Big Blister 5 Miler

As I sit and listen to "Georgia On My Mind" on the radio, I lament the blues that are forming in my feet.  Ok, so, it's actually more red than blue, but when hidden beneath the skin, the blood takes a blue hue.  Yes, just another reason why shoes are BAD!  My last 6 runs have been in aqua socks that have apparently made me weak.  I've longed for the comfort of my skin against the ground, but I've been weak, justifying the covering because of the cold.  The result is an assortment of blood blisters after my 5 mile barefoot run today.

Today's run felt great.  Pepper and I powered through the miles at lightning speed.  I felt strong, no stopping (save the Pooper poop), pushing up the hills and flying down the descents.  This was one of the better runs I've had in a while.  Late in the run I felt a tweak in my right long toe.  I knew there would be a small blister forming but I wasn't too concerned.  It's always my right long toe that takes the punishment before any other.

What the cold really does is mask the ground feel just enough so that you disregard your form.  I started at 25 deg F - by the end it was 22.  Altogether, it was a beautiful day, alternating sun and overcast with only a slight wind.  I was dressed perfectly; not too many layers.  I felt my feet getting just a wee bit numb, but nothing of concern and just the bottoms - the uppers were great.  Half the run was on dry asphalt.  Some of the sidewalks we ran were not cleared.  When you run on snow that covers your ankles, your feet will cool quickly.  It's best too find a well trodden path or clear pavement quickly.  It's amazing how quickly your feet will warm back up.  However, when running at below freezing temps' the pads will numb enough to mask the ground feel you would normally have.  And this leads to slippin' and grippin'.  I was pushing off more than lifting my feet so the balls of my feet would slip on the ground, and my toes would then naturally grip in order to maintain traction.  What does all of this lead too?  Check out the pics below.

Left - Pre-Bloodletting

Left - Post-Bloodletting

Right - Post-Bloodletting - note pin pricks
need to bleed some more

Back Yard Today

Yes, these pics look bad, but the run today was worth it.  I mean, it's not bypass surgery or lung cancer.  And the lessons learned? . . . we all need lessons!

Ackhmdchh

I don't know what the title means, but it's the way I felt on my run today.  I think the aqua shoes are cramping my style.  I'm gonna' run barefoot tomorrow!

And the Cav's are struggling.

Two Poop Run

Some say (Viper), two poops in the bush are worth one in the hand.  I, however, find it merely inconvenient and embarrassing  - especially when you only bring one bag.  Pepper was apparently filled up and left me with the decision to pick the second one up by hand or, try to ignore it; claim innocence; look closely at the house to see if any one was home and looking; or, with the decision to leave it, speed off after the event while planning to not return any time soon.  Luckily it was in a neighborhood far from home.  We changed her food recently and things have gotten plentiful.  When this bag of food is done, we are returning to the other stuff.

Anyhow, we had a nice 4.25 miler today in the falling snow.  It was a good effort, a rather quick run even with the sloppiness of 3" of un-shoveled sidewalk.

I'm tired of the aqua shoes.  I need to run more barefoot.

Virtual Race Report - 1st Annual Freeze Your Thorns Off 5k

I Win!!!

I am the official winner who participated in the 1st Annual Freeze Your Thorns Off 5k and ran in aqua socks in the snow in Cuyahoga Falls on Middleberry, Tallmage and Baily Roads.  I was so quick, all the other runners didn't bother to toe the line, except for Pepper.

I heard about the virtual race from The Sean who pointed me to Adam .

I follow Adam (and not just because I can win a prize).

Happy New Year

Today, Pepper and I ran a slow 7.3 miles.  Overall, it was a good barefoot run in 30 degree weather.  Pepper chased a few geese, but no goose soup tonight.

Race Report:

I ran the Great New Years Eve Race last Friday.  I lined up about 8 deep from the start in the 56 degree overcast din that is northeast Ohio at the end of the year.  There were a ton of people at the race - it started 10 minuets late because of the crowd.

I set a new PR at 26:34.  The pace was 8:33 min per mile.  Better than 2 minuets faster than last year!  I was determined to run as fast as I could.  This was a great barefoot effort, but I think I could have run faster. . . something to consider.  I believe I was the only barefooter?  My 100 yard sprint to the finish was something to behold!  Scary fast!!

Skating

Today was the second skate of the season.  On Monday, Pepper and I ran through Gorge Metro Park and longed for the ice we passed by.  So Jennifer and I broke out the skates yesterday and went for a glide.  It was great getting out again - it's been a few years.  The three of us headed out again today and skated for an hour.  With the warm weather coming, it will be a while before we get out again.

After the skate I ran the 1.8 mile loop twice.  The first was in Aqua and cotton socks.  The second loop was barefoot.  I also took off my lined pants leaving tights - a hell of a site.

Here are clips from yesterday.

Happy Chrismas Run

Merry Christmas!!

Pepper and I ran a lightning 3 miles today.  The weather was perfect - 28 deg F, one inch of freshly fallen snow, no wind.  We both went barefoot.  It got dicey when I had to wait for her to live up to her nickname - standing, waiting in ankle deep snow.  But the feet warmed quickly once we began running again.

This was our first run since the URINEO FA We took a week off due to my sore foot.  About a mile in to the run I stupidly let Pepper drag me down a hill that hid a tree branch at the bottom.  My foot found the branch, rather abruptly, and I cursed myself for the rest of the run.  I bruised my foot between the heel and the ball.  Pepper and I continued running and finished two loops of the URINEO for a 16 mile run for the day.  The next day I could hardly walk.  Today, a week later, it was a little tender, but nothing to slow me down or worry about injuring again.  As I said, today I was lightning.

Happy Christmas to all.

A few pics from last weeks URINEO