0 miles!

It isn't even 6:30 and I am already home, that's a first for 2007. This is the first day in about a month that I haven't done any running. I am icing my leg right know and am doing toe raises (in case I just have shin splints.) My leg will be fine, I just don't want to take any chances at this point.

"Get going. Get up and walk if you have to, but finish the damned race."
Ron Hill to Jerome Drayton during the 1970 Boston Marathon

3 miles, 9 min pace

I am a little worried about the pain in my left shin/calf. I was hoping it was just a one or two day thing but it is getting worse today. I Think it is just a bruise but if I keep running on it, it will only get worse. I am going to see how it feels tomorrow, but I think it may be best to stop running until next Saturday and hope it heels. I don't know if I could run 50 miles with it feeling like it does right now.


"We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon."
-Emil Zatopek

4 miles, 9:30 pace

My legs were feeling the 7 miles of no shoes from yesterday. I will probably run 20-30 miles this week, only short 3-6 mile runs.

Vibram FiveFingers

7 Miles, 8:34 pace

Back in January I did some research about the benefits of barefoot running. I learned that it can help your form, reducing injury and strengthening your lower legs and feet. While looking at Barefoot Ted’s website I saw that he had completed the Angel Crest 100 in these things called Vibram FiveFingers. They are foot wear created to mimic being barefoot while giving you grip and a thin layer of protection from pebbles, broken glass, sticks, ect. This is something that really appealed to me so I ordered a pair. This was right before Old Man Winter decided to drop the hammer on the Midwest. It has been so cold that I haven’t gotten a chance to try the Vibrams, until today! I just got back from a 7 mile run with them. It was great! My feet felt so light, and I could feel the ground with every step. It really makes you aware of your foot strike, causing you to strike first with your ball or mid-foot instead of your heel which causes stress on the knee, and just plain hurts. My strides felt very comfortable and smooth. Because these “shoes” have no support, it will take sometime for my feet to strengthen to where I can go on longer runs with them. Around mile four I started to feel the pounding on the balls of my feet, but I had no real discomfort throughout the entire run. I bought the Vibrams with the intent of making them a big part of my training and possible racing in them. After today that seems like a real possibility. If everything goes as planned I hope to run the Flying Pig with them this year. I will have to see if my feet are able to build up to running that far without support and whether my improved foot strike from running barefoot is good enough to make up for the lack of padding normal shoes offer. To learn more about running barefoot go to Runningbarefoot.org.

Weekly Mileage: 40


"I don't think jogging is healthy, especially morning jogging. If morning joggers knew how tempting they looked to morning motorists, they would stay home and do sit-ups." ~Rita Rudner

I would like to see her try to stop in the middle of my cross walk.

5 ish miles, 1:15

I went to mt. Airy forest today to run on some trails. I was quite surprised to find that most of the trails were sill covered with ice. I thought the warmer weather would have thawed them out be now. I found out quickly that a normal trail run would not be possible ( I have yet to take to great advice of Kim and Mike by screwing my shoes). I spent most of my time finding huge hills to run up. It was more of an exploration than a run, but it was a whole lot of fun.


"Good things come slow - especially in distance running."
- Bill Dellinger, Oregon coach

1 mile, 8:00

I had to work late today, and didn't feel like doing much running. I am getting within the 2 week period before LBL so nothing I do after this weekend will help me much for the race. I hope to get a couple shorter trail runs in this weekend. They sent me The EDGE model of the 305 instead of the FORERUNNER model, so I have to send it back (EERRRR)!

"Tough times don't last but tough people do." - A.C. Green

2 miles, 9:00 pace

I haven't been getting enough sleep this week. My strides felt cumbersome and off-beat today. I decided to call it after one loop. I am going to go to bed early an try to get some needed rest. I finally got my Forerunner 305 in the mail today, replacing my lost 301. I can't wait to try it out in the woods this weekend. Some days you have it, some days you don't. Today I don't.

"The woods are lovely dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep." - Robert Frost