The Last Man to Run

It is totally logical to rest and the concept of recovery. However, I have found through unfortunate circumstances that even what seems like just a little rest can be detrimental. I was sick for almost a week and then I traveled for work for almost a week, back to back. This made for 1 run in almost a week and a half. I tried going for a quick 2 mile run last night and after the first mile was done, so was I. The side shin splits were burning so bad, and it didn't matter how much mental toughness I wanted to apply the pain got me. Last time I ran I did a fulfilling 4 miles, and I swear it wasn't much harder than last nights 2 miles. The moral of the story: Resting does have value. Too much rest seems to have no value. At least not for starting amateurs such as myself. I did read an article about Bernard Lagat, the U.S. Olympian who's pushing the boundaries of running and age. Most people figured he'd be out of his prime and competitiveness because he's 37. Yet,...

I had an interesting thought today. I went out for a run, predetermined to push myself a bit more than I had in the past. I set a distance goal in my head and then went for it. 2 things happened: ONE: I made it in better fashion than expected. I went from point A to point B without stopping - something I didn't think I was ready for at least for a couple of weeks. And TWO, when I shared my accomplishment on Facebook, someone commented "I wish I could do that too"; which evoked a series of thoughts in my head, leading to this one in specific: there are no rules when you go running. Anyone can do it, but you have to want to. I didn't just wish I could do it, well, maybe once upon a time I did but that was never enough. I decided I would go as far one way or another. I didn't worry about the details i.e. my speed or how often I would stop. I just started reading a book my friend, running partner and volunteer trainer Will lent me - Runner's World Complete B...

Sometimes you should push yourself as much as you believe you can handle, because you know what you can do and when it's too much. Sometimes. Then sometimes, you should find a way to be pushed and find out just how far you can really go. Especially if you're not being honest with yourself anymore. I might have been at that point, maybe, maybe not; however I ended up being pushed and I'm glad it happened. The same friend who took me to get a gate analysis, and get my awesome shoes, tells me he can get me ready for a half marathon in a month. Ok. I'd love to see that. I'd LOVE to do that, so here we go. I'm going to let him push me and see how far I can get; because honestly speaking I never would have pushed myself that hard. We went out for a run at 6:45 which is a push in and of itself - it's the first time I've been up before 7am in a LONG time - and hit the chilly pavement on a chilly morning yesterday. By the time everything was said and done we...

I finally was able to run 2 miles non-stop. Not a big deal for most, but a big deal for me. The farthest I had done without stopping was maybe 1.2 miles. This time it was actually closer to 2.2 miles. It was also the last time I ran in my Fila Skeletoes (I got my new Brooks PureContact the 2 days later). In the book Born to Run, Caballo Blanco tells Chris McDougall that the first step to running like him (caballo) is to make it easy. That is what I focused on this time. I wasn't worried about time, or speed or what anyone thought. I was only worried about making it easy. This meant going very slow and really concentrating on my form. Slow and steady wins the race? Maybe. Maybe not. But I dare say that because I didn't do any recovery walks I actually ran the 2 miles faster than I have before. It is also worthy of mention that I did this mainly because of how much my feet had been hurting, probably mostly from using my skeletoes - which saddens me because I loved them so ...

THE NEXT NEEDFUL STEP: In my last posts I've shared how much my feet hurt. It could be that I was too much gone-hoe about running, but I don't think that's it at all. It could be that I went recklessly gone-hoe. Yeah, I can go with that. The thing is, when you're going to do something you've never done before and that you're not a fan of, it's hard to go at it half-heartedly; you have to overcompesate - I think - and go bold. That being said, there probably is a right way and a wrong way to go about it. I might have gone a little too far into the extreme when I decided to go barefoot style. For someone who hadn't ran before - as in the sport of running; running for an extended period of time or distance - it might have been a wise deed to ease my way into the whole thing. Barefoot style running does have its advantages and it got me excited enough to start running, but for a newbie, it is just too much too early. They gave me a good running form (this ...

In my last post I told you all about how I am having a hard time with pains and aches derived from bare foot style running. The ball of my foot, in both feet, feel bruised and tender when they cool down after not using them for a while. They are especially tender in the morning, but as soon as I start walking they get better, that being said, I don't think it's good that they hurt this way in the first place. I am looking for ways to make things better. I am pretty sure my feet are hurt. I want to help them heal, however, I don't want to do it with ibuprofen, I don't want to become dependent on those pills to log my mileage. That'd be miserable and needless to say a bad thing for my insides - can you say ulcers? Essential oils have had a long standing reputation for their all natural healing properties. Oils such as Wintergreen, Peppermint and Balsam Fir have great healing properties when it comes to relieving pain, reducing inflammation and increasing blood fl...

I didn't know what to call this post, but I wanted to share something with you. Running is still painful , I am not going to lie to you and tell you that it's fun and I am having the time of my life because I am not. My feet hurt in the morning, when I do go out and run, it is painful right off the get-go. I find myself stopping more often because I don't want to hurt myself. It is definitely time to go and get some non-minimalist shoes. I love my FILA Skeletoes but I think I am just not ready for them. Any suggestions?  I have been icing and that seems to help. I am also now taking a ligaments and muscles supplement - I'll let you know how that works. All this being said, and after I have helped you decide to chuck this silly running idea right out the window and be done, may I get you to read just a little bit longer? I'm not going to go back on my word and flip flop like a desperate and inexperienced politician. I still stick to my word that running is...