4 Miles on the W&OD Trail

Today was a pretty stressful day.  It started out poorly due to a poor night's sleep and didn't get much better at work where nothing was working right (thankfully not my fault).  Anyway...

when I got home it was warm enough and not raining so I geared up and went out for a run.  I decided to run 4 miles all forefoot striking.  My calves had loosened up enough from Friday's run to try this new technique again.

I felt good running today.  It melted most of the stress away and I was just "out there running".  But at the start of the fourth mile it started raining, so I picked up the pace and hurried home.  Unfortunately on the ball of my left forefoot (just under the big toe) I started to develop a blister.  In all the training for and running of the marathon I never once got a blister, but here after only 4 miles I was developing one!  I think, with this new running gait, I may be more prone to blisters than before.  I'll have to see if the new New Balance Minimus 20s that I ordered will help with this.

10K on the W&OD Trail

Today I continued to practice a forefoot strike in my running gait.  I ran the first three miles using a forefoot strike.  Then I switched back to my regular heel strike because I could tell my calves were getting very tired and I was losing form.

I think my calves will be sore tomorrow.

It still amazes me how harsh the heel strike style feels after having run a few miles with a forefoot strike!

If I'm really going to adapt to this "natural" running gait then I'm going to have to buy new "minimal"  running shoes.  Then when I go running to practice my new gait I'll only run with a forefoot strike.  If I want to run more with a heel strike I'll have to change shoes.  For a while this might be inconvenient, but I think it's better for my new running style to not run in my stability control Brooks Adrenaline GTS 11s.  Maybe this weekend I'll shop for something else.

Which brings up the question... what to wear for "minimal" footwear.  I know it won't be Vibram 5 Finger shoes.  Maybe New Balance's Minimus 20s?  We'll see what feels good on my foot when I try them on.

5 Miles on the Mall

Today I went out at 11:30 to run.  It was a spectacular "Indian Summer" day with temperatures approaching 70 and little wind and low humidity.  I decided to run on the Mall today and did the Capital Building to the Lincoln Memorial round trip.

I've been reading about the benefits of running with a "toe-strike" gait instead of what's become a standard for runners - the "heel strike".  I decided to try running the first two miles with a toe-strike and then run the remainder in my normal fashion.  After the first half mile the new stride didn't seem so awkward and I was able to complete the two miles pretty easily.  When I switched back to my normal heel-striking gait I noticed how much more impact there was on my entire body!  It was quite pronounced.  Regardless, I completed 5 miles and enjoyed the run a lot.

Now (a few hours later) I can really feel how much more exercise I got in my calves!  I'm glad I only tried 2 miles of the new technique.  If I'm going to make the switch to this new, "natural" form of running it will have to be in a slow, measured fashion (much like my original build-up in miles).  We'll see how it goes in the coming weeks and months...

9 Miles in Central Park (Saturday, 11/12)

Handan and I were up in NJ/NY for the long weekend (Veteran's Day).  We spent Friday walking around NYC (Central Park, Greenwich Village, Times Square, etc.) and then Saturday we went back to Central Park to run.  Both of us had tired legs.  I'd planned on running twice around the park for a total of 12 miles but after 9 miles my legs were getting tired and I also needed to find a bathroom, so I quit after 9 miles. 

It was a beautiful day in the park.  Cool and breezy, but clear as a bell and the fall colors were spectacular!

A Week (or so) After the MCM 2011

11/3/2011 - W&OD Trail

11/7/2011 - Folly Lick Trail

11/7/2011 - Folly Lick Trail

11/9/2011 - Hains Point

11/9/2011 - Hains Point