Anniversary

Today is my one year running anniversary.  I began a new life, my running life, on August 13, 2009.  I remember it well.  I ran 2.5 miles through the streets of Cuyahoga Falls, with walking spells every half mile or so.  As I progressed, I decided to only walk "that one block" and to run at least 3 or 4 blocks.  It didn't take long to get the walking spells down to 2 or 3 blocks per run.  Pepper ran with me from the beginning.  However, last year was not as hot as this, and we were able to run together always.  I have left her at home for the last few runs because of the heat.

Today's run was 5.6 miles past the clocktower and Rockin' on the River; from there on to the Glens trail, then city streets to State, to Broad and back home.  It was a satisfying run with sweat, blood and cheers - a few teenage girls were impressed with my svelte physique and naked feet and couldn't hold back the appraise.  OK, so maybe some of that is in my head?

When I began, one year ago, it was without shoes and the idea, planted by Christoper McDougall, that if we were born to do this, I had better get to it.  Today I am so much better off than the day before I started.  Like many, I had "run" before.  As part of my high school hockey team, we went out for 2 mile runs, on occasion, before the season started.  I "hated" every minute.  Today, I consider running fun.

I consider barefoot running essential.  I bought my vff's in December and used them mostly for that month and the following January and February, with a few bf winter runs sprinkled in.  I do like the Snow.  Otherwise, all of my running is barefoot.  I try to do most things outside of running barefoot as well.  I get told off by the "establishment" on occasion, and usually argue the merits of a barefoot lifestyle with them, or just let it slide and get out of there with my beer.

On to the Blood!
Today's run was also fret with injuries.  I smashed my left big toe on a rock on  Glens Trail, then dragged the same on on the sidewalk on State Road.  These two injuries got the juices flowing.  Then I dragged my right big toe on the Broad Street Sidewalk, but it was only a scrape and no blood.  I think both Barefoot Josh and Viper are playing Opposum (see picture above) and aren't actually hurt.  Since they have shown no proof, I believe they are only trying to psyche out their potential competitors, lulling them into a sense of confidence with stories of broken toes.  So, here is my gory photo of the day:

No one can say I'm faking it!  This stuff ain't always easy or pain free.  But I'll take this pain any day over the pain of a heart attack.

Hot 3.7

I ran a "fast" 3.7 late today - after the heat subsided - a bit.  Just me; no Pooper.  The first mile was at a blistering 8:45 mi/min pace, but the total was 10:30.  If my math is right, that should put my last mile at ~12:30.  I may have mentioned I'm slow.  It felt fast though.  And I did have a hiccup when a dog was chasing me near the end.  I stopped to say hello, quickly.  So, that was my first run for the week.  I need to apply myself more!

My pledge is to surpass Viper's mileage by the end of the year.  I'd better get to it, 'cuz he's been racking the miles up as of late!

Hot Poop

Yep, it was a hot one Wednesday.  Pepper and I went for an "easy" 6 miler today.  Right at mile 4, Pepper had enough and laid down on the grass to take a breather.  There was no moving her.  I sort of figured this might happen eventually.  It was 82 deg F with 90% humidity.  The first 4 miles were shaded; we ran the Glens trail and then shaded City streets.  The sun was intense when we reached State Road.  The Pooper lasted about 4 blocks 'till Sackett Ave.  There, she decided to lay down and pant.  I got her some water.  About 10 minuets later, she decided running would be ok, so we headed home.  She definitely prefers the winter - I think I do too.

Burning River 100 Volunteer

I volunteered for the Burning River 100 this weekend and, can I say, "what an experience."  I had a wonderful time.  This race is a "fast" 100 with a 30 hour cutoff.  I worked the aid stations at mile 28.4 and 64.1 starting at 8 am and finishing around 10 pm.  At 28.4 (Alexander Road Aid Station) I logged the racer numbers and times.  This got a little nerve-racking as the runners started coming fast and furious.  At 64.1 (Happy Days Aid Station) I filled water bottles, suggested food and encouraged the runners.  The big hit was grilled cheese sandwiches.  The runners faces lit up when we told them we had grilled cheese.  It was interesting to see the difference between the runners attitudes at mile 28 and 64.  At 28, only a handful stayed beyond 3 minuets, while at 64, only a handful left within 3 minuets.  I'm not sure the runners would have named the station at mile 64 "Happy Days."  The runners were very thankful for the aid we gave and most went out of there way to say so.  As an aid station worker, I felt they were the hero's and tried my best to get them what they needed.

I didn't get too many comments about being barefoot, but when I did, I explained my story.  The other volunteers were interested since they are runners too - and the barefoot word is out.  I had only one comment from a runner who asked where are my shoes.  I pulled out a stock answer, " I'm wearing the shoes my Mom made for me."

I enjoyed working with all the volunteers - it's a wonderful feeling when people pull together and do what is needed with the only motivation being the runners health (mental and physical) and to see them get to the finish.  This was easy at mile 28, as most runners could go on.  At 64, things got a little more dicey.

Side note: can a volunteer get fired?  Apparently so, as the pit boss at 64 and I had issues.  I appenently was putting too many potatoes in the cup for runners and couldn't stand in the proper place with out her direction (or hand/arm pushing me out of the way).  I left  2 hours before the close of the station due to her inadequacies at recognizing true and honest help.  Incredible, but c'est la vie.

Several of my club mates were running the race, but I was cheering for Barefoot Jason.  He started the race barefoot and I'll let him tell his story when he gets home.  But I'll give something away - he set a PR - YEAH JASON.

After a few hours of sleep, I went to the finish line - only a half mile away - and watched as many of the runners came in.  Seeing the same runners at 28, 64 and 101 was a study in humanity.  There were tears and cheers.  To me the most thrilling part was when the 15 year old son of a club mate, who was volunteering at the Happy Days aid station, also volunteered to pace a runner to the finish.  The runner only made it to mile 93, so Eric decided to pace another runner to the end.  He crossed the finish line at about 9:45 am this morning.  This wasn't in his plan when the day started, but I am sure his father is proud.

A few Pics:

Greg at Mile 28.4

Some of the lovely ladies at mile 28.4

More lovely ladies, but at mile 64.1

Barefoot Jason and his pacer at mile 64.1

Race Director Joe, the ubiquitous Shawn, and a cutie volunteer at the finish line.

Dan at the finish line

Barefoot Jason and crew at the finish line - NOTE THE BUCKLE!!

Burning River 100 Section V

Yesterday I ran section V of the Burning River 100 course.  This is the last section of the course beginning at the Memorial Parkway Station, then following the High Bridge trail and ending up in downtown Cuyahoga Falls.  I ran it there and back from my house as I am about a half mile from downtown.  Some of it is technical, some delicious mud and grass, and some road.  I ran it in the late afternoon at the height of the heat.  I ran through the Italian fest and dunked my head in the fountain both there and back - had to knock a few kids out of the way to get my own spout, but they got back up.  The heat didn't slow me down as much as the rocks and gravel.  I taped up my foot for precaution, and it helped, but it is still sensitive.  My lack of mileage over the last few months also slowed me down.  I walked a lot.  Barefoot Jason will run the entire 101.1 miles barefoot (and in a kilt) next weekend.  He's got my complete admiration and respect.

Hello Again

It's been a while.  I've been busy building a deck, landscaping an vacationing at the Outer Banks.  So, my posts as well as running miles have been way down as of late.

Running on the beach was wonderful.  I only ran a couple of times since I ripped a chunk of skin from the ball of my right foot.  I was playing with kids at a July 4th party, twisting around and caught it on a corner of the sidewalk.  That sidelined me for the next week.  At the beach, I taped it and ran fine.

Today was my first run without tape and it felt good.  I ran 6.9 miles through waterworks park and then around Silver Lake.

Last month I met with Barefoot Ken Bob at a workshop he held in Medina.  There were about 8 of us there.  Only a few had run any significant miles barefoot.  The rest were curious having read Born to Run.  Like Barefoot Josh, much of what was covered was familiar, but I did learn a few things.  Apparently, I haven't been holding my head high enough.  I tend to tilt my head to look down at the path in front of me.  BF KB suggests holding your head steady and upright, looking forward and scanning down with your eyes.  Running from the hips is important too.  Focusing on this helps me run upright with better form.  I didn't think I would ever have the chance to meet the guru of barefoot running, but there you are.  It was a privileged experience.

Future races are nill at this point.  But I have volunteered to help with the aid stations for the Burning River 100.  I'll be there to help and cheer on Jason Robillard along with a few of my club mates.

Proper Fraction 5/12

Work, work, work.  I haven't found the time to blog lately, so here's a catch-up:

The Pooper and I went for an easy 5 miler early yesterday morning.  To water works, through silver lake and back.  Easy, slow, and it felt good.  After that I repaired the breaks, front this time, on the new P.O.S.  Have I mentioned cars suck?  It only took me a few hours as apposed to my marathon 4 day ordeal with the rear breaks a few weeks ago.  Nothing went right with the drums.

Oh yeah, Race Report:
I was disappointed in my performance at the No Frills, Just Hills last Saturday.  I started the morning with little sleep the night before.  Guess I was nervous as well as anxious and excited.  Got up at 6 and made a big salad.  Packed all my stuff; change of clothes, food for the run, chia fresca, water, sunglasses.

The turn-out was impressive.  Over 30 people showed up.  I spoke with Bob and Brian and complemented them on their recent completion of the MMT 100.  We had 6 finishers from our club in that race.  This club is more extreme than I thought.

The air was clear and warm and the sun would soon beat down on our efforts.  Luckily half of the trail was in the woods so there would be relief. The reason the race has the word Hill in it wasn't just for fun.  There were many hills that no one ran.

My plan was to complete 2 loops an hour.  So if I lasted 6 hours, I would complete 12 loops for a total of 24 miles.  The "winner" of the race completed 17 loops - 34 miles!  My first loop was under a half hour: so far, so good.  I felt good.  I was lightly running the trail, exploring my endurance and strength.  The trail surface turned out to be mostly a pleasure to run on.  The first half mile was grass followed by another half of dirt through the woods. Then more grass and the gravel began.  The section around the lake was mostly gravel with a little bit of pavement and some dirt.  And then - the horror, the horror - we ran across the dam holding back the lake.  It was paved with #57 limestone.  This is the absolute hardest surface to run barefoot.  Oh well.  I ran very gently.

On my second and third loop, I ran with Julie.  She finished 10 loops.  She's a nurse from Dublin, Ohio.  She came up with her husband Sam who sat in his easy recliner, mocking us every 2 miles.  We had a great conversation and were perfectly matched pace-wise.  I asked if I was holding her back, but she insisted not.  On the second and third loops, I tried to find a path on the edge of the dam that wasn't paved.  There was a small section that was grass, but it was knee high and therefore hard to run through.  I did run through it and proceeded to open the scab on my toe.  It's amazing how sharp grass can be.  The toe started bleeding.  We finished the third loop in 1:32 and I told Julie to go ahead because I needed to repair the toe.

15 minuets later I had a new toe bandage.  I checked with the race director to make sure I still qualified as "barefoot" with the bandage.  He assured me that I did.  I grabbed my cornbread and headed out for the fourth.  Other that the toe blood, my feet were holding up great.  Bruce the Moose and I ran togeather for about half the loop.  He is an awesome runner.   He looks so effortless.  I finished loop 4 in about a half.

I grabbed my bean and rice burrito at the start of the fifth felling good and ready for more.  The hills were starting to get hard to walk up and the heat was building.  On the last hill climb for the loop, I realized I was having an allergic reaction to something I ate - and no, Julie, it wasn't the morning glory.  I finished the loop and hung out for a bit to see if it was going to be a full out reaction, or just a minor annoyance.  Turns out it was full on.  Fuck!  I had to call it a day.

So I finished 5 of the planned 12 laps in 2:45.  I feel I didn't "represent" as a barefooter.  All the same, it was a great race and a great day.  I will last next year.