October 2017 Running Challenge

lporter229 wrote: »

I have a question for the guys. This weekend is my anniversary and since we will be doing the Bourbon Chase next weekend and my husband has very little running gear, I thought that I might get him a few items of new clothing. I was looking at shorts (he definitely likes at least mid length or longer) and I am wondering if he would like the added support of the two-in-one compression lined type shorts. Do any of you guys have an opinion on these? Love them? Hate them? Are there any specific "guy" issues I might need to consider? Thanks in advance for your help!

Personally, I wear the UA Compression Shorts ( something like http://amzn.to/2y3z3UV ) under my normal running shorts ( UA Heat Gear 10" http://amzn.to/2y1IB23 ) and I find it helps reduce chaffing down there. I much prefer that over "normal" underwear for running. It also prevents anything from falling out or swinging around too much.

Another short mile in my new footwear. Despite being another heavy squat and deadlift day, it was not a bad run at all, felt rather easy actually, and I did not make any stops, not even at the top of the hill at the halfway point.

It is hard to fairly evaluate side-by-side this new "footwear" with the old at this point, but it does seem to feel easier when running.

As for any hard data, this is about the best I can provide. It is not the best since I am comparing a 5k effort in my normal running shoes on 7/4/2017 when my running fitness was likely higher than now, since I have been focused on strength for over 2 months, with my last run before this week being back on 7/8. But this is about the best comparison I can make. While I did wear shoes on my Monday run, I had that low back soreness and did a lot of walking, so that data can not compare. This data is from two runs where I did nothing but run the entire way, but one with shoes, the other in just socks.

Stride Length: .81 with shoes, .76 without
Cadence: 164 with shoes, 162 without
Vert Ratio: 7.2% with shoes, 7.3% without
GCT Balance: 47.8%L/52.2%R with shoes, 49.8%L/50.2%R without

Normally, I would see a decline in all of these after a break from running, and that did happen with Stride Length and Cadence. But my Vertical Ratio and Ground Contact Time Balance improved, especially GCT Balance. That was a factor I was always off in. I was always heavier on my right foot, and that stat above was about as good I I would see on average. Seeing a nearly even split on just my 3rd run after starting up running again is a surprise for sure. Maybe it's the footwear? I don't know. I suspect so.

So far I am enjoying this barefoot running. For now. We'll see how things progress with weather, and particularly as distance increases. But I am not particularly feeling any urgency to go back to shoes to be perfectly honest. I figure maybe next week I will try a run in shoes just to see if it is too weird. I have heard a lot of people have problems switching back to shoes after running barefoot for a while.

10/2 - 1 mile
10/3 - 1 mile
10/5 - 1 mile

3 of 20 total miles complete





Upcoming events:
AIM at Melanoma 5k 10/14

@WhatMeRunning Excellent data!

If you can address issues, gait, any imbalances by running barefoot, perhaps when you are ready for shoes, a minimal shoe would work well for you.

I'm really interested in doing some shoeless runs.

@7lenny7 ouch your poor pinky toe
@PastorVincent ouch to you too!
@girlinahat I’m the same way lit up people, I loved running by the moon light this morning. I have a flashing light I keep on my mace band, but I can’t really see it when I’m running. I hold it up when cars are coming so they see me. Let me know how the alarm clock works out, sounds neat.
@ddmom0811 lightening sends me home too. Glad you had a good birthday
@orphia what did you do to your back. Feel better
@KatieJane83 sounds like you have a good PT there! Keep us posted.

@skippygirlsmom my toe was throbbing last night, but today it doesn't feel too bad. I should be good to go for my run tomorrow. I've always been a quick healer.

Orphia wrote: »

I'm in bed with a bad back at the moment and haven't run for 5 days but I've been reading this thread and running media to get better at running mentally.

Injuries *kitten* suck, though.

It's all part of what makes running such a temperamental but beloved mistress.

Well said!! Although, there are times I'm pretty sure I would have chosen a much different word for mistress!!

October 1 – 3.1 miles Ft. DeSoto 5K, Race #1 of the Triple Crown
October 2 – 3.25 miles recovery run & P90X3 Eccentric Upper
October 3 – 0.0 miles Camp Gladiator
October 4 – 6.0 miles
October 5 – 2.25 miles, Camp Gladiator, & P90X3 Eccentric Lower

Total miles 14.6/100

Because we were working out with a local running group, CG was a short workout. I still felt good so I added Eccentric Lower when I got home. It just means I don’t have to do it on Saturday and can go kayaking instead...unless TS Nate botches my plans, lol!

Upcoming Races:
October 29 – Ft. DeSoto Halloween 5K, Race #2 of the Triple Crown
November 19 – St. Pete Runfest Half Marathon
November 23 – Tampa bay Time Turkey Trot 5K
December 2 – Brooksville Mud Endeavor OCR 5K
December 13 – Jungle Bell Run 5K

BettyM1017 wrote: »

PastorVincent wrote: »

@WhatMeRunning I did the barefoot thing for around a year and had mixed feelings about it. Some of the bigger problems I hit:

Asphalt is stinking HOT in the summer. Like burn your flesh hot.
Trails and rough terrain require a lot more care.
Cold weather was completely unmanageable
You have to be constantly on the watch for litter (glass, still lit cigs, and so on)
Your foot is exposed if you have to fight off a dog (yes this happen to me)

It has its benefits, especially in some terrain, such as a beach, dunes, streams and the like but it has its drawbacks too. After a while decided that, for me, the drawbacks were greater than I wanted to deal with.

Ditto! I'm an urban runner, and I don't think I have the patience to take the time to toughen my feet to handle asphalt, concrete, and cobblestone. However, ever since my beach races this summer, I've been contemplating adding a barefoot beach run every other week or so. I think it might be good for my feet and legs.

barefoot has it's place. it's not the be all, end all that the real hard core folks make it out to be. It really helps with form and such, but in the end it's just another tool. I barefoot run, but I also just run in more minimalist shoes a lot too, you get most of the benefit without the worry about foot damage.... and -10 with bare feet would suck... There's a reason that there were no truly barefoot ancient cultures from northern climes... it's an equatorial thing.

7lenny7 wrote: »

When I decide to explore it, I'll likely go barefoot "style", not actual barefoot. Get a super thin protective sandal or shoe, like the xero shoe

If you want to research barefoot running, you can go nuts here:

https://www.thebarefootrunners.org/library-articles/library.26/

You said "go nuts". shouldn't you be sharing mens running shorts?

Like you, I plan on going shoeless in style.

Re: barefoot running. I've not yet been brave enough to go completely shoe free, but considering some sort runs in the park that way.

100 mile goal
Miles to date: 20.41
Miles to goal: 79.59

Looks like I am not the only one trying to get back into the groove after taking some time off. Just trying to chunk down the goal into bite sized chunks. So far, so good.

BettyM1017 wrote: »

PastorVincent wrote: »

@WhatMeRunning I did the barefoot thing for around a year and had mixed feelings about it. Some of the bigger problems I hit:

Asphalt is stinking HOT in the summer. Like burn your flesh hot.
Trails and rough terrain require a lot more care.
Cold weather was completely unmanageable
You have to be constantly on the watch for litter (glass, still lit cigs, and so on)
Your foot is exposed if you have to fight off a dog (yes this happen to me)

It has its benefits, especially in some terrain, such as a beach, dunes, streams and the like but it has its drawbacks too. After a while decided that, for me, the drawbacks were greater than I wanted to deal with.

Ditto! I'm an urban runner, and I don't think I have the patience to take the time to toughen my feet to handle asphalt, concrete, and cobblestone. However, ever since my beach races this summer, I've been contemplating adding a barefoot beach run every other week or so. I think it might be good for my feet and legs.

I would 100% do beach runs / races barefoot. Once you get used to it, I bet you are faster.