Superbowl through Mardi Gras and Games Opening week of running!

[OakLeaf]

Oakleaf--I'm not brave enough to try barefoot running yet. But glad you are liking it! I've started reading ChiRunning and am working on my form. I am enjoying it so far.

I did a :

1 mile warm-up
3 x 1600 @ 9:30m/mile
w/ 800m @ 10:30m/miles between
1 mile cool-down

I did it! Yay! I've never really done consistant speed work. This is new to me. I'm always so proud of myself when I can cross a work out off my calendar

Yay lime! That looks like a tough workout. How did you feel afterward?

I've been working up the nerve to run barefoot for a long, long time. It was a combination of things that made me finally decide I was ready to try it. I've kept the orthotics in my shoes, and I definitely don't feel like I'm ready to go without them - barefoot, my feet can move freely; in shoes, with the limited range of motion, I feel like I still need correction.

Anyway, I'm not even up to a whole mile yet. And only on the beach! So far, the hardest thing about it has been last week when I took off my running shoes for a little barefooting, then didn't want to put my sandy feet back in them. I had to run across a busy road and walk the rest of the way home on my tender soles. Just a quarter of a mile - but Ow! Ow! Ow!


R&R - eeek! Be careful out there.

Jolt - hope the iron supplements work out for you. I kind of wonder whether I should try one now and then. I LOVE greens - probably eat greens four days a week - but so much of the nutritional content depends on the soil they're grown in.

[GLC1968]

I've been working up the nerve to run barefoot for a long, long time. It was a combination of things that made me finally decide I was ready to try it. I've kept the orthotics in my shoes, and I definitely don't feel like I'm ready to go without them - barefoot, my feet can move freely; in shoes, with the limited range of motion, I feel like I still need correction.

Oak - I was the same way, but two runs ago, I pulled my orthotics out of my running shoes (and replaced them with plain flat insoles from Walgreens since I'd long ago thrown out all my original insoles). As long as I pay attention to my form (mid-foot strike, light quick feet, good posture, relaxed below the knee, etc) then it's totally fine. I had highly corrective orthotics that I haven't run or hiked or played tennis without in 5 years. Two runs without them, and my feet feel 100% fine. The pain that prompted these things is no where to be seen! I don't know if it's from the barefooting or from the Chi Running efforts, but I'm thrilled!

And, the bonus? Without those things in my shoes - I have WAY more room for my toes! They can actually spread a little in my wide shoes - something they could not do with the orthotics in there.

Maybe try a half mile without them and see how you feel? It's so liberating!!

[limewave]

On tap for today:

5 miles easy with 3 acceleration strides (hopefully I don't slip on the ice!).

[indigoiis]

Got in 4.24 today at lunch, in shoes (left the VFFs at home.) It was pretty good, I tore out the insoles of the shoes. I did feel it in my ankles, though. Overall was a good run. It's beautiful out!

[Jolt]

It definitely was a beautiful day for a run today! I ran some easy trails but still did an awful lot of walking. I know this is a bit late for the thread where we were all comparing heart rates, but I wore the HRM on today's run and the numbers were as follows: minimum 112 (must've been during a walking break), max 204, average 178, and during the running portions I saw an awful lot in the mid to upper 190s. That's high even for me!

[colby]

Wow, just catching up on this week... I have had a heck of a week at work. You ladies have been busy. 20 mile runs, fast 10ks, negative splits, just running at all, all good!!

Let's see, Sunday I did about 6 miles, observing pace and relative effort (brain check). Tuesday was hill repeats - 2 minutes up and over, finishing strong (teaching me to keep pushing OVER the hill, not just until I see the top ). Thursday was intervals by # of steps - 100 hard/50 easy, 200/100, 300/150, 400/200, start at 100 again and repeat for 20 minutes (I make it through one full round and about halfway through the second).

I finally got my VFFs (they are in super short supply and I wear a small mens size), I think I want to marry them. The shoes/toes are long enough that I can wear socks with them and get in and out comfortably. I have been wearing them every day since Tuesday, but have not ran in them. I can't tell the difference between normal end of a long week muscle fatigue and anything from the shoes. I am really looking forward to running in them. Freedom for toes! I love being barefoot, and I like the safety of the VFFs considering the gravel and glass and other nasty stuff I see on the trails and sidewalks.

My next race isn't until May (12k), so I'm just doing Ironman training... long runs upward of 10-12 miles right now (looks like this weekend is a warm-up, 8-10, cool-down).

[hammertime]

had 'good' plans to get in a good run last night, when.... while pulling in the gym parking lot my car started flashing 'oil pressure, stop car now', great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so i went inside anyway, but lost my mojo to run I hate car problems. Decided to bike with the boyfriend for 30min on a high cadence spin and came home and worried all night of what the prognosis of my car will be, LOL.

We'll see the prognosis this morning after I bring it in, and after I go for a dental cleaning... anyone wanna have 'my' Saturday?, LOL!!

I will try to run today... hopefully 5-6 miles

[indigoiis]

I hear ya on car problems, Hammertime. But don't neglect an oil light! It's usually bad news when those things come on. But look at the bright side: an excuse to bicycle commute!

I ran 5.25 today with DH. My goal was to stay with him, hills and all. I managed to until the last 500 ft where he took off in a sprint. I let him win.

Running in shoes yesterday really messed up my ankles. They were pretty sore today. I hope it doesn't effect tomorrow's long run.

[skhill]

This week, it feels like the weather and life have been conspiring to keep me from running. Ice one day, 30mph winds another, etc... I managed a grand total of 12 miles through Fri.

But today I finally got in a decent run. It was warmer (20 F) with almost no wind, and the roads are mostly ice-free at last. So I managed 11.5 miles. Oh, and my route took me up two of my least favorite hills on the bike. Somehow, they're not as bad running....

[Bike Chick]

My training partner and I got our 5 mi run in while DH was running in a local half marathon race. We started with the group and turned around at the water stop at the 3 mile mark and headed back. It was fun running somewhere new.

[OakLeaf]

Mile repeats x 3. I had to drag myself kicking and screaming out the door. Been a lazy few days.

[WindingRoad]

Not a great run week for me. So many tests at school then my sickness started coming back on me so sat on my bum all Friday just to give my body a good solid rest. Been battling the bug with vitamins and feeling pretty good today so I did a 5.5 mile run indoors. Most of my sickliness has been respiratory and sinus so I figured the gym would be safest.

More snow predicted for Monday, gimme a break already!

[Aggie_Ama]

Allergies have been killing me and once again my job is wearing me out so I skipped a couple workouts in favor of sleep. Yesterday I went for my 8 mile long run. It was painful, I got a blister on my toe and my muscles were sore the most of the run but I was happy to have the run under my belt. I am worried about my half marathon because my work is making it hard to keep my motivation. I spent 9-10 hours a day stressed out and all I want is to rest. I am so stressed out running doesn't even make me feel better, only sleeping does.

[colby]

Allergies have been killing me and once again my job is wearing me out so I skipped a couple workouts in favor of sleep. Yesterday I went for my 8 mile long run. It was painful, I got a blister on my toe and my muscles were sore the most of the run but I was happy to have the run under my belt. I am worried about my half marathon because my work is making it hard to keep my motivation. I spent 9-10 hours a day stressed out and all I want is to rest. I am so stressed out running doesn't even make me feel better, only sleeping does.

If it comes to it, there are other half marathons you can do. Your body and your sanity are more important. Try some informal running, shorter distances, just keep your feet under you. If it's not relaxing, it's not fun, and if it's not fun, you're not going to want to do it anyway. You have a box of time to fit your training in every day and work and life do come first... sometimes your box gets squeezed, sometimes you have to give in. Try to stay positive (easier said than done, I know... I've had a couple of stressful weeks this last month, including one where I started to break out in a rash for no absolute reason :P).