Keep moving those feet!

Yesterday my daughter and I suffered the abuse of the males in the family mocking our "hobbit feet." They're just threatened by our innovative and progressive minds! VIBRAMS may look like hobbit feet, but they feel wonderful. So there!

I made it the entire run--4 miles plust a one mile walk--for the first time on the ROAD in the VIBRAMS. I won't say it was EASY, but I did it.

As soon as I start wearing my RUNNING SHOES for running days, my back and hip starts to FREAK out again! So it's worth it. I know it'll just take time. Patience, patience.

Daughter now a convert!

My daughter has been working on building up her runs and has done very well. But a few weeks back she started slacking off because of pain in the arch and joint of her big toe. I said, "Grab my VIBRAMS and take a run." So she did. She liked them. She used them several more days after that and her foot pain completely disappeared. She's LOVING it again.

She ordered herself a pair and did her first run in her OWN VIBRAMS yesterday. Loved it!

She has always loved to wear flip-flops or go barefoot--always. I think her feet are much stronger than mine for barefoot running. It's been a very positive thing for her.

I am still making miles on mine, but I struggle some days with a bit of pain in my right foot. I keep WORKING THROUGH IT and know that eventually my feet will be stronger and more able. When i run on the treadmill I have NO problem running four miles in them. But when I hit the road, three is hard work. But I keep trying. I'm hoping that the weather will warm up so I can run grass or trails somewhere.

Happy Running!

Still at it!

Still going STRONG. Had a bit of a setback when I slipped on some ice. But I'm back to running. The weather is warming, so I feel more COURAGEOUS to run in VIBRAMS.

There is a new VIBRAM BIKILA coming out. My daughter-in-law hooked me onto these. I hope she gets hers FIRST. Then I'll try some. Very cute, and made just for running.

I am seeing a change in my leg and low back pain--SLOWLY. I just keep trying and making my feet and legs stronger. I go BAREFOOT anymore around the house. I don't know if I could go back to shoes...

Happy running! And good luck to those of you recovering from injuries. Not fun.

First Mistake!!!

So I ran over four miles last Friday on the treadmill--worked REALLY HARD and felt REALLY GOOD. I owed myself another FOUR in the week because I WIMPED out on Wednesday. So I decided to hit the road on SATURDAY.

I broke my own rule: Do not run on successive days if you want to avoid INJURIES. http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-241-285--11130-0,00.html And that has made so much difference for me. (I do strength training every other day)

I also then ran in the VIBRAMS on the road on a successive day. STUPID! My running partner was trying out her new VIBRAMS and was just going to do a mile in them. I did the mile with her. Then I thought, "Well, my feet are used to these. I'll just do the other two in these." (We went three that day). BIG MISTAKE!

I made my foot sore. I wouldn't say it was painfully sore. But it was that little NAGGING pain that makes you worried.

So I have been CAUTIOUS this week and have done no IMPACT in VIBRAMS--just the Sauconys or Nikes. Bummer! But it's feeling nearly normal.

I looked at myself in the mirror this morning before working out and said to myself, "You have a LIFETIME. No need to rush." That was to remind myself not to over do it barefoot today.

I think we have lived in our shoes for our entire lives, and we can't expect to just shoot out the door barefoot and think nothing will get sore.

TAKE IT SLOW. You've got a lifetime.

Happy Running!

Injinji socks

My running partner finally JOINED the hippee movement and bought her VIBRAMS. She had a very HARD TIME getting them on over her toes and said the injinji socks helped a ton. So if you have DIFFERENT shaped toes that kind of pull back and the VIBRAMS are snug on them, get the socks.

I chose not to get them because some people POSTED that they made the toes too tight on the VIBRAMS. So opted out. But apparantly they do have their PURPOSES.

Doing better

I know you've all been on PINS AND NEEDLES waiting to hear if my calves survived. I wondered myself. They are doing much better. I was MAD at my husband Saturday, so I picked up the two miles I owed myself for the week. I was WORRIED because my calves were still painfully excruciating! But ANGER is ANGER. What do you do? I took off in my VIBRAMS.

I can't believe how much BETTER my calves were that day. So I guess the ADAGE of doing what you did to get sore to get un-sore works. At least it did for me.

I do find myself finding grass and dirt to run in on the side of the road a bit. TRAIL RUNNING would be great. But until then, I just hit the dirt once every NOW AND AGAIN. Today I was mostly asphalt. I feel fine.

I did 2.25 miles today on the road. I'm DOING more slowly. Don't want to HURT myself permanently!

Happy Running.

Anyone tried the YOGA stretch???

Low-back pain

I have to add--my low-back pain (the kind that wakes me up at night) has been so minimal since I started BAREFOOTing it that I have to LINK the two together.

I was having LOW-BACK PAIN enough that I wondered what to do about it. Also, my HIP PAIN in the joint of my hip and leg is so much better as well.

So it may be part FORM CHANGE and part BAREFOOT. I don't know. But I do know it's better.

FYI...:)

Another Two-er

I am so happy that my DAUGHTER IN LAW taught me the wonders of BLOGGING so I can complain to all who will listen that MY CALVES HURT SO BAD!!!!

Okay, so I've never had defined calves. They must be the WEAKEST little underdeveloped things on my body. I ran another TWO MILES on the road in the VIBRAMS. It felt good. I loved it. But again, MY CALVES HURT. I think I made them even worse the next day during my workout because I decided to do some stairs.

I think STAIRS use CALVES muscles! Ugh! So, I chickened out today and ran 4 MILES on the road in my SAUCONY's. I used good form, but not as much fun. I'm hoping for a break on the soreness.

I PROMISE not to give up. I'll probably swing TWO MILES tomorrow on the road again. I know I will WIN this little battle if I don't GIVE UP. And I don't give up easily.

Hey, I'm 45, soon to be 46. Give me a BREAK. I'm no super athlete. I'm just a MOM trying to RUN!!

I will be excited to hear how your calves do when you try the VIBRAMS.

Isn't this exciting?

Happy Running!

Perhaps I'll finally get those sexy calves I've always wanted!!! Woo hoo.

Post-run Yoga Stretch

I LOVE this stretch sequence for POST-RUN. Covers all the major muscles in my hips and thighs. Give it a try!

This link has to be copied and pasted into your web browser address bar, but the link above will work.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid416421194?bctid=36856867001

A run on the road

So I thought the sore calves were a thing of the PAST! Nope. I ran 2 miles on the ROAD Saturday--in the VIBRAMS--and my calves are SCREAMING at me again. They are the kind of sore you get when you worked a muscle that you haven't worked in a long time.

It felt REALLY GOOD to run in VIBRAMS on the road--LIGHTER. It was probably around 35degrees. So not warm, but not too cold.

So today I opted to wear my NIKE VOMEROs on the run. Gotta build up slowly I keep telling myself. I sure would hate to get injured now. I still tried to run with good form, but it was a rough day. Not the best run. But I still did 4 MILES--that's what counts!

Happy running!

Oh, just thought I'd mention that part of the reason I run at 5:30 in the morning is so I own the road. I run down the middle to avoid the crowning of the country roads out here. It's hard on my hips to run with one leg up higher than the other. I think that is what got me in to hip troubles in the first place. I ran that way for many years before I figured it out.

The seam in the shoe

I ran 45 minutes the other day on the treadmill! The ONLY complaint I had was where the seam runs on the inside of the Vibram down the bottom side of the big toe, gave me a hot spot. But like my COUSIN Dwayne said, "Just stick one of them round bandages there." So that I will do. :)

I really had no residual pain or swelling or anything the next morning. I really have to say that I can't see a downside--yet. Now, running on the roads may prove different. Can't wait to try.

Until then, when I do run outside, in shoes, I try to keep my form correct. My heart rate is dropping again--when I first started running with the correct form, it was such an EFFORT that my heart rate would rise. But I'm HAPPY to say that all is well.

And the BEST NEWS is that my calves aren't getting sore anymore. I feel like I have ARRIVED!

Happy running.

Another day!

I finally did the full--usual run--of four miles yesterday, on the treadmill. It felt good. I did get a HOT SPOT on by big toe--almost like it wanted to turn to blister. But still, I prefer the barefoot running. I really worked on my stride and keeping my foot fall under my hip. I even did a little video with my camera. My kids thought it was WEIRD that I'd do a video of my feet on a treadmill. What do they know!!


On Wednesday, I did try the VIBRAMS out on the road. It was 22 degrees or so and it was TOO COLD. I made it about half a mile and ran in the house to change into the my shoes. I did run in good form, however, throughout the run, and it still made my calves SORE.

I have a bit of SORENESS on my calves even today after running on Friday. I start to wonder if my calves will ever get strong and adapt.

Running in good form sure shoots my heart rate up. My body must be used to the OLD way of running because I could pretty much predict what would make it raise or lower. Now, my talking is at a minimum because I have to CONCENTRATE so much. Poor Shelly.

I have been doing all my workouts in the VIBRAMS. Still love it. Can't wait for spring to come. Until then, I'll probably have to keep wearing my shoes out on the road. If the temp is above freezing, I may give it another try.

Happy Running!

AMAZING!

I ran 3 miles today on the treadmill in my VIBRAMS! for the first time. I've had a nasty cold and cough and have been down almost a week, but I'm starting to get better.

ANYWAY, it was amazing. I know that may sound a bit dramatic, but until you've run in them, you don't UNDERSTAND!

I have been running stocking-foot or barefoot on the treadmill while waiting for the VIBRAMS. That was great. But the fivefingers are just BETTER, BETTER, BETTER. I don't know if it's because you feel protected or have more grip. But I ran 3 miles and felt great--even after coming back from being sick.

The real STRUGGLE came when I slipped on my Saucony's for one more mile outside. UGH! What a difference. So much more WORK.

I have a feeling my calves are going to scream at me, and I could feel some hotness in the balls of my feet. We'll see. Actually, I just stood up to answer the phone and I'm already feeling some stiffness all through the back of my legs. So tomorrow could be rough. KEEP in mind: I'm in good shape. I workout five days a week. This is really CHALLENGING my body.

I concentrated HARD on running in quick steps-180 per minute and keeping myself learning forward with my footfall under my hips, arms loose at the side and not crossing over my body.

Give them a try and we can comment and blog about it!

BARE FEET!!!!

I have NEVER really liked bare feet. I don't know why. My brother, Lyle and I created a Foot Haters Club--not that I don't like the function of feet, just the look.

I have always made my kids wear shoes. ALWAYS. I've always worn shoes. My husband's fam doesn't really wear shoes--their kids don't. I always thought it was a bit silly. My daughter in law doesn't like shoes. My OWN daughter doesn't like shoes.

I thought it a public courtesy to wear shoes.

WELL....I was hooked up to a book called "Born to Run," through my cousin, Dwayne, on Facebook. He told me he would NEVER think of running the same way again. So I decided to listen and read it.

I have been plagued with hip pain that radiates down into knee pain for years now. I've had to STRETCH and stretch to get loose enough to run without injury. And, hey, I'm 45, right!!!
I learned through this book some pretty interseting things. First and foremost, BAREFOOT RUNNING is the thing!

I don't want to go into any lengthy details--read the book if you're curious--but let's just say that an old foot hater is going BAREFOOT every chance she gets (still not in public). Yeah, I know. Eat HUMBLE PIE. But I'm doing it.

I ordered VIBRAM FIVEFINGERS to run in. I haven't yet ran in them, but I have hit the treadmill three times now barefoot.

It was an awesome experience. I couldn't believe how much lighter you feel and how much less effort it takes. I ran 10 minutes the first run, barefoot, and thought I'd better put my shoes back on. Which, by the way, felt heavy and took more effort to run in. It takes time to build that strength in your feet, especially when you've been a DIE HARD shoe wearer for all of your life.

Anyway, I'm up to 20 minutes on the treadmill barefoot. No problems yet. But to be helpful, perhaps, to someone else, let me tell you that my calves were SOOOOOOOOOOOO SORE for that first week. I cannot explain how sore. I've NEVER been that sore. But this week, not so much. I also felt some slight sorenss in my feet, but not much at all. It's amazing.

Now, I don't know what the road will offer in the VIBRAMS, but I'm excited to try. The road is still covered with snow, so until the snow MELTS, I will just have to keep running on the treadmill until I've built up to a five miler or so. We'll see how that goes.

Also, I'm doing all my weight work outs--lunges, squats etc...without shoes, and can't believe the difference in the strength and grip I have.

I have also changed my running form dramatically with or without shoes. When you run without shoes, your form is better of its own accord. But WITH shoes, you have to really earn it. It's been an ADVENTURE.

I think my running partner, Shelly, is going to read the book now. I haven't stoppped talking about it RUN AFTER RUN. So she's doing it to get some peace. She actually accuses me of laying up at night trying to think of ways to make her SUFFER--I'm always changing up our workouts.

My daughter tried it and loves it. My neice tried it and said it killed her calves as well. Any my little BAREFOOT DAUGHTER IN LAW is so excited to give it a try too. She's an advocate of barefoot sports--always has been.

If you try it, post here and let me know how it's been for you.

Let's HOPE for an injury-free year for JULIE. I hope to see some benefit. But it sure makes SENSE when you read the book!

I'll post in a week and well see how I'm doing. No soreness today, though, from yesterday's run.
Happy running!

SIDE NOTE: It's going to be difficult to find any VIBRAMS until March. I would like to try the KSOs. But there are another kind of VIBRAMS being made that my daughter in law ran across especially made for running. So those may be my next purchase.