Holy Assaulted Arches Batman

Yeah, yeah, I know...too much too soon. :( I was having another one of those weeks where I didn't get a chance to run much (read "not at all") and I was feeling my oats. My last run had been a totally barefoot 3 1/2 mile run on streets & sidewalks. No blisters. Okay...obviously I'm ready to go long!

So I'm heading out on Sunday afternoon...trail or path...trail or path...oh, what the hell, how 'bout both! I'm not sure if insanity has levels or types, but some form of insanity (or alien mind control) had taken over.

I go back to Turkey Mountain (in the daylight this time) and run 5 miles barefoot on the trails. Actually, my trail runs @ Turkey Mountain are kind of like running/power hiking. :) Then I had one of those "epiphany" moments. I was thinking how much less pain I would be in if I had worn trail shoes, or even VFFs. And then I realized why it is important that I run barefoot. Not because it feels differently than running in shoes, but because it actually "feels".

In shoes, minimalist footwear, whatever you call it, there is something between you and mother nature. And it does affect my form, because it filters the message. But when you strap on the big shoes, how far/fast you run is more a product of your cardiovascular fitness, 'cause you're just throwing those feet out there and they are so insulated from reality that they just keep churning.

But barefoot, you honestly can only do what your feet are ready for (or so I thought). So I'm kind of dealing with the pain of all those rocks and roots and hills, oh my (sorry, couldn't resist the Oz thing) and all of a sudden I'm hitting the halfway point. I'm feeling pretty good so I keep leaping and running, sometimes hobbling and all of a sudden...I'm through! Roughly 5 miles in a little over an hour. Sweet!

Hey, I'm still feeling pretty good...look, over there, a paved path calling my name. Looking back, it must have actually been calling "stupid", and I must have mistaken it for Mike. It's the only logical way I could have been lured down that path. :)

Ilook at my watch...I can still run for 30 minutes before I "need" to leave the run, so I take off down the path. A little over 1 1/2 mile in I turn around. Quick cadence, shorten stride, pick up feet, bend knees...God this is boring!! Running on a path is mind-numbing compared to trail running. Granted you have fewer "obstacles", but I digress (not that it's the first time).

On the way back to the car I passed not one, but two copperhead snakes on the path. I tried to give them as wide a berth as I could. Honestly, in my life I have never seen more than one copperhead "live" and never as large as these were. And there I am in barefeet & running shorts. I guess I could have attempted to "slay" them with my water bottle. ;) Well, that kind of spiced up the old path run!

Finished around 3 1/2 miles on the path, averaging 9:19 min/mile. Not bad for a 49 year old guy who had just finished running 5 miles on trails. So, at this point I'm feeling pretty dang pleased with myself.

I'm posting this two days later...my feet are in such pain...especially my "tender ol' arches. I guess I stepped on a few too many rocks/sticks, or maybe I shouldn't have run 8 1/2 miles barefoot (when my previous long bf run was 5). I was able to go for an easy walk this morning (in VFFs). I just couldn't stand the thought of walking on my gravel drive way barefoot.

I'll get there...because "feeling" changes the whole running experience. Maybe I'll try those gravel bucket things... ;)

Good running!

Comments

I can sympathize some here. I've banged up my arches pretty good on trails...both barefoot and in VFFs, so shoes don't always protect you anyway. I also know how hard it is to resist pushing the distance...my only advice from my experience earlier this summer is to make sure to rest up after adding 50% to your long run. It's too easy to keep running long in that next 1-2 weeks and end up overtraining. Some folks can get away with it, but some (like myself) end up getting hurt.
 
Sounds like a good run, despite the aftermath. The worst I've had to deal with so far is raw spots and blisters, but the farthest I've gone thus far is two miles (with raw spots). I feel like every time I push it just a little I'm sore the next day. Ihaven't tried trail running at all yet, although I do a fair amount on the power lines down the road. It's all grass, not even a 2-rut trail, which makes it really nice in the middle of my run (sidewalk or asphalt there and back).

Hopefully you'll heal quickly and be back out there better, stronger, faster (child of the 70s!)than before.
 

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