Long Run Sunday June 26

We will NOT be meeting tomorrow( most of us are away ) so y'all can sleep in.  See you next week.  Happy trails.

No Long Run Tomorrow.....

...on account of the Manitoba Marathon. Good luck to everyone running and a special shout out to Bob and Andy. Nicole and I will be watching and cheering.

Journey of 1,000 Barefoot Miles - Week Ending June 12th, 2011

So let's start with the good, prior to me standing on my soap box about a couple of things that happened this week, that still leaves me shaking my head.

Good:

Well here we are, 7 days away and counting from my first true attempt at a full bare foot marathon. Yes, I did start some some major runs last year barefoot including the Treherne Marathon (after over 18 miles of dirt and bad asphalt roads completed the VFF's came out to finish) and Vulture Bait 50km Trail Ultra, but unfortunately I was unable to complete the entire event san shoe. In this regard, I have been getting more and more excited about this, even though it is a road race and I have grown quite fond of trail running, I am expecting this one to be a whole lot of fun. I would expect there to be quite a few more runners and spectators than I have had the pleasure to witness previously, thus more questions and comments as I try to demonstrate how much fun running can be without the boat anchors (shoes).

Don't get me wrong, I will be going out with a goal time to complete, but I am also determined to have a 'VERY GOOD TIME' along the way. Competition is good, but if you are not having fun while you are doing it, then to me that just doesn't make sense. My philosophy is start with a big grin, the middle will be filled with lots of fun, and finish with a even bigger grin. Life is full of ups and downs, finishing a marathon period should be considered a big up, don't you think?

I know I consider it a big up, a couple of years ago, running 1 mile let alone 26.2 miles was the furthest thing from my mind. With my knee issues, it was a real concern just chasing my kids around, so I consider myself blessed (did I just write that?), to have been able to find a way to run and enjoy every minute or hour of it.

As barefoot running is pretty shocking to some, I am expecting to get a lot of comments, possibly some questions along the way, and hopefully some cheering and laughs of support for the 'guy with no shoes'. I am hoping that nobody will be offended if I get into a zone and pushing along at a good clip, if I do not acknowledge them right away, its nothing personal. I try my best to share my experiences and knowledge (little as it might be), with all those that ask or are curious about the way that I run. I really am not that outgoing normally, but I do have a passion for barefoot running and that is one topic that if you let me I can ramble on and on about.

Live and embrace your bliss, because life is to short not too.

So needless to say, I am very excited about next Sunday and the experiences to come.

Now to the bad and my soap box,

I am a little perplexed at some of the happenings this week, I just don't understand some people and the things that they do. I am beyond shaking my head and just carrying on with life, so I am going to vent.

First of all, Tuesday I am running down Regent Ave minding my own business, and this very kind driver decided to move over to the curb lane to race through a big puddle and splash me. Now this would normally not bother me to much, but the other lanes (all 3 of them) were clear, no traffic at all. Didn't slow down or try to avoid the puddle, just appeared to want to splash me. Is there a sport out there that I am not aware of called splash the runner, or did this ignorant douche' bag just think it was funny. I almost threw my Vibram at them, I was so mad, but once again why waste my time.

But really, are people that callus and ignorant that they think that is the proper thing to do, my biggest complaint is that nobody respects anybody anymore, and that is too bad, a little more respect shown by all would make the world a better place.

Secondly, I was out for my last longer run this morning and on my way back home, when I reached a fairly major intersection in Charleswood. Now I have learned a long time ago do not take for granted that a driver has seen you, make sure they are looking right at you before you start to cross the street, etc. Well this was one of those situations, I waited on the island to make sure the lady in the car saw me, she slowed to a stop before the crosswalk markings signalling to me that she saw me and was allowing me to cross from the island to the side of the road. I waved and smiled at her, and commenced across, this was when it all went wrong. I got to the point of no return, and she stepped on the gas and flew at me like she was trying to hit me. I literally had to lunge forward and contort my body to miss the front of her car. She missed me by a fraction of a inch, If I was any slower she would of taken my legs out and I would of flew over the hood of her car, I was in shock and the explicits starting rolling out of my mouth. She came to a screeching halt at the yield sign to pull onto the main road, I was so freaked out that I almost got hit, I didn't think to go find out why she did what she did. Now whether she stopped because she had a brain seizure or if she was just checking to see if she got me or not I will never know, because as soon as I thought to go check on her, she sped away without a sorry or nothing. Needless to say, I was freaked out the rest of the way home and very nervous about crossing any roads, etc.

Now I like to think the best of everybody and hope that everybody has a good heart, but with those two examples above my resolve has wained a little bit. Not completely, but a little bit. I was really going to go into a tirade about it when I started writing, but along the way I think I mellowed a little bit because although it is ridiculous that some people act this way, I know the majority do not and I hope could not ever do something like that. Enough said, coming down off soap box now.

Anyway back to the mileage achievements for the week. As of the end of last week I just cracked the 200 mile mark, and was hoping for a good week. I also think I rambled on too much above so I am really going to limit my breakdowns to a quick summary, so here we go:

Monday, June 6, 2011
Barefoot: 4.45 miles
Vibram: 0.00 miles
Total: 4.45 miles

WH3 run on Monday night, called the Pirate Hash (Aaaaaarrrggggh) where the majority dressed up as pirates and ran thru the streets. Good time by all, did some hill training on Garbage Hill, spooking a few runners going up while they were coming down (don't know if it was the costumes or my bare feet, but I am chalking it up to the costumes).

Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Barefoot: 8.43 miles
Vibrams: 0.00 miles
Total: 8.43 miles

This was the infamous 'Splash Gate' of above during my lunch run, even with that it was a good run. Can't let the simple-minded few spoil my views of the world.

Wednesday June 8, 2011
Barefoot: 6.36 miles
Vibrams: 0.00 miles

Total: 6.36 miles

Another lunch run, had to cut it shorter than originally anticipated due to work load in the office, but it still felt good to just get out and run. Lots of resistance training, as the wind was gusting to 60 km/hr and swirling so I was getting blasted which ever way I was heading. I even think I swallowed a fly along the way as well, oh well protein.

Thursday June 9, 2011

Barefoot: 8.43 miles

Vibrams: 0.00 miles
Total: 8.43 miles

Run with City Park on Thursday night, not my best run, found it really hard to get motivated, felt like I was just going through the motions. Really did not like that feeling, but I knew I would have those once in a while, so hopefully I won't have one again for a long time.

Saturday June 11, 2011
Barefoot: 4.75 miles
Vibrams: 0.00 miles
Total: 4.75 miles

Morning run with City Park, was suppose to be a easy 8.0 km run as we taper towards the big run next week, so we went out slow and easy and maintained it until about 1 km to go, where I hit the park and decided to let it all hang out. Hit 9.9 miles/per hour and maintained that for the last km, think I freaked a few walkers from the 20 km Cancer Walk Event as I blew by them. Hee hee, I really wasn't trying to, honestly.

Sunday June 12, 2011
Barefoot: 15.09 miles
Vibrams: 0.00 miles
Total: 15.09 miles

Ssshhh, don't tell anybody I did this, as it was suppose to be the start of taper week. I really haven't had the opportunity to go out for a fairly lengthy run on a Sunday in a while, so I felt this was my opportunity. I look back now, and think maybe somebody was trying to tell me something, as I almost got killed during this run. Hmmm maybe this taper thing has something to it.

So without further delay, as I do not want any further chances of injury this week, here are the totals for the week:

Week Total:
Barefoot: 47.75 miles

Vibrams: 0.00 miles
Total: 47.75 miles

and Year To Date:

Year to Date Total:
Barefoot: 250.16 miles
Vibrams: 71.26 miles
Total: 321.42 miles

Just passed the quarter way mark, under 750 miles to go.

For all of you who will be running the Manitoba Marathon, I wish you a heart filled 'Good Luck', and I hope to see you all on Sunday. I know I will be running with a smile, how about you?

May the soles of your feet take you on a journey of enlightening.

On On.

Journey of 1,000 Barefoot Miles - Week Ending June 5th, 2011

All I have to say is WOOT, WOOT!!!

It took a little longer than I originally anticipated, and it was really starting to make me think my goal was a little crazy. But, I finally passed the big 200 (miles that is), this was my first benchmark hurdle that I had set for myself. I had planned on having this originally done by last weekend (end of May), but between weather, health and just plain life, it was starting to look like a mountain instead of a mole hill.

That being said it is now done, 200 down and only 800 (minus a few) to go. Hopefully all my trials and tribulations are out of the way as well.

It has been a very crazy year so far, late spring, then winter again, unseasonably weird weather all around, even a tornado or two around the city. Health issues including strained muscles, my first official barefoot injury and migraines from h-e-double hockey sticks (more on the last two later.) Oh, and before I forget to mention it:

OOOOOHHH YYEAH!!!!

NHL Hockey is back in Winnipeg, baby!!!!
(Yes, I am a big hockey fan, hmmm barefoot hockey, I wonder?)

Anyway enough of that, time to move on and here are the updates for the week that was:

Monday, May 30, 2011

Barefoot: 2.25 miles

Vibrams: 0.00

Total: 2.25 miles

I really wasn't sure this run was going to happen, earlier in the day, I left work with a migraine (darn changing weather patterns). I used to be plagued with these years ago due to work stress and weather changes, but since I started running, I have been getting less and less (hmmm, who says running isn't therapeutic) of them. Anyway, after a quick catnap at home and popping of a Imitrix, I was feeling 100% better, so I figured the run would be a good thing. So off Nicole and I went for a night out without the kids.

This was another Monday night WH3 run, hosted by LF (SBI) and NB (PF) on a beautiful warm spring evening in the 'peg (how can you not love a rainy evening when you are barefoot). Our host hares set the trail with chalk of all things in the rain, so as you can imagine there really wasn't much of a trail left for us to follow. Though the majority of us being stubborn as we are, went out full tilt in search of it anyway. In short we lost the trail after the second turn, and had to wait for SBI to catch up so she could point us in the right direction. Once we were off again, the trail led straight thru a car wash (fancy that a car wash in the rain), and low and behold, it was closed. Not a good start, to our weekly adventure: a suspect trail and a detour around a part of the trail, but there was lots of puddles to go splashing through so that made up for it (at least for me!). Once we got going, all and all it was a good run, and lots of opportunity for us to chastise the two hares with our favorite little ditty, 'S****y Trail. Ahhh, the night was complete after some beer and catch up conversation with some friends we have not seen in a while.

Tuesday to Thursday June 1st to June 3rd, 2011

Barefoot: 0.00

Vibrams: 0.00

Total: 0.00

Well the migraine I mentioned on Monday, well it was back, and it was a doozer. I slept most of Tuesday, all of Wednesday and part of Thursday, before I felt well enough to drag my sorry butt into work to see what damage had been done or not done while I was away. Needless to say, running didn't even enter the equation. I missed 3 lunch runs and my Thursday night City Park run, at the time it just seemed that I was never going to ever get to 200 miles. I was a little dejected to say the least, and my concern that my migraines were returning as well didn't make matters any better. I just needed to run.

Saturday June 4, 2011

Barefoot: 10.50

Vibrams: 0.00

Total: 10.50

With Friday being a not possible to run day, I was really looking forward to Saturday. First my work out with my personal trainer (I cannot say enough good things about her, she has helped me increase my speed and my endurance way beyond what I thought i could achieve), then my much anticipated run with City Park Runners, boy did I need this.

Anyway, it was a great work out even with the issues i was having with my neck deciding it wanted to be involved in the workout (Carolyn tells me this is not a good thing), so I was limited to what I could do this week. Further to this, Carolyn was going to join me for the run this morning, well at least at the start until she leaves me in the dust, she is a unbelievable runner. I was running with my usual group, Julio and 5 great ladies for the planned 10km easy distance as we were suppose to start to taper for the Manitoba Marathon. I never really did understand this taper thing, I really don't think I run enough to make this really mean anything, at least not yet. So with this in mind, a few of us decided to keep going and get 10 miles in or so.

Moving at our standard pace, due to conversations being had, etc, we were having another great run. Until it happened (key the dramatic music), my first real barefoot injury happened. We were on our return trip when I stopped paying attention to the ground in front of me, and I missed the large raise in the asphalt. All of a sudden, the toe drag, my big toe scrapped the asphalt with a grind. It felt like I was raking my toe over a cheese grater, not pleasant. Needless to say, the bit of toe nail that I did have lost a little more, and the blood starting flowing. Oh well, war wound, a perfect example of why you need to keep a constant vigil on where you are going, you never know what is going to pop up in front of you. No worse for wear, other than a little blood, no lasting pain, so we carried on (I didn't even stop to check it out till we reached Misericordia for a quick water and washroom break). As per our habit we pick up to a quick pace with about a mile (almost a sprint to the finish line). Overall it was a great run, other than the little mishap with the toe.

Sunday June 5th, 2011

Barefoot: 3.25 miles / 3.31 miles / 5.45 miles

Vibrams: 0.00

Total: 12.01 miles

This was a very special day, as I was running a 5km race in support of 2 very good friends who have the unfortunate pleasure of living with a brain tumour. This was the 2011 Spring Sprint in support of the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. One who has had to live with this condition for a number of years, and one who was just diagnosed a couple of weeks ago. It is very scary to think that this condition could happen to anyone, at any time and without you knowing it until it is to late. Fortunately, my one friend had some very quick acting co-workers with him when he suddenly suffered a grand mal seizure at work. This was very lucky, as they quickly called an ambulance, and he spent the next few days in the hospital, it could of been a lot worse then it was if the quick actions were not there.

Needless to say, I was determined to do my part, so I set a goal for myself to fund raise $500.00 worth of pledges, and I am happy to say, I exceeded that with a total of $700.00. Thanks to everybody who helped along the way, it means a lot to me.

Now back to the numbers, as I have three separate mileage numbers listed, I mind as well as explain why.

The first was the 5 km race, which I am proud to say, I achieved my best barefoot time yet for this distance, and I shut it down a little early as well. I finished the 5 km in 26:30, which is a PB by over a minute barefoot and over 2:30 with my Vibrams. Now who says you go faster in shoes, all I have to say is PPPWWWEEEETTTT (that is suppose to be me sticking out my tongue, but it doesn't look right, oh well). So I think I might of shocked a few people as I bombed by them san shoe. I was also testing out my new contacts as well, definitely different and going to take some getting used too running in these. So I am thinking I might be able to go a little faster next time.

The second time was me turning around and going the other way, I decided I was having such a great run I felt like running 10km, so I u-turned and headed around the course in reverse. I was also trying to find Nicole and the kids as well but little did I know that they did not do the walk but went to the park instead, oh well. Anyway I think I confused a whole bunch of people that I passed on the way in, as I was passing them again going the other way. But I did get a whole lot of waves, and hi fives, and cool feet comments as I cruised through the ranks. I finished the run just under 30 minutes (29:45), so after pushing the earlier 5km I was very happy with that.

After finding the wife and kids, we made our way back to the pavilion to find out I also won a door prize, what a great day. From what I understand it was the most sought after door prize as well, because it was all Manitoba Moose team gear (our local AHL hockey team that will be now leaving for new digs next year), so really it could be considered collector's items and it really is some nice stuff.

The third number was a quick run i had after supper, because i really did not have enough, and I was determined to get to the magic number (yes that 200 again). I had some great mile lap times below 9:00 minutes, and I love running up Portage Avenue with my barefeet. The looks I get are priceless, but no comments tonight. Anyway, it was hot and humid so I decided to shut it down after 2 miles and just run a nice leisurely pace for the balance of the run.

So here is the damage for the week:

Week Total:

Barefoot: 24.76 miles

Vibrams: 0.00 miles

Total: 24.76 miles

Year to Date:

Barefoot: 202.65 miles

Vibrams: 71.26 miles

Total: 273.91 miles

Until Next Week,

It's a Great Day for A Run

(A tribute to Mike who I know can't wait to get back out there)

On, On

Personal bests

May 1st was a very cold and blustery day. I had a personal best for my half marathon time at 2:21:51. It was an exciting day for me as I have been chasing a wanted time of 2:30 for about 4 years, getting close with a 2:32 two years ago. Enter in some new training, both with an awesome trainer and with City Park Runners (whom the trainer referred me to) and this is what I was able to accomplish. I also had some great company along the way with my husband and a friend (both are faster runners than I) who helped keep the pace up beyond where I'm used to running. It was a great day.

May 29th was a cool day, but not as blustery. There was no snow on the ground either. My goal was to duplicate the run on May 1st, as I wanted to know if this would be something I could do a second time. Would I be able to be consistent?

NO!

It was another great start to the day, prayer was in my mind and my ears (this is a Sunday morning), I am feeling grateful and a little scared. I have a strategy, but I won't go into that, because I blow it as I head out from the start WAY TOO FAST! Much faster than I know I can hold, along the way I do find some people who have a great steady pace to follow and it is awesome that my lungs are feeling strong.... even at the halfway point.

The last 4 miles it strikes me that I still have something left, then in 3 miles I notice the same, and at 2 miles left I want to start to push a bit more. In my head it doesn't seem right what the garmin is telling me, so I wait for the last mile. Just before the turn at this mark I'm passed, I could hear her footsteps. I think it may be time to see what is left, staying behind her I just try to keep up, and it's hard..... very hard. The last 1/4 mile I feel that she dragged me along, as I couldn't quite keep up. After crossing the finish line I barley got out the 'Thank You' to her as my lungs now felt like they had gotten a Tuesday night speed interval.

My finish... 2:11:01

Wow, what a great morning! I feel the need to say a huge thank you to Christ of course who gets the hardest job of keeping me focused on the love of running and the dream He's given me. My Husband who encourages and lets me get out to train, and my kids who train me (you parents will understand). There are those I run with who push me along as well, usually that's Gail's' job (and they put up with my banter as well?). To the awesome trainer who has helped me accomplish some other personal goals, and to City Park Runners who have really helped bring my running along.

I also have to say a thank you to all the awesome bloggers out there (check out our blog roll) who have added to my knowledge base for running. This sharing of information is so helpful and I have learned so much!

After seeing what a month of hills and speed intervals can do I'm really excited to keep up with this new schedule.

Hope you all had a great week.

Nicole