So for 2011 I've decided to relearn how to run. I'm opening a company this year designed to help fuel adventure athletes, and the one thing I really have yet to delve into is distance running. So I figured, this is the year, but first I needed to learn to run again. In the past, training for a marathon was a terrifying thought, even running consistently was daunting. I'm in pretty good shape, but over the years I've stacked up injury after injury to my body, and after weeks or months of running everything always seemed to start to fall apart.
Well I was living up in Lander, WY for most of 2010, and one bluebird afternoon I pulled out and dusted off my running shoes that hadn't seen any real action in quite some time. A friend and I decided to run to
Popo Agie Falls, a short but fun trail run just outside of town that dead ends at one of the more awe inspiring falls I have ever seen. It's only about a 3 mile run round trip, but it gains almost 700 feet in the short mile and a half jaunt to the falls. It was easy, I felt light, and I had fun, a fun I hadn't had in years in my running shoes. I was exploring a new place, on foot, going fast, I loved it! I started thinking about reasons why it didn't hurt my knees, and after a little research I realized I was running correctly. I hadn't run in so long that jumping back into it on a steep dirt trail littered with rocks made me run more on the balls of my feet rather than flat footed rolling from heel to toes as I had in the past. Anyway, I didn't think about it too much, but I kept looking for new trails to run because I was having fun.
Fast-forward 3 months, I'm now back to living in Fort Collins, CO where trails zigzag the mountains basically from my front door and I'm having no problem running 10 miles without pain, faster than ever, and almost none of the struggle I used to have with running. But I want to get stronger, I want to run longer, and I want to be fast. I plan on running 3 or 4 distance races this year that will hopefully lead to a 50 mile ultra race outside of Denver called the Bear Chase. I feel I still need to get better technique to get faster, this is where my new pair of Vibram Five Fingers Bikila's come into the picture.
These funky shoes are supposed to force you to run more like we were meant to run, without the arch supports, heel lifts, pronation and supination adjustments, and padding that modern running shoes afford runners. The idea is that modern running shoes allow runners to land on their heels and roll through their stride over their mid-foot to the balls of their feet and toes. The problem is that there is much less protection from impact on your heel then there would be if runners landed on the balls of their feet, allowing the foot to naturally flex and absorb the energy of impact, and although running shoes market air pockets, springs, soft foam, and the kitchen sink to protect your heel, it may not really help...
Enough of the science, I like to try new things, so I got a pair with the gift card my sisters gave me for
REI for Christmas and today was run number 1 in them. I am reviving my blog again to chronicle this year, my new company, these shoes, running, and of course all the other adventures I'll go on!!
Day 1:
Some people complain that these shoes are hard to get on, and even decided not to purchase because of the difficulty, I disagree, for me they are no problem. I do find it easier to put them on the ground and push my foot into the front of them rather than trying to slide the shoes onto my feet. As soon as they were on though, they are comfortable to me, like socks, I am actually still wearing them right now as I type. A few of my concerns on the first run were going to be cold toes, since there is snow on the ground in Fort Collins today, arch pain, and the dreaded heel impact pain everyone bashes these shoes for.
I didn't want to push my self, well my feet, too hard on the first run, so I only went out for 3.5 miles. Now over the past month or so I have really concentrated on running on the balls of my feet, so the adjustment to running in these seemed natural for me. If you are still running heels first it's going to take some time to change your gait, and you'll possibly want to go for a few walks, or run in the grass to re-learn how to land on your feet. There is no heel lift in these, so even for me I was landing on my heels every now and again, and I really needed to concentrate on how I was running. I would say, if you still are landing hard on your heels after a mile or so, slow down and take it easy, there is no padding back there and I can see how people get injured in these shoes.
As for my other concerns, my arches didn't hurt at all, but we'll see if they are sore tomorrow, I'll report back on that. My toes did get a little sore actually, tired, like I worked them out. You notice right away how much you don't use your toes in your regular runners. By the time I got home my toes did want a rest. I think that's good, it's like the feeling you get from lifting weights but in your toes, again I'll report back tomorrow if they get sore. As for cold, my feet were fine, warmer than my cycling shoes in this weather, and I didn't feel or notice any wetness from the snow. My calves are a little sore, really just my right one, so I am going to concentrate on what I am doing different with my right foot tomorrow. As a note, when you start running on the balls of your feet, the first few runs are going to make your calves really sore, mine were for about 5 runs, but it's good I think, it's because you are using your muscles again! My knees and back don't hurt, and I am excited about running again tomorrow. Overall, for day 1 I am impressed with these things, but like I said, you really need to focus on landing on the balls of your feet, almost over exaggerated, or it could lead to disaster.
Come back soon to more updates, and have fun in the snow!!!!
