Unbreakable

Yes, I know I'm tempting fate with this title. But screw it. I'm just happy to be running again.

It's true. After 11 whole days off (I know, I know), I decided I couldn't take it anymore and laced up my Newtons yesterday. I was literally going crazy. The result? 3.5 miles, foot pain-free. And almost a couple of weeks worth of aggression unloaded.

Today, I laced up my running shoes again and did 4 miles. Again, pain-free.

While I'm still apprehensive about each step I take, I'm slowly gaining more and more confidence about running like the old me. Amazing what some rest and hoards of calcium will do for your body.

Hope this isn't a fluke but as of right now, it looks like San Francisco is a 'go' again. Yay.

As for barefoot running, temporarily on hold until I can be sure that the 'regular' running isn't compromised. To be continued...

Shelved

Hopefully temporarily.

I've been dealing with some pain/discomfort in my left foot for the past couple of weeks. It seems to be coming from the 4th or 5th metatarsal area and I haven't been able to shake it. I tried resting it for a couple of days and it persisted, so now I'm trying to stay off of it for 1-2 weeks and see if that helps (currently on day #5 of no running).

The culprit? Sure, you can point to my recent barefoot/Vibram Five Finger running as the obvious one. However, I've been building up gradually in this area (about 1/4-1/2 mile per week) so I don't think it can be that alone. I think it's the combo of me being unable to run them at a slower pace coupled with recent spike in hill training that's led to this.


My feet during better days..

The biggest fear right now is the obvious one and the 2 words that all runners dread the most: stress fracture.

But I'm not going to freak out quite yet. Instead, I dusted off the ol' road bike and started riding it again to maintain some level of fitness (I even bought new shoes + clips!) and hopefully, I can come back and still run San Francisco. If not and the pain is still there, I will have to scratch that (and other races) and see a podiatrist. We'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Shame, cause I had big plans for this summer/fall. Oh well. Will have to just cross my fingers and hope for the best.

Long Run Sunday: A Run with Stuart

Yesterday morning, I met up with Stuart (from the Quadrathon blog) to join him on his 20-miler. After a few hours of sleep, I was up before the roosters a little after 4am. By 6am sharp, I met up with Stuart at the trailhead off of Puerco Canyon.

I had anticipated cool temps and cloud cover based on the past few days and dressed accordingly. However, once I saw that there was nary a cloud in sky, I quickly ditched the shirt before grabbing my handhelds and off we went. The dirt fire road off of Puerco Canyon quickly started climbing and it was quite the "lung opener" as Stuart put it to start off a run.



Of course the higher we climbed, the better the views we were treated to. We ran along the up and downs the fire roads gave us, dropped into some more technical single tracks down in the canyons, and came back the way we came after a couple of hours. Along the way, we shared some interesting conversation about all things life and running, and even managed to snap a few pics along the way.





We ended up back at the trailhead just as the sun was near its zenith. I called it a day at a little over 19 miles, while Stuart opted to go back out to get his 20+ miles. He's currently training for the Angeles Crest 100 in September, where I also plan on pacing/crewing for him.

My thanks again to Stuart for the company, and for the chocolate milk at the end!

Book Review: Born to Run

It all started with a simple e-mail from Sara a couple of months back, who linked the following article.

I read it. Then I read it again. Barefoot running? A tribe consisting of some of the best ultrarunners in the world? Who were these people? And how could barefoot running possibly be better than running in nice, cushy shoes?

The research began. I started Google-ing about the Tarahumara tribe, posting in the barefoot forums, found out about Vibram Five Fingers, and all of this research invariably led me to Born to Run, a new book by Christopher McDougall. It also just so happens that he wrote the aforementioned article, which I didn't connect initially.

For Chris, or 'Oso' as he's referred to by the tribe given his large stature, it all started with a simple question: How come my foot hurts?


Author Chris McDougall running in the Copper Canyons

Little did he know that the answer lied somewhere deep in the recesses of Copper Canyon, an unforgiving and treacherous terrain down in Mexico where the mythical Tarahumara reside. Home of the best ultrarunners in the world, the book chronicles Chris' quest to track down this elusive tribe with the aid of Caballo Blanco, a mysterious loner who lives amongst them in the vast canyons.

Beyond uncovering how these reclusive people are able to cover hundreds of miles in just a pair of huarache sandals, the book also examines their philosophy and way of life that is so integrally tied in with their running. While most Americans treat it as a means to an end, to the Tarahumara it is truly a cherished art form and a passion that spans generations. With the aid of the Caballo Blanco, their adventurous leads to a climactic 50-mile race in the heart of Tarahumara Land, pitting famed ultrarunners like Scott Jurek and Jenn Shelton against the band of these elite nomadic runners.

Not only has this book quickly risen to the top of my list of favorite running books, but dare I say it has already cracked my top-5 list of favorite all-time books, period. Filled with adventure and wit, this is a page-turner in every sense of the word and will in all likelihood, leave you wanting more by the last page.

I probably "dog-eared" about 20-30 pages and underlined numerous passages so I could go back and focus on them during my 2nd reading (which happened immediately after finishing). I now have a completely renewed philosophy and approach to my running and realize that there is so much more to be extracted from running besides PRs and medals.

Regardless of whether you're a runner or couch potato, I think you will enjoy this book and enjoy it immensely.

*images courtesy of Luis Escobar

Long Run Sunday: Bad with the Good

Because I enjoyed yesterday's brief trail run at Westridge so much, I decided to come back this morning to put in some serious mileage on the hilly/windy fire roads on an out-and-back. 20-25 miles was the goal. The goal, I must stress.



After a late start thanks to forgetting something at home (ashamed to admit what it was), I finally got going a little after 10am. Should have done the math better because even if I had done the 20-25 miles I had set out to do, it would've meant that I would be done 1-1:30pm at best. All I had to my name were a couple of tacos + a beer the night before, and part of a Clif Bar and some coffee earlier this morning.

While I loaded up my Ultimate Direction hydration pack with plenty of fluid (Nuun), what I forgot to pack was more Gu (I had one). Oh, and a couple of salt tablets.



I'm going to break from tradition and spare you a lengthy report. Let's just say that it was a struggle and I just started feeling really weak and lethargic from about miles 12 and on. Had to hike a great majority of it. Stomach was screaming for food. Chest felt tight too. I just really bonked. The nightmare was over after 17 miles.

Have I told you how much I'm starting to loathe running in shoes now? Seriously. I feel so much more engaged when I'm running barefoot or at least, in my Vibrams.

Anyway, I treated myself to a BIG meal at McDonalds to save the afternoon (Big Mac meal + a chicken sandwich). Felt somewhat normal after that. Squeezed in a brief power nap. Got hungry a couple of hours after. Went to work. Watched the Lakers eek out a victory tonight over the Magic. Went over to moms who fed me a big home cooked meal.

All was not lost.

Clean and Clear

The hills were calling me. Or maybe I was finally listening to it beckoning. Either way, I finally got back to my favorite local trailhead (Westridge) about an hour or so before the sunset. It was relatively cool but I ran shirtless and in my Vibrams Five Fingers for only the 2nd time on the trail. Wanted to be as minimal as possible (save for the Garmin to gauge precise distance).

I of course, got the obligatory stares and a couple of questions from hikers about the Vibrams and I stammered a quick reply as I was running away (really need to get a precise answer down on just why I'm wearing the funny looking shoes).



The run itself was almost perfect. The air was great, got the occasional nice ocean breeze and I was so focused on each step (kind of had to be), it just made for a much more meditative experience. About a couple of dozen times I did jam the balls of my feet on some sharp rocks, but otherwise no real problems to report. Completed 5 miles in the end (a new distance PR in the Vibram FFs).

Better yet, I was able to clear the ol' noggin in the clean mountain air of one of my favorite trails. Long run tomorrow. Need to incorporate some marathon paces into the workout, but might just opt for trails yet again!

Nit Twit

Yes, yes...I've finally succumbed and decided to join in on the Twitter bandwagon. I also really hate myself right now. Why? Because all I've been doing is talking smack about all the twitterers. And now here I am, joining the ranks.



Anyway, here's a link to my page should you decide to "follow" my scattered brain concerning all things running and everything else.

Ugh. As if I needed more distractions in my life...

Back from Yosemite

The Good: great company, finally caught up on some sleep, fantastic food, was either barefoot or in my Vibram Five Fingers the entire time, road trippin with my girl, the beach, bike paths everywhere, literally in the middle of heaven

The Bad: screaming kids, threat of bears every night, pesky squirrels, scattered thunderstorms, didn't run as much as I'd hoped, didn't read as much as I'd hoped, no rafting, no showering, no epic hikes/runs (Half Dome, El Capitan, etc)


Sara atop Taft Point (elev ~7,800 ft)


Seeing Yosemite Valley on foot


Me and the fellas in front of Mirror Lake


A view of Half Dome from bike paths


My only trail run en route to Taft


One of the many diverse bike paths Yosemite has to offer


Very high


I love this place

Good news is, I'll be back there in a couple of weeks with the fam. That's right - twice in one month. Maybe I'll finally climb Half Dome this time.

Back to our regularly scheduled program for now. More running to look forward to. Yay.