This Week's Running Progress

Trying to get back into things after resting my feet to let them recover from some small things, I went running four days in a row. It would have been five except last Monday was frigid here, more than I wanted to tackle. Tuesday, four miles. Wednesday, four miles. Thursday, four miles plus a little bit. Today, Friday, 6 miles. I was afraid that running every day would leave my feet raw, but it hasn't! The area I have been running has some very harsh sidewalks. In order to prevent soem foot pain and a recurring blood blister on my left Big Toe, I've really been concentrating on my form. It paid off! No problems, even through the rough stuff. And my feet did not feel stiff and crampy after my runs. So I must be doing something right.

FYI the form I'm working on maintaining is this: Keeping knees bent more. Keeping feet right beneath the body. My rule is to not put my toes in front of my thighs. Maintaining an even height - no bobbing up and down. Keeping my cadence high, 180 per minute. Plus a new thing. I decided that my left foot has been pointed too far to the inside, so I'm focusing on keeping it pointed slightly outward. Since thinking about this an ankle pain I've had for the past month has not been bothering me this week at all. Plus I have not gotten the blood blister on my left Big Toe like I did before. I have been trying to focus more on form than on speed, yet my times are not all that bad.

A very good running week! Now, to increase my distances and to run each day!

Vancouver Barefoot

Update

Well, I went out running yesterday in beautiful sunny weather and ran for only about three miles. I was pressed for time plus I didn't want to push my feet to where they might get injured, so I took it easy with several walking breaks along the way. It was a very pleasant experience, my feet handled it very well. Saturday's little cuts did not bother me at all.

I tried to out today, but work was wayyy to pressing and I didn't have time, plus our temperature took a dive and it has been much colder all day today.

I still might get out later today, just because I want to set up a pattern of daily running again.

Happy trails!

Ryan
Vancouver Barefoot

Running Pics

I finally got a couple of pics of me dressed for barefoot running! Here they are...


I went out running last weekend and did 8 miles. The course I followed started and ended really badly. The first and last 2 miles were covered with lots and lots of tiny gravel on the sidewalks, leftovers from when they sanded the streets for ice a couple of months ago. The gravel ends up getting knocked up on the sidewalk and nobody ever cleans those off! The back half of the course was very nice, an asphalt bike path that was relatively clear and smooth.

Between work, church, and temple service, I end up wearing shoes most of the time, so my feet get kind of soft in between runs. This didn't help my Saturday success much. I got a few little cuts on my right foot. Strange, its usually my left foot that gets the most damage.

I'm thinking I need to run more frequently, not necessarily longer. So, I'm going out today (Wed) for the first time since Saturday's run.

Ardidub
Barefoot in Vancouver