No Long Run Tomorrow

We will postpone until next week.  Nicole is resting from her marathon, others will be running the Air Force 1/2, while others are busy coping with life stuff and are finding it difficult  getting out for a run at this time.    Starting next week we will be adding on mileage  as it will commence our training for running our first ultra in October. Hope you all have a great running week.

Gail

Back to the beginning......

So I was thinking back to last year when we read the book "Born to Run; a hidden tribe, super athletes, and the greatest race to world will never see". We became inspired by the information in the book to try running alternatively, without the aid of cushioned shoes. Trying to find alternatives and still keep our feet protected from broken glass, sharp rocks, Ice snow and other temperatures has been interesting. This blog started off with the intention of finding like minded people who have been doing this as well, we enjoy the learning experience. Or those who wanted to try something and were as lost as we were in this totally new world of minimal footwear. It has grown into something where we are finding great advice about running in general (thanks M as I was hoping to take a few days off after working so hard). We have found other running groups where we have been able to grow our running experiences, and we understand that this barefoot thing is not for everyone. Thanks for all the awesome inspiration and advice in your comments.

We still feel new at this and have had a great time trying to figure out the safest way to make the transition. I think that going into the winter was the hardest of all. We lost the 'feel' of the road because of -20 temps and colder, bare footing is just not that appropriate. So as we get into the spring and summer we will find it a bit easier to experiment with feeling the road. Although I must say that I absolutely love my vibrams, and these are now what I am consistently running in.

Aside from the barefoot issue, the book also inspired us to see other things in our lives as well.

I believe that Coach Vigil was a huge inspiration for us both. He gave his athletes things to develop in their character as they trained as runners. At the side of our blog page we have his quote about living abundantly, relationships, and integrity. If this book has not yet been digested by your mind I would recommend it. There is so much more to this book than just bare footing, everyone I have talked to about their experience with the book has revealed something new to me. As we all see the world through our own experiences we all collect information differently as well, so it doesn't surprise me that we all take something different away from this book as it is so packed with information and one heck of an awesome story.......

If you have read this book, please leave us your thoughts, what did you get from it?

Nicole

26.2, Fargo

So this past Saturday was a new measure for me. I was able to finish a 26.2 mile run, with a little walking of course.

My first marathon.

Our family trip was a nice weekend away, with a fantastic stay at the Governors Inn in Castletown. Once I had entered the marathon, I couldn't find a hotel anywhere in Fargo so we found this place just 20 miles out of town. Unfortunately all they had at the time was a smoking room, which we took, but asked if there was anyway possible if we could have a non-smoking room that would be great. They had our room switched before we got there! (Thank the Lord!) They also have a great little water park, fantastic for our 3 year old and for our 9 year old. It is a hard mix of ages to satisfy, sometimes the pools are too old (too small with not enough shallow end) for one or both our kids, but this one was just right! Then they even helped us get a better room for a second night when we decided last minute we would stay. As well, they stored our things for us from checking out of room one until the time we checked into room two. All with a smile! The front desk ladies all knew what was going on from shift to shift. I was really impressed.

Now back to the run.

The marathon began at 8 am. The forecast was for sunny and hot, but (after a little prayer, on my end at least) the race began wet! We had a nice rain to start our day and to keep some of the heat from hitting us as we began. I was really glad for the rain, but later found that it may have caused another annoyance for me, but we will get to that. After spending the few days before wondering why I was so nervous, I remembered..... I have never done this before! Then as we began to run, it all seemed to just seep out from my pores and I tried to just enjoy the day.

The first 5 miles were easy, just a nice Sunday type run. Although I noticed that I was out there a bit faster than I was planning, trying to pace myself on race day is so tough. I was keeping up with the 5 hour pace runner (pacer Tom is what he called himself) Thanks Tom! He was very nice and I was sad to let him go at around mile 8 when I realized what I had done by letting myself go out a bit faster than planned. I was wondering how it was that we were running a 10:45-11:15 min mile when we were suppose to be running about an 11:27, later to realize that there would be an eventual slow down.... I will get this figured out!

I was running in my Vibram Five Fingers. Yes! My new VFF'S, the ones I bought the day before. Scheels in Fargo carry them. They were just a touch narrower than the men's pair I have been in, and I was so excited. Next time I will remember to use the glide on my feet as well. A bit of chaffing is what I noticed at this point. A bit of an annoyance and the rain at the beginning of the race probably added greatly to this situation. I almost took off the shoes at this point then thought that I could recover from chaffing just fine, but an infection from stepping on something might be a bit tougher to come back from, and the damage was done at this point anyways. It was only another 18.2 miles to go.

There were so many people out in support of the runners! I am looking forward to being a spectator for my husband next week, just to add to the event here. There were at least 3 live bands along route, drums, cheerleaders, and just so many people from their homes. I don't think there was a single block that did not have supporters on it!! People even came and turned their hoses and sprinklers on so we could keep cool as the sun did come out and there was a nice warm day to carry us though.... I'm not sure just how long the sun was out, as I was just enjoying the whole experience. There was also a nice wind, which I enjoyed to cool me down, although the paper the next day was saying how fast the wind was going (30-40 mph) and I'm glad I was oblivious to that as well.

I was happy to make the half way point in my average time of 2:34. I met a nice man just after this half way point who said he hadn't the time to properly train for his leg of the relay, but as I thought about it I find it interesting that he stopped to walk a bit then caught up a little while later. I have a hard time catching up after I stop to walk. He was very encouraging though as we talked when he told me how fresh I sounded. My response was "scary huh?" And it was scary, I was feeling really great! Halfway through and I had lots left.

Going into this marathon I had little idea what to expect, but the plan was..... run for the first 15 miles, then maybe a walk break every 5 miles or so. I decided the night before that I would also give up the security of my back pack and rely on God providing the water stations when I needed them. (this was really hard!) At the 15 mile marker I felt that maybe I should walk through the water stations while I was drinking. To start up again...... well that was something altogether different. There was something feeling a bit heavy at the bottom of my hips, oh yeah... my legs! So I decided not to do that again if I didn't have to. At mile 17 I had a really short walk while drinking some powerade and water, then got back to moving before I could feel my legs get heavy again. Although they did, I made it to 18.5 before they started to scream at me louder than I could ignore. Not that they were hurting, just really heavy. The thing that really surprised me though was my breathing, I was not huffing and puffing, just had heavy legs. This is where I had to walk quite a bit, made it to the 19 mile marker for a gel, powerade and water station.

With this quick pick me up I made it to mile 20 at 4:11:09! 6.2 left to go.
I met a really nice lady, Cindy, around mile 20 or so and we chatted a bit. This was her 21st marathon! Wow!! She was coming back early from a pulled groin (ouch). She was great company as I really needed to walk, my legs were once again heavy, and I was not able to get them to move much faster than this. Thanks Cindy for the company, it was really inspiring to be able to chat with you along route.

I found it interesting to see the medical drop out at mile 21. I thought that I should see if they had some gauze to wrap my feet in, then I changed my mind, what is done is done. I'll take care of it later, besides, once these shoes come off, there is nothing going back on.

I took it pretty easy until mile 23 where I felt like I should be able to run it in from there, again I was surprised to find my legs with some added weight around mile 24.5.... I figured I only had to get to mile 25 where there would be some more fuel, and there was! This time there were even some really nice juicy oranges! What a treat!

1.2 miles to go. What a great day this has been. I really feel I have been well watched over. I have not been thirsty, hungry, left wanting for anything along the way. A bit of chaffing, but what is a bit of chaffing anyways? Something has to be there to remind me what it's all about. A bit of uncomfortable for the journey, nothing I wasn't able to live with or get over as it is really superficial. Only on the surface, "and this too will pass" comes to mind.

There was a really great end to this for me as I was able to pass through the finish running! Thanks for the down hill there, at the end, as we ran into the Fargodome!

My husband and kids were there to greet me. What an awesome feeling to have such support from my family.

The lessons we learn from these endevours are things that are revealed to us as we are able to digest them. I look forward to remembering and learning from this experience. As well I think I need to check out more about lactate acid threshholds/ anerobic energy/ speed work, and some other things...... and for now I will enjoy the finish.

Nicole

First Marathon

Wishing Nicole  all the best as she embarks upon her first marathon.  She will be running in Fargo tomorrow.  Apparently its a great place to run as there are a lot of spectators  to cheer on the crowd.  This is very exciting as it is the springboard to her future of distance running.  Happy trails, Nicole!

  I will be in West Hawk  enjoying some trail running this Sunday.  We'll resume the group run next week.  Hope you all have a wonderful  May long weekend.

Sunday May 16th

So here we are another lesson in holding back for the sake of a great finish. Tomorrow we will run only a 10-15 miler. Meeting at 6 am, the usual place, Tim's at westwood and portage ave. Should be a nice short taper run?! Get some sleep, see you in the morning.
Nicole

21.5 miles!

Sunday mornimg marked the day that I did not have to cancel my trip to the marathon next weekend! Mothers' day marked another personal best for us both, 21.5 miles! I'm really excited about that, 18.5 has been our longest until this. Now I feel..... ready is not the word, ....... oh well, here I come, my first ever marathon! This week I'm trying to remember that taper is good. Did 3(recovery run?) miles monday, another 3 miles this morning (tempo?run), hoping for 5 friday with a 10-15 on sunday.


So let me tell you about this awesome jouney of another Sunday long run.......

Above you see G, she is carrying a dogwood tree. Along our trail we saw this tree, only about 3 feet tall, lying on the path tipped (dumped) from its' pot. We couldn't just let it lay there, so we picked it up and G took it up towards the road where hopefully its' rightful' owner will find it again. It saddens me that someone was bored enough to take a plant from somewhere (probably not one of there own) and toss it away without a second thought.

Shortly after this distration we are rewarded with the awesome sight of the meeting of a beaver and a goose. As the beaver is heading towards the goose and its mate, the goose gets itself between its mate and the oncoming beaver and slowly approaches the beaver where the beaver then turns to head off in another direction. It was such a neat scene; to see nature at work in such a pleasant confrontation was incredible.


We are only about 2 miles up the road and decide to concentrate a bit harder as we only have 5ish hours to accomplish this run. But in another 2 miles I must add another sunrise to our collection.
And from here on we don't stop for a while as we do get into putting on the milage. After the first hour as well as the second we slowed enough to enjoy some 'long run rounds' that G brings along for energy, thanks G. Then I bring out the protien bars later.... as we try to keep it to every hour or so. Keeping hydrated along the way has helped with the platypus. I have really enjoyed NOT having to carry water bottles and having to fuss with them.
Although now I do see that for my first and probably second marathon I will want to carry my back pack along route. I remember during the first few half's that I did really rely on the water belt and always having my water bottle available. It was a comfort to me to know that it was there, I see this happening in the marathon for now. It feels funny now to think back to last year, May, where I ran with a gentleman who told me that he didn't need to carry water and it wasn't warm enough for him to bother with the water stations that day. I thought he was a bit crazy at the time, but now I can understand where he is coming from. I can go much further in the cooler weather without the need of water than in the warm, and I can just get a bit further before I reach for my water. But for now I will still be running with my back pack next weekend, and my platypus will be filled; I think I will have to beg G for some of her run cookies to take with me also.

We are on our way to stonewall. We have both looked at maps before we left for our run, we know we need to turn here................................>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
and this we do successfully.
But that is where we temporarily get lost^^^^^.........

So we decide to turn around and head back home. We are only about 14 miles out from our start and 4-5 of those miles were still in the city, we should be able to get a 20 miler in even if we head back?! And, of course we did. This is G at the 19 mile mark, as she has gotten into her awesome 'mode' of running...

Have a fantastic week everyone.
Nicole

Long Run Sunday May 9/10

Are you ready to start another run in the dark and finish in the light?  "Rise before sunrise and bathe in the coolness.  It will help wash badness away, and you will be able to handle any situation".

See you at 5  for a 20 miler.  Tim's @ Westwood and Portage.  Please leave a comment if you are new and planning to join us, so that we can arrange to have enough seats for pick up afterwards.

Gail

Sundays Police Half...

So the Police half has come and gone and we are all healing well?! Some better than others... I am hoping you all had a fantastic run! I'm going to stop talking about mine (complaining that is) and look at the awesome accomplishments of those I was blessed to meet Sunday morning.

First, my husband ran his first 1/2 and finished very well, both in time and in how he has been feeling. G did very well also as she was very upbeat and positive throughout the run. We also had another friend running who was also finishing her first 1/2, and what an excellent run she had for herself.

Everyone seemed to learn something about themselves during the run. I really enjoy that about running, there is always something you can learn and take with you into your life and onto the next run.

I'm not going to complain about my run as I am finally at peace with the mistakes I made along the way, but part of needing to bite my tongue comes from a gentle reminder that someone else is always worse off than you (me). When they can be hurt a bit more than me and then smile and laugh about it..... well I guess it is time to just "suck it up!"

On our way out from the run, on our way to the car we met a man, M. Well, M had some issues with his race and WOW, he could not stop smiling! This is what it is all about people, the enjoyment along the road. The experiences we are having and the people we are privileged to meet. M's issues are something we have all heard about, but I have personally never seen. What a trooper! M had a great time and is looking forward to running another race soon, good luck on your journey,. He shared with us a bit of his story with loosing weight, and now he is continuing along to try and loose more. What I could not get over was the great big smile on his face! I'm still wowed by it. Thanks M for letting us share your picture here.

Nicole

Bummed

The other day I apologized to Nicole for not posting anything in awhile as I was struggling with negativity  and didn't feel it was productive to write about it.  "Why not?" she replied.  I don't think you really want to hear about my journey with gastroenteritis, do you?!  My foot infection is equally pleasant.  Thought it was all cleared up  but after cleaning and drying my foot after the run,  noticed it is still there, hovering below the surface of a thick annoying callus.  It is painful to run and the antibiotics haven't cleared it up yet.  I was in denial that it had. It means sitting in a waiting room again today.

I realize these are not life altering experiences (duh, G, pick yourself up).  They are bummer experiences.  You  run through them  and wait for the good runs, which you know will come again.

  Yesterday our newest member of the Winnipeg Barefoot Runners completed his first Half in Vibrams and said they were awesome.  It is always fun to run with someone as they are in the midst of achieving their first. It makes you reflect on your own first  half marathon experience and how great it was.

Stay tuned for the bleeding nipple photo  soon to be posted by Nicole.  Some might say he was overly  excited to show us his war wounds, but we were happy to oblige and take his shot.  He  recently lost 50  pounds and this was his first Half.  He dug deep and was able to achieve his goal. Truly inspirational.  Way to go, Nipple Man!