January delivered unseasonably warm weather to the Northeast so I was able to finally achieve my first 50+ mile month. I ended the month at 50.2 miles which was a 2.4 mile improvement over December.
I had set out to get in 55 miles but due to a bad sinus infection I was kept from running for several days, ahhh well!
NEW RECORD!
I ended my month on a high. I ran an 8 mile trail run on Saturday to close the month with a bang. It was 2 degrees…that’s Fahrenheit folks…it was cold! I managed to log the 8 mile run in 1 hour 18 mins which killed my “thought goal” of around 10 1/2 minute miles. I draped a cowboy style bandana around my face to help keep the windburn down and allow me to inhale some warm air occasionally, but this sucked. I have since ordered my self a new balaclava (pics to follow because it’s awesome). On my feet, my FiveFinger KSO’s with the running sole insert hack from my previous post and also some Injinji performance merino wool socks. I felt not an ounce of cold in my feet and the running sole offered just the right amount of dulling to some of the stone’s I encountered on the trail.
In Born To Run, Christopher McDougall mentions this scientist at Harvard who is in the midst of groundbreaking research on the science behind barefoot running. Well, that research has culminated into the launch of this website:
For purposes of full disclosure, the site does say that part of this research was funded by Vibram USA, but I’m actually happy to see them do this to counteract all the billions poured into marketing by modern day shoe makers into having people believe their products are going to help. They paid to have science make the case and prove the benefits of barefoot and minimal running, they didn’t pay advertising firms to build bogus hype…I really respect that!
Please take the time to review the content that Dr. Lieberman has put together on this site.
If you’re new to barefoot and minimal running, this site is a MUST READ. His approach to starting out is exactly in line with what you see in the evolution here on my blog following my buildup. Slow is the key. Build a base of steadily increasing miles, listen to your body, and have fun!
UPDATE – this interview regarding the research is perfect and sums the research up nicely:
I have heard feedback from several folks who’ve converted to Vibram’s for running that when they hit the trails they can’t take the impact from the smaller stones and objects on the trail. I’m yet to be able to say that I can run trails without getting those surprising shocks from a small stone every now and again, but I hold onto faith that you eventually learn how to adapt fully to the experience and towards the end of 2009 my feet were significantly more adapted. Having said that, they appear to have un-learned that ability over the winter!
The video covers a way I discovered to help you get over some of those stone bruising impacts. You’ll still feel the strikes, this just helps dull them a bit as you fully adjust your feet.
We’ve had temperatures above 35 degrees here in the Northeast for over a week now so I took the opportunity to use my lunch break yesterday to hit the trails at Tarrywile Park in Danbury, CT. It’s been some time since old man winter hit that I’ve been able to safely run trails and I was quickly reminded of just how different road running is from running trails. I was able to log 3.5 miles but comparing the ‘workout feeling’ I had…I’d have to compare it to an 8 mile road run; but only if I had to compare it. You see the two are really so different that you can’t compare them, it’s a totally different run, mentally and physically.
Here are a few key differences and things to remember when you decide to hit the trails.
You need to be mentally focused
The trails I was running yesterday had everything you could imagine for obstacles. Streams, ice, tree roots, acorns, rocks, leaves covering everything, etc. Trail running isn’t something you can approach as you might approach a wide open road run. It’s not going to afford you a lot of time to think about what you have to do at the office or to reflect on the argument you had last night with your spouse. The terrain will constantly change and around every corner will be a new obstacle, you will be constantly looking down at what’s coming at you in the next 1, 2, or 3 strides ahead. If you’re not clear headed, hit the road and not the trail.
Safety first
This is especially important when you trail run alone. Never go out alone without telling someone what your plans are and always carry a map or navigation device to assist you in the event you get lost.
Know what to expect from your pace
My trail pace is like 25% slower than my road pace. Don’t expect to hit a trail and set a PR that you have from road running. Of course, the more you run trails, the better you will get but you’ll always be slower on these ever changing trails.
Pay attention to your gait Being new to running, I’ve taken this journey slowly and a big part of that is to ensure I am always in proper form to make sure my joints and body can keep me running for the rest of my life. On a trail you have 100 things running through your head at every stride that it’s really easy to be a couple miles into the run and realize you’re bent forward like the Hunchback of Notre Dame and your feet are flopping out to the sides like they are no longer a part of your body…Add a constant gait analysis to the list of things you need to keep aware of when you run trails. I find this especially challenging on steep, rocky hills where I am most likely to be way out of form and just trying to throw my body to the top of the hill. I run the pose method through my head on the road and also apply these same basic principles of alignment as I run trails, stay relaxed!
Have fun! Like I always say, if you don’t have fun running, then don’t run. The same goes for trails. Take a minute (when the trail is clear and open of course!) to look around and enjoy the nature you have the ability and privilege to run through. Enjoy the fact that you don’t have to dodge cars or exhale diesel exhaust from a passing tractor trailer truck. Trail running is truly my favorite flavor of running and the races draw a different breed of runner than do your typical road races.
Get out and explore the world around you, get out and hit a trail this weekend!
There’s just not enough time in a day…we’ve all heard it and I’m sure we’ve all lived it. I’m also sure you’ve realized that the more you add to your life, the faster time flies. For example, I added a kid this past year and I feel like there is barely enough time in the day to breathe let alone add running to the mix!
So how do you manage?
I’ve been running progressively more for the past five months and recently the time that running is taking up is starting to get noticed by my wife (go figure!). My immediate response was to be defensive, “oh damn, you’re right, I’ll just take up drinking beers and sitting on couch so at least I’ll be present in the room!”.
Not a good idea. I always seem to respond a bit sarcastic, a bit too fast. It’s like I can feel the words coming off my tongue and don’t have the ability to pull them back in. So don’t follow my initial example, that’s all I know.
Over the past few weeks I’ve been able to alleviate some of the chatter. One great way was to allow time for my wife to do what she loves, mainly yoga. I tell her to let me know the days she wants to hit the yoga joint and I’ll clear my calendar and make it happen. This works because I know running is about the most flexible thing you can do…I can always change running times right? Well, for the most part, I can. I also have a kid that doesn’t sleep at night. He’s cutting 1,000 teeth at once and is up every hour. I can’t run in the mornings anymore, I’m just too wiped out. To adjust, I’ve started to skip lunch breaks at work, run, shower, and eat at my desk while I work. Not a bad solution.
I guess the point is, I’m learning. Surely, as time progresses life will only get busier and I welcome that. I just need to be creative in how I continue to ensure running remains such a great part of my life.
So I’d like to hear from others. How do you manage? How do you schedule your run’s, how do handle the trade off with your spouse, etc?
What a fantastic way to start the New Year in barefoot running. There’s an article in today’s Parade insert in the Omaha Sunday paper (currently in Omaha, back to CT tomorrow!) by Christopher McDougall (author of “Born To Run”) about barefoot running and features Barefoot Ted.
In a related study, published in December 2009, researchers found an average 54% increase in the hip internal rotation torque, a 36% increase in knee flexion torque, and a 38% increase in knee varus torque were measured when running in running shoes compared with barefoot – READ FULL STUDY
Having things like this hit the mainstream media is a great way to increase awareness and hopefully give people who currently “can’t” run another option and another way to get out there and run!
January delivered unseasonably warm weather to the Northeast so I was able to finally achieve my first 50+ mile month. I ended the month at 50.2 miles which was a 2.4 mile improvement over December.
It was 2 degrees…that’s Fahrenheit folks…it was cold! I managed to log the 8 mile run in 1 hour 18 mins which killed my “thought goal” of around 10 1/2 minute miles. I draped a cowboy style bandana around my face to help keep the windburn down and allow me to inhale some warm air occasionally, but this sucked. I have since ordered my self a new balaclava (pics to follow because it’s awesome). On my feet, my FiveFinger KSO’s with the running sole insert hack from my previous post and also some Injinji performance merino wool socks. I felt not an ounce of cold in my feet and the running sole offered just the right amount of dulling to some of the stone’s I encountered on the trail.
We’ve had temperatures above 35 degrees here in the Northeast for over a week now so I took the opportunity to use my lunch break yesterday to hit the trails at 
