Altra Instinct

The barefoot / minimalist revolution is upon us...  Thanks in no small part must go to Christopher McDougall and his national bestseller Born to Run. His book is not so much a narrative as it is a mass media endorsement for Vibram Five Fingers and a scolding for the industry standard running shoe.  I read the book; I enjoyed the book; and I credit the book for teaching me how to run.  It was last spring that I took the techniques advised in the book and applied them to my running.  Viola, no more shin splints!

Although my legs problems had been cured, my foot problems were just beginning.  See this post  My feet are just a touch on the wide side, and when I run, they swell.  When they swell, my pinkie toe gets tucked under and my big toe... well, you get the idea.

It was in December that I started wondering why running shoes (and the liners) didn't look like feet.  I've known about the five finger thing, but that shouldn't be the only option.  I also started to question the built up heel on traditional shoes--when I started running, I heel-struck on purpose.  I thought, "why else would running shoes have such big heels, if you're not supposed to land on em?"  Duh.

Fast forward to now.  My favorite running store, Skinny Raven, advertised these shoes on their Facebook page.  The timing couldn't have been better--this was exactly the shoe I wanted when I was ranting to my wife in December.

This past weekend,  I went back to the Raven and traded in my new Mizuno Wave Inspire shoes for the Altras.   My first run was that evening (3.5 miles, easy) and these are quickly becoming my new favorite shoes.










I got mine here

Dome Time

The Anchorage Running Club benefits include an hour per week at The Dome.  That was enough for me to get the family a membership with the club.  Our winter has been particularly brutal this year--we have been in the negative temps for the better part of this month, with no end in sight.  As they say on their website, the weather in the dome is always sunny and 60...  


I've been fighting a losing battle with a cold for the past week and had not run in seven days.  Considering that, the run was a success--I ran 18 laps for 4.5 miles in 40 minutes.  About 9:25mpm or so.  I took the following day off, but I will be back at the AK club tonight, my lungs willing.

Down but not Out

I've been struggling with a  chest cold/congestion the past couple of days.  Not fun.  Tuesday I couldn't wait to run, and did so after two days rest.

The short break was just what I needed, the run went as well as it could, and my breathing wasn't a problem at all.  I spent ten minutes in the sauna and had no problem with my HR monitor--the extra heat in my skin must help make a better conductor for the strap.  The plan was to run for 30 minutes at a moderate pace -- Z2.  This worked out to 6.8 to 6.9 mph on the treadmill.  My heart-rate average 155 for (Zone 2.3)

All of this was incredibly encouraging--I only need to maintain just less then 7.2 mph to achieve my marathon goal... and I still have over four months to get there.

I planned to run again yesterday (and today) but the chest thing keeps getting worse.  I think I'll relax for a few more days to try and get rid of this for good.

32 x 32

Purchased some new jeans yesterday--32x32.  Before I started running regularly last year I was beginning to squeeze past 38x30.  Yikes!  The progress has felt slow, but the results are finally starting to sink in!

Didn't make it to the gym yesterday--and frankly, I still needed the rest.  My chest and biceps are still sore...  I guess that means I needed to start working them again.  Funny how muscle pain seems to bring optimism.

Spun on the bike for thirty minutes.  Good stuff.

Day Two in the New Shoes

Right knee is still troubling me, but I ran nonetheless.  Decided to go for thirty minutes to dial in my proposed marathon pace of 8:30 min/mile.  I warmed up for ten minutes, gradually increasing my speed up to 7.1 mph (an indicated 8:27 min/mile).  I ran for 20 minutes at this pace without issue, heart rate stayed in Z2 (no higher then 162bpm).

Overall, a good run--I wanted to go longer, but decided against it because of my knee.  I instead, went to the machines to start some weight training.

Weight this morning was 180.6

On My Way

2nd day with the new Mizuno shoes, and so far, so good.  Ran 5 miles in 40:41 on the treadmill for a 8:05 min/mile overall pace.  I upped the tempo to 6:40 min/mile for the last .25 mile.  My heart rate stayed in Z2 (162bpm) for most of the run, peaking at 180 during the sprint at the end.

Lesson learned:  My goal is to run the San Diego Full Marathon in 3:45.  This would put my in the top 25% of male competitors from last year, and allow me to feel comfortable calling myself a runner and an athlete.

2012. The Year we Make Progress

Covered 6.79 miles in an hour on the treadmill last night.  My best yet.  My right knee is pretty sore this morning though...

181.8 lbs
19.2 % fat
24.6 BMI

Post Vacation Post

Every holiday season I can recollect has ended with me adding anywhere from five to ten pounds to my frame.  This was the first year I actually lost weight, albeit not very much--but that's not the point, or is it? I keep struggling with the innate desire to shed pounds and meet an arbitrary weight goal, but I am honestly a bit ashamed.  I tell my wife and friends that I'm not concerned about my final weight; that I'm actually trying to reach a fitness goal--I am, but I can't stop standing on the scale--or being "mental" about what I'm eating...

Today, I weighed in at 180.9 and found that my new pants won't stay up (34 inch waist).  My comfort shirt (a brown short sleeve short that I wear untucked) is too baggy.  But I'm not happy with the way I look--I feel better, but not great.

I've run just a bit over 13 miles in the past two days at The Alaska Club--feeling a little sore. I need to take a day off, but I really don't want to.  The prospect of making big mileage this week is too compelling.

Scott Mayfield called last night.  He wants me to join him at the Lake Stevens 70.3 half ironman.  Sounds good, but that would end up being my first triathlon.  Not sure about the wisdom of taking on that type of event as an introduction to the sport.  I think I'll stick with the Xterra Hammerman.  Less money, more local, and Simon wants to participate.  Win. Win. Win

Hammerman

Xterra Hammerman Triathlon

Game on!