Mileage Reporting Week 23 of 2015

I didn't have any trouble with that the first 3 years of barefoot running, then this last year it has been more of a problem. I have tried to balance making sure I am running lightly with sometimes running in my Lunas to let it heal. Then, I got sick and couldn't run at all for a week and it finally seems to be all the way better, even after running my recent half marathon that was on a lot of rough asphalt. I asked about it on this thread before I got sick: http://thebarefootrunners.org/threa...nd-how-do-you-deal-with-it.18269/#post-172027

Thanks for the reply and advice, Laura. There were no visible indications of injury just tenderness and the vague achy feeling when you apply pressure as with a bruise on your body. It seems to be resolving itself even with Friday's run. Onwards.
 
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When it comes to barefoot running I think just about anything is possible. :confused: No matter how hard we try to convert later in life I don't think most of our feet will ever be as strong and durable as if we were barefoot from childhood. I've bruised around the outer edges (contact point mind you, I touch down with the outside edge towards the forefoot) before, but that was trying to run fast in minimalist shoes actually. I think with the added layer I couldn't feel how hard I was hitting. Yours might be different. I also seem to get some pains between a couple metatarsals when they move too much independent of each other occasionally.

Thanks for watching out for me, Tristan! My landings primarily start with the outer edge of my feet so they take a beating especially on concrete. Last week's Friday run entailed about 10 times 'round a NYC block that was sometimes rough and I might have encountered a pebble somewhere. Fortunately, the tenderness seems to be diminishing.
 
My landings primarily start with the outer edge of my feet so they take a beating especially on concrete.
"Pancake flat" is a phrase that "Last Place Jason" taught me a few years ago (I used to have a much more complex description). It seems to work for me and it certainly ensures that the load is evenly spread across the foot at once and helps to reduce abrasion and the potential for bruising.
 
I've had a couple of minor bruises -normally as a result of not properly looking where my feet are landing, and then unexpectedly landing on a small stone or branch/twig of some description.. Nothing that hasn't sorted itself out though thankfully -so hope yours is the same.
 
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"Pancake flat" is a phrase that "Last Place Jason" taught me a few years ago (I used to have a much more complex description). It seems to work for me and it certainly ensures that the load is evenly spread across the foot at once and helps to reduce abrasion and the potential for bruising.

That's very good and it works well for trail running too!
 
Pancake flat, huh. Sounds kind of like a flat-footed landing. How does one do that gently. Mind and body are disconnecting for me now. As with a lot of things I am probably over-thinking this. Does the pancake include the heel section of the sole?

I also suspect that I my stride might not be perfectly symmetrical. My right knee tighter and tender when I pull it to my body compared to my left knee. I am not sure how to assure better balance if symmetry is the issue at all.
 
Pancake flat, huh. Sounds kind of like a flat-footed landing. How does one do that gently. Mind and body are disconnecting for me now. As with a lot of things I am probably over-thinking this.

Relaxing more (and thinking less) helped me a lot. (Flexing ankles and knees helps keep it gentle - and prevents over-striding)

Does the pancake include the heel section of the sole?

Yes!

I also suspect that my stride might not be perfectly symmetrical. My right knee tighter and tender when I pull it to my body compared to my left knee. I am not sure how to assure better balance if symmetry is the issue at all.

Try easing off on the concept of pace and run as silently as possible. Your body will likely sort itself out!
 
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Friday - another 6 miles in my Luna's
Saturday - 4 miles barefoot in the morning to test my soles and they did well. Later in the day a lovely 20 minutes of swimming in the sunshine.
Sunday - theoretically a rest day, but lots of squats pulling little weeds, plus I am going to get in some pool time in this hot weather.

Mild Running Dilemma - While I want to keep slowly upping my mileage, I find I am not inspired to commit to training for the marathon again in the fall. I am trying to weigh how disappointed I will be if I don't do it with how relieved I will be to just build up mileage and maybe do one in another year from a stronger base. I think it is a combination of getting sick just before this half and last fall having been so stressful that is making me think of backing off of the longer "racing" for now. I feel pretty good about the idea of just doing another half in the fall. That actually sounds fun.

Sounds like you're burned out some from running do what feels right to you if your heart is on the half do the half then.
That's one of the reasons I never sign up for a race way ahead of time it takes all the fun from running for me it feels more like a job to train for a long race. My "training" is, run long when I feel like it without the pressure of training for a race because I signed up for it(I always sign up for a race on the spur of the moment).
Like this weekend I thought I'll go for a longish run(14-15 mi) but my body won't have any of it so I stopped the run at 9 miles, if I were following a training schedule for 14-15 miles I am sure the run would've been miserable.
Be kind to yourself and give your body a much needed rest.
 
Laura, similar dilemma here so I sympathize. I really wanted to make it a goal to run atleast 1 marathon per year. Heck I really want to step up to a 50k or more sometime soon. But I just struggle too much getting mileage in and it ends up hurting me physically more than it helps, so decided no marathon for me this year. It was a bit sad coming to this decision, but felt relieved at the same time. There is still next year, if I can prove I can get my mileage up. I have enjoyed trying to get my speed up for the shorter races this year, so its not like distance is everything. Not trying to talk you out of it though, hope you can bounce back and go for it. ;)

Mild Running Dilemma - While I want to keep slowly upping my mileage, I find I am not inspired to commit to training for the marathon again in the fall. I am trying to weigh how disappointed I will be if I don't do it with how relieved I will be to just build up mileage and maybe do one in another year from a stronger base. I think it is a combination of getting sick just before this half and last fall having been so stressful that is making me think of backing off of the longer "racing" for now. I feel pretty good about the idea of just doing another half in the fall. That actually sounds fun.
 
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Sounds like you're burned out some from running do what feels right to you if your heart is on the half do the half then.
That's one of the reasons I never sign up for a race way ahead of time it takes all the fun from running for me it feels more like a job to train for a long race. My "training" is, run long when I feel like it without the pressure of training for a race because I signed up for it(I always sign up for a race on the spur of the moment).
Like this weekend I thought I'll go for a longish run(14-15 mi) but my body won't have any of it so I stopped the run at 9 miles, if I were following a training schedule for 14-15 miles I am sure the run would've been miserable.
Be kind to yourself and give your body a much needed rest.

Thanks, Dama and Tristan. Good input.
 
Hi guys and gals. Look like everyone is still running. I've had some down time with a back injury and some other minor foot problems. Busy as ever with farm, family, and the trail marking job. Back is better, foot is better.

About 60 shod miles marking and cleaning the Bryce race last week. Running, hiking miles were all with shoes or sandals, but everything else that weekend was barefoot (aid station work, driving, pre-race meeting, etc). Race was a success, most everyone had a good time. It's just that %2 that make you question why you do it.