefoot will fix all those problems. So, fed up with braces, compressors, aches and pains, I'm giving it a shot.
On day 2, I only ran 2 miles in 16:16. Mile 1 8:21, Mile 2 7:55. Way slower than yesterday, but the pads of my feet were burning! I planned to run every day and slowly build mileage, but I might need to take every other day off for skin healing. Pavement without pebbles or broken glass seems to be the best bet. Grass is too soft and gravel is pretty much impossible. I ran a mile barefoot on gravel once and it took 12 minutes. lol! As far as my feet go, I had them a little toughened up already by walking my dogs for a mile or two barefoot every day. There's a big difference between running and walking, with walking you feel every little pebble, and running you only feel the pain in your footskin rubbing away. At least for me anyway! That's it - hopefully one day I'll work all the way back up to 3 whole miles!!
On day 2, I only ran 2 miles in 16:16. Mile 1 8:21, Mile 2 7:55. Way slower than yesterday, but the pads of my feet were burning! I planned to run every day and slowly build mileage, but I might need to take every other day off for skin healing. Pavement without pebbles or broken glass seems to be the best bet. Grass is too soft and gravel is pretty much impossible. I ran a mile barefoot on gravel once and it took 12 minutes. lol! As far as my feet go, I had them a little toughened up already by walking my dogs for a mile or two barefoot every day. There's a big difference between running and walking, with walking you feel every little pebble, and running you only feel the pain in your footskin rubbing away. At least for me anyway! That's it - hopefully one day I'll work all the way back up to 3 whole miles!!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
First entry
Ok, this is really just a diary to document my attempt at trying barefoot running. I've had so many knee and foot injuries from running in shoes, that I'm taking the plunge and trying the barefoot style only. There are not too many great websites out there, believe me I have checked them all.
Today was day 1, and I ran 2 miles in 14:50, for a 7:25 pace which is pretty fast for barefoot. Check out the route here: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=314393. First mile was 7:57, and the second was 6:53. My best 2 miles in shoes is about 14:00, so I'm not too far off.
That's it for today, maybe some day by day foot pics in the future!
Today was day 1, and I ran 2 miles in 14:50, for a 7:25 pace which is pretty fast for barefoot. Check out the route here: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=314393. First mile was 7:57, and the second was 6:53. My best 2 miles in shoes is about 14:00, so I'm not too far off.
That's it for today, maybe some day by day foot pics in the future!
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