Shoes and Running

Tonight, I managed to squeeze a run in... When I got home, I put on my Nike Free's (more on this below) and tried to run properly (not landing on my heels) for 3.something miles.  Now, I managed to hold about an 8:30 pace, which was totally unexpected, so I was happy about that.  Running more 'barefoot-like' adds more stress to my calves, but less on my bones, so although I need to stretch tonight, my knees and ankles didn't hurt.  Of course, running only 3 helped as well :)

Now, the shoes.... I mentioned before my going back and forth on getting more 'stability' shoes, or motion-control shoes, versus getting shoes that offer little stability.  I will probably end up getting Asics 2100 series shoes, but part of me wants to get the Vibram Five Fingers.  They look rather silly, but they seem to have a following.  For what they do, are are probably really good.  There's several styles available, from the 'classic' -- the first one they made, to others, which include the KSO (Keep Stuff Out) as well as a 'water' one, and one that works better in cold weather.  Now, barefoot running, or at least minimalist running, has gotten a lot of press, by fans, books, and even major running magazines.  I do believe that running shoes, by their very nature, shield the foot -- too well.  I think I read in a book that running shoes are like neck braces.  They work so well that the muscles become weak.  Also, since running shoes weren't invented until 1920 or so, but we've been running (well, 'we' as in humans, not 'we' as in you and me, or at least not me) for much longer than that, our bodies must know something.  Hence, running in shoes that don't offer much stability.  There was even a Harvard study that showed that running barefoot-style (landing on forefoot or midfoot) showed several times less impact than landing on your heel.

So... I might get something less than stability shoes, but since my legs and feet have been in 'neck braces' for years (figuratively, not literally), I shouldn't just jump with both feet (get it?), but need to work my way to it.  Therefore, getting the Asics 2100 series shoes (as one pair of my current shoes has 700 miles on them), and then, maybe something else.. Vibram Five Fingers???

New Route

During my run with My Lovely Wife last week, we found a path that we (or at least I) hadn't seen before.  So, today, I tried it.  Wasn't too long, so ended up running along busy road to make my distance (there *was* a path, so I wasn't running on the road though). Today I ran 6.  This is in my quest to get some mileage in before the National (Half) Marathon on March 20.  If I get a couple runs of 6 miles in, plus a couple runs of 4, plus a long run of 10+ this week, that'll be good.  My legs were pretty tired today though. I ran a pretty good pace (9:01), good considering that I had to stop a couple of times to get my bearings, as this was a new route, and it was quite dark outside.  Will I do that course again? Not sure.  Maybe when it's light out, as I do run along a path for much of the distance and it would be good to be able to see the scenery.

Tomorrow? Let's hope for 4.

Not a Bad Week

29.32 miles.  Not too bad. The last time I hit this mileage was way back at the last week of December, first week of January.  I was trying to hit 900 miles (I think) for the year, so I poured it on at the last part of December. So, over 2 months since I hit this mileage...

Why? well, it seems that I'm signed up for the National (Half) Marathon in a few weeks (March 20 to be exact).  I want to make sure that I can do the distance.  Now, today, I ran 10 miles at a sub-9 pace, I know I can *finish* the race, so that's good.  However, I want to make sure that the distance isn't too much.  I think I'm in good shape, but I'll have next week to get a long run in as well (10? 12? dunno).

So... shoes... I currently run in two pairs of shoes (not at the same time).  Adidas Adistars (700 miles), and New Balance 768 (300 miles).  Now, I love the Adidas, but they are *way* past due for replacements.  The New Balance, I don't love as much, however, they offer less support (which is what I'm looking for), so that's good.  What am I going to replace the Adidas with?  The doctor and physical therapoists all say to replace with motion control / stability shoes, and I understand why, but part of me believes that running in shoes that offer so much stability reduce the need for strong lower leg and foot muscles, which makes me more prone to injury.  The opposite end of this is running barefoot (something I've considered) or running in shoes that offer pretty much zero stability. The Vibram Five Fingers are basically feet coverings that prevent rocks and glass from poking your feet, but that's all the protection they offer.  What to do, what to do.... 

Stay tuned for more on this incredible saga!

Cruizin' Along....

So it's Friday now.. Got 19 miles in the bank.. wow.  Last week I had 9 miles total for the week, and the week before that, 4.55 miles.  Previous week? 23 miles.  So maybe this week will be good.  Scratch that.. this week *is* good!

Ran 3.something last night.  Decided to run to the Cub Scout Leader meeting (hope my apparel and odor wasn't too bad for them!).  Was going to try to complete 4 or 5, but was too tired so just went back home.  This morning (okay, late morning), I ran with My Lovely Wife.  This week at work was pretty tough so I decided to work at home today.  I took a long lunch and run 5 miles with her.  The sun was out, the temps were in the upper 30's (or maybe even lower 40's!) but there was a pretty stiff wind.  Even so, it was a great job.

So far this week, no pain (well, only a little pain in my foot, and maybe the beginnings of plantar fasciitis (had to look up that spelling).  I read on WebMD that I should rest for treat plantar fasciitis. HA.  Never.  Of course, that attitude is what brought me to the physical therapist in the first place.  On the other hand, I have 670 miles in one pair of shoes, and 300 in the other pair, so maybe a new pair of shoes are in order.

Two Whole Runs This Week!

Wow, whatta post title! Two whole Runs! :)  Well, I ran 6 today.  I'm trying to ramp up a little, as apparently, I'm still signed up for the National (Half) Marathon on March 20.  So I suppose I gotta start keep training.  I've run 10 miles a couple weeks ago, so I think I can finish the race.  However, it'd be good to get double-digits again a few times before the race (in 2.5 weeks) so that the length will be comfortable.

I ran in sub-9 again this morning -- 8:44 to be precise.  The speed felt fine, and I was refreshed at the end of the run, so that's good.  It is also helping that I'm not running every day (but should be running every other day).  I still consider that I'm in 'winter training', so I'm not ramping it up (too much), but... with the 1/2 marathon a couple weeks away, I should consider ramping it up a little....

I need to stretch.  After physical therapy, my runs felt great.  Now my lower legs are a little tight and sore.  There's no excuse on this week.  I know that stretching really does help (and there's actual proof) but after the run, I'm busy getting ready for work.  I should try to spend 10 or so minutes stretching, particularly my calves and ankles, so that I don't start with injuries.

I'm also debating on the kind of shoes I should get next -- more support, or less support? Anyone have any thoughts?

Exercise = Danger from Zombies

Okay, a bit of an extrapolation, but you'll see where I'm headed here...  I'm on my into work, I was listening a story on NPR's Morning Edition about how an aging bran is less quick, but more shrewd (story here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124118077). One of the subpoints was that exercise improves memory. In a study, with people working out three days a week, up to an hour at a time, for a 6-month to 1-year period, people who exercised improved both short term and long term memory. 

Specifically, those who trained had a larger hippocampi (see picture!), the brain area key for memory.

I am further extrapolating this (and no, this isn't in the NPR article).  If you have a larger hippocampi, then your brain size overall is larger, right?  If you have a larger brain, that would mean that you would become more attractive to zombies, who, as we all know, want your brains.

So, if you are more fit, zombies want you more.  However, you will also be able to run away from them faster, so it's a win-win situation (well, except for the zombies.  But we want them to lose anyway).

Trying to Find my Pace

Today I ran -- finally.  The last run I did was last Wednesday, and I had to fly all the way to O'Fallon, IL to do it.  I had hopes for last Friday, and then again on the weekend.  But work and life just kept me from it.  Anyway, that's really no excuse....

I ran 4.77 miles at a 9:06 pace.  Most of my miles were sub 9, but there was one mile that still had a lot of ice and snow on it (I'm a so tired of getting snow in my shoes) and really kept me slow.  I had to hop from snow hole to snow hole, and run gingerly on the recently frozen ice where the snow/ice had been melting the day before.   The run felt fine, no pain, but I have this cold that just won't quit.  Normally, 2-4 days is max for a cold.  I"m on day 4 and my cough is still aggravating.  I'm hoping that running will move things along a bit, or least help me clear my head (literally! -- good thing for the Farmer Blow!).

This week? I hope I run regularly :)