Come On Calves!

Running in FiveFingers has been an amazing experience.  I don’t think I could ever run in shoes again.  Being so connected to the ground, feeling so light on my feet, and witnessing new muscle groups evolve has me wondering how I’ve been missing this for so long! But I have a concern with my calve muscles.  They seem to have plateaued in their strengthening–and it has been five months now. I have worked up to three miles of straight running and four miles with a walk break or two.  But each time, at around mile two, the burning begins to creep in and by mile three my entire calves are on fire.

I don’t run more than two days a week because of this and I take at least two days off between runs, if not more, depending on the need. I just feel by now I should be moving on… I thought running alone would be enough to work my calf muscles up to where they needed to be, but I will try the simple excercise above from Livestrong a couple of times a week in the mean time.  Please post your comments on this dilemma if you have experienced anything similar. Happy running!

Run No. 3 – Oh yeah! I’m Not Wearing Shoes!

Totally forgot I was wearing my Vibrams while on run no.3 yesterday.  First time that has happened!  It didn’t last for long though.  The sun was deceiving and I ended up being under-dressed.  Tingling toes quickly added to my already tingly fingers, and then came the ice cream headache.  My temperature discomfort must’ve been enough to block out the notion that I was not wearing my usual footwear.  And it seemed that I wasn’t the only one deceived by the sun–I witnessed a number of walkers and bikers looking just as chilled as I was.  One man even had his arms tucked inside his winter jacket, sleeves flopping in the wind.  Despite all that, run no. 3 was definitely a huge step forward. I was able to up my mileage to 1.6 miles, only took one ten second walk break three-quarters of the way through, was able too pick up the pace for the rest of the second half to the point of burning lungs and subtle nausea.  A beautiful thing!  And to top it off–no knee pain! That evening I enjoyed the relaxation that came with my tired muscles and felt completely satisfied with my day.  Can’t say I’ve had that in a while. And all because of a 15 minute run!

Run No. 2 & Being In Control

My  second “barefoot run”  was an amazing breath of fresh air.  My lungs and calves burned, my whole body tingled like I was on the verge of runner’s high, and despite the fact that I added two walk breaks on the same 1.25 mile loop, I returned feeling like I had just completed five.  And the best part? The next morning I go tout of bed and walked normally!

On a deeper note, I was thinking about yesterday’s post on how running is so freeing due to the fact that when you’re four miles out, you are helpless to take care of anything except your breathing.  But I keep coming back to the fact that I run because I am a control freak. I run because I control when I go, how hard I go, how long I go, and where I go.  I can go rain or shine, I depend on no device and no person, my body adapts to what I throw at it, and most importantly– I always win.

From ‘Afraid to Run’ to ‘Can Bearly Walk’…

Everything I read told me to make my transition into a pair of Vibram Five Fingers slowly.  So I did.  I had to.  Not running for six months puts you a bit behind.  So I did one and a quarter miles, a nice short riverside run.  And oh my God.  My transition obviously wasn’t done slowly enough.  My border collie looked at me dumbfounded as I shuffled my way to the back door this morning to let him out.  I couldn’t help but laugh at myself the whole way.  It was somewhat of a penguin-like walk.  But not any penguin, a slow penguin.  And penguins aren’t fast.  I had to take two ibuprofen just to make it to class.  But I have to say that, as sore as my calves and inner thighs are, it is really encouraging and exciting to feel a new group of muscles become stronger.

Did the new footwear prevent an inflamed IT band?  No.  Three quarters of the way home my lateral right knee had some twinges which turned to dull pain.  Definitely disappointing.  But not shocking. And while stretching my right leg post-run with a variation of pigeon pose, I got the familiar tingling sensation of my leg falling asleep and a ‘pop’ upon straightening it back out.  I guess the VFF’s aren’t the “miracle shoes” I’d hoped for and a PT appointment is most likely in my best interest.  However,  I will continue to run in them (once possible) and continue to strengthen my legs in a way more natural than any I’ve ever felt.  Primitive is the only way I can describe that run.  I felt down-to-earth and down-right primitive. And I loved it.

Change of Plans

Well, I can’t say I have failed, because the year isn’t over yet, but I have yet to make any progress toward my 2010 New Year’s Resolution of a regular running routine.  The only place I have run recently is on my high school track in the midst of a pack of at least 100 jersey-wearing runners whizzing past me as I tried, fruitlessly, to pick my heavy bare feet up off the tar-like black surface under a misty sky…  And that dream was definitely bittersweet.

I had to cancel my first physical therapy appointment.  The night before my scheduled appointment I ended up in the ER thinking I was dying of a heart attack.  Turned out I was having a panic attack due to worrying about some increasingly frequent and uncomfortable heart palpitations.  It didn’t seem like the best thing to spend money on PT with ER bills on the way…  But, at least now I know, that as far as all tests can show, my heart is healthy.

So back to running? Yes, hopefully, but with a new approach:  Vibram Five Fingers. Recent doctor visits, medical center mishaps (I don’t know how many times my test results were “lost in the system”), and outrageous undecipherable bills have all shaped my decision to try VFFs before trying PT.  I just purchased my first pair, the Women’s Flow, a neoprene style that keeps feet warm in cooler temperatures (hopefully into the teens!).

I will need to start slow due to the fact that “barefoot” running changes you posture, your gait, and, consequently, the groups of leg muscles that are used.  But since I haven’t run in over six months, I will need to start slow anyway.  Who knows if I’ll even be able to complete my normal neighborhood loop without factoring in a walk.  I have been doing a bit of yoga and quite a few snow walks through the state recreational area near my home where the dog can run off-leash and I can get my heart rate up pain-free, but I doubt that has been enough.  Back to square one.

My first run will be either tonight or tomorrow morning.  Until then…

Barefoot & Crazy?

I haven’t tried it yet, due to my iliotibial band situation, but the idea of running barefoot has intrigued me since the first day I read about it.  My initial thought–how awesome.  My next thoughts–ouch and cold.  Yet, a few articles and Vibram FiveFinger advertisements later, I was captivated.  Is it a passing fad?  No–these people are serious runners.  Controversial?  Yes, very–but why?

I mean, our feet have undergone a lengthy bout of evolution…  Their design apparently isn’t flawed.  Gymnasts don’t use shoes.  Babies take their first steps in bare feet.  Why is the idea of running barefoot so hotly debated?  Why do we feel the need to wear shoes?  Because shoes prevent cuts, the spread of disease, and frostbite?  Because our feet didn’t evolve by running on concrete?  All good enough reasons.  Yet, shouldn’t my feet be able to handle what they take on, alone, without cushions and toe guards? Even though I  follow the advice of a running shoe specialist and wear my stabilizing Mizunos, I still long for light, meshy, flexible footwear.  The kind that allows air movement, drains water, and allows me to feel roots and rocks beneath my feet as they pull me over the terrain.  Shoes seem to take so much out of the experience.  I remember, not too long ago, being so proud of the calluses on my “Indian” feet while I walked on gravel, sandals in hand.  I can’t help but wonder–maybe barefoot running could help me?  Maybe all my legs and hips need are stronger feet?

Sure, the whole thing may sound a bit crazy.  But hey, if I’m up at 5am on an icy winter morning running down a busy road, or trying to outrun a swarm of mosquitoes through the woods on a ninety degree summer day, people already think I’m crazy, anyway, right?  Might as well be barefoot or in a pair of VFFs.