The Buildup

Perhaps a bit reckless, but nothing extraordinary comes from ordinary actions. Last weekend I attempted my first 10 mile trail run absolutely barefoot. Having not run Lakeshore Park much this year, I forgot what the terrain was like in the more distant sections of the park.

First few miles were fine. By the time I got to mile six I was on the verge of throwing up from the pain. Had to chicken out and grab the FiveFinger KSOs for the rest of the run. The difference is amazing, though. Just adding some protection almost revolutionized the way I ran. More fearless of roots and rocks, the pace dropped by over a minute per mile. I don’t necessarily see this as good – just something to note.

Going to keep working at it, still hoping to do a barefoot trail marathon before the season is up.

Despite the pain in my feet, I’ll keep at it. The ultimate purpose is still in place – I’m running with better form, gentler and more in tune with my body. Actually listening to my body. The knee is fine, with soreness and stiffness working itself out in a matter of a day or two – not months.

Back to Lakeshore Park, Barefoot #2

This should have been a longer run, but I didn’t feel like emptying the tank. It’s both bogus and sad to me that 4 miles was all I did on this fine, beautiful, near tropical Sunday. But the dismay is diluted with pride in the fact that I ran these slippery, muddy miles barefoot, and that my legs feel wonderful, and that I feel like I could have gone twice as far.

Maybe I’ll try stacking on more miles in the near future. I’m just enjoying it right now.

This was my first post-snow run at Lakeshore for the year. I almost like it better when its frozen; the general pestilence like mosquitoes, horseflies, and Oakley-clad, shirtless frat boys on mountain bikes aren’t there in the winter.

They were out in full force today.

Still, Lakeshore is one of my favorite trails. Not too much climbing, though rife with rolling, gentle ups and downs. The trails are soft on the feet and perfect for barefooting. No huge stretches of wood chips, and maybe only a few spots of sharp gravel – nothing to really ruin your day though.

Great trail, and a great run today. I can’t wait for the summer. Especially once Max gets his mileage up.

Congrats to Dirty and Brian on conquering Trail Marathon today. Hope I can join you next year.

2009 Goal: Barefoot Marathon

The more I think about it the less I think any of the summer or even early-fall races of reasonable distance will be possible. Things are feeling better and better, and I want it to stay that way. To be sure of that, and to get the most out of what I love about running, my focus for 2009 will be to continue barefooting on as many trails as possible – with the ultimate goal being a grandiose 26.2 completely unshod.

Ideally, I’d like this to be for the North Country Trail Run (which I DNS’d last year) in late October. The timing seems comfortable and from what I understand, the trails are pretty plush. That said, I feel no real inclination to do this for any official race, and might just as well go up by myself and run it alone (or with anyone who wants to join) and un-chipped. Frankly, I’d probably enjoy that more, anyway. It’s neat getting official t-shirts and feeling the all-around energy surrounding race-day – but it never quite compares to the peace I feel when going it alone.

So here it is, officially entering my 2009 objective. No big races (and thus no entry fees), no time goal. Just the distance and the method. And the hope that I’m still feeling fine afterward.

Photos from Grand Island

As promised, they’re mostly uploaded now. I’m testing a program called Plogger as an alternative to Flickr. For one, it’s free and for two you can customize it and ideally expand on it. For now, I’ve just uploaded a few things and began tinkering with the stylesheet. But I digress – back to running.

Here are the photos.

Back from Grand Island

Sunrise over Lake Superior, as seen from Grand Island

We’re back from the U.P. and everything went very well. Mae enjoyed her first 10k trail and actually thought it was ‘easy.’ Her sights are now set on the Detroit ½ Marathon in October. I’ve promised to run it with her, though I promised myself to never do a street race again after running it last year – I’ve got to be supportive.

The Grand Island marathon was, as you could expect, ridiculously beautiful. At too many points, you can peek off the trail and look straight down 200+ feet sandstone cliffs with the waves of Lake Superior crashing into them. Latter portions of the trail were lined with giant ferns that gave the place a sort of pre-historic feel, and other parts were right along the water. Not a single part of the race was visually un-entertaining; particularly the part at mile 19 where I saw a black bear watching me from about 50 feet away. My heart dropped as I realized I was eating a Clif Bar, and I casually ate it faster than I could chew, walked past him and kept eye contact (as I’ve read you’re supposed to). He stayed put, and all was well.

Though the course wasn’t technical or too challenging, I found myself taking way too long. At times, just relaxing and actually sitting on the side of the course, absorbing the scenery. Around mile 24, not caring about my chip-time, I slowed it down to a walk to soak it all in, not wanting it to end. I know I could have pushed harder, as I felt absolutely fine the next day.

All-in-all, it was the best trip we’ve had in some time. That’s due, in no small part, to the hospitality Tim Looney and his friends showed us after the race. Great conversations, dandelion wine and a U.P. cover band doing songs from The Zombies and Santana were a perfect cap on an absolutely gorgeous day.

Pictures to follow. Life’s full-speed at the moment.

Applicable to Trail Runners

As I prepare myself for the Grand Island Trail Marathon, apparently the only race in Michigan where the race director warns you about bears ahead of time, this comes to mind.

Ultra Week #4 // Trail Running Anniversary

A relatively light week three comes to a close. This was a ‘down’ week to prep for next weekend’s 17 miler. I bumped up the weights and resistance training on account of the low mileage, and can feel things tightening up ever-so-slowly. The ‘chesticles’ I earned from a gluttonous holiday of overeating and under-running are now receding, and my legs feel alive again. Cross training has helped, and our Farmington Hills YMCA is a convenient 5 mile round trip run away. Throwing some weight training in the middle of a slow day helps me feel more productive.

Today’s run, the ‘long one’ of the week, was a 12.5 miler at a pretty slow pace, 10 minute miles more or less, all on very boring roads with traffic and polluted puddles. I’m trying to keep my 10+ mile runs at the pace I’d like to run the 50. Anything below and I’ll keep pushing for the 8 minute miles.

I’m finding that was probably my biggest mistake of last season, and likely why I never shed the weight I was aiming to. I ran often and I ran far, but I never really pushed myself the way I should have – averaging 12 minute miles on my 20 mile runs and 10 on my regular 10 milers. In retrospect, I was probably just getting used to becoming a ‘runner’ and still apprehensive about putting my body through all this. Plus, I just really liked the zen-like, mellowing out effect of a long, leisurely jog.

That all changes now.

After some thought and deliberation, I’ve decided to cave in and pick up a GPS watch. I heard this would be coming out soon, so I went online, did some research, and I liked what I saw; it’s not like wearing an iPhone on your wrist, like their earlier models. I’ll be pre-ordering mine on the next non-mortgage-payment paycheck.

Am anxiously awaiting next Sunday, which will mark the 1 year anniversary of my first trail run. A year ago this week, I was carbo-loading and tapering for (what was back then) a grueling 8 mile run through Bald Mountain. I still look back with fondness on that first run. I had no ‘running gear’ to speak of – just my New Balance 872s. On top was a pair of thermal underwear, crappy shorts and a long sleeve t-shirt. The trail was semi-frozen and muddy and had that soggy-leaf smell I’ve come to associate with springtime in Michigan. In my excitement I ran hard and carelessly, plowing through puddles on purpose and dirtying myself up just for the fun of it.

I do the same still, however I’m better equipped (actual trail shoes, body glide, Injinis, etc.).

In celebration of the 1 year mark, I’m heading back up to Lake Orion for a lovely 17 mile/double-loop around the park. This will be my longest trail run in as long as I can remember. In theory, I should be heading out to the Poto in preparation for the Running Fit Trail Marathon, but the more I think about that the more I think I should just run its half and not push myself too far off my training schedule. 26.2 isn’t on the menu for a few more weeks yet, and recovering from it will throw me off course.

That’ll make the year’s first Marathon the Grand Island, which I’m looking forward to almost as much as the 50.

Ultra Training Week #2

And feeling “ultra weak”. It’s week 2 of the training plan, and I managed to surpass the goal and log 53 lovely miles last week. I’m sore everywhere, including restless legs that keep me up at night, black toes on my right foot and blistered toes on my left. All evidence of how out of shape I let myself get over the holidays (and I still have about 15 more pounds to shed before we hit the target).

The pain’s not a big deal if you view it as an indication of progress, though. So long as it’s not intolerable and I’m not having to mask it with Ibuprofen just to get a short run out the door, I’m assuming my body is OK with it.

I’ve cut cheese and dairy out of the diet to see if it makes any difference in healing times and energy levels. I’ve been experimenting with some interesting new vegan recipes (self-invented/improvised) such as Red Beans & Rice, which I haven’t had in the 14 years since I stopped eating meat.

Treadmill pace is whittling down into the low 8/high 7 minute mile range. Distances are getting back up there. It feels good to feel somewhat back in the game.

A nice long trail this weekend will be a good change of pace, and hopefully the last snowy run of the year. Sure I love them, but having to gear up like an Eskimo is getting tired.

Slow Going / Potawatomi Practice Run

It’s been pretty slow again. Mostly doing short, 4-5 mile runs at a very quick (for me) pace. Last week’s 12 miler didn’t quite hit the spot. When the weather’s not raining ice it’s just barely scraping the double-digit mark. I realized I wasn’t fully utilizing my thirty dollars per month YMCA membership fee, and am trying to get in a little more treadmill time in the midst of these sub-zero wind chills.

Am planning my first visit to the Potawatomi Trail this Saturday, which will also be my first practice run for the Running Fit Trail Marathon in April. I’m ambitiously looking to do all seventeen miles in the big loop, but will realistically [probably] keep it around ten. Five miles out and five miles back.

I’m also hoping not to get shot by any hunters.

Up Next

The Grand Island Trail Marathon – for July. I hear there’s bear droppings everywhere on this course. Depending on who you are and how you look at it, that can be a good thing or a bad thing. I’ll try to ‘act natural’ and go with the former.