Running Survey

I just heard about a survey being done by some people at the Midwestern University podiatry school in Arizona.  It is focused on barefoot running and minimalist running but they ask general questions about age, mileage, running injuries, etc.  If you're reading this blog and you feel like answering a few questions about running, click HERE. The survey is brief.  Thanks!

Faces of Running

So the kids were super-excited to sign up for their first 1k fun run. There was a 5k, 10, and 1k event and we decided to start small and see how we did. It turned out to be an awesome event, with tons of food for the runners, free bouncy houses for kids to play on when not running, lots of support, and the best goody bag I have ever seen for any race. Each of the kids got a shamrock-shape medal and with a registration fee of only 5 bucks, we are already planning on doing it next year.

I ran along with the kids while pushing Carter in the stroller while Rachel took pictures. We all started off together but Jenna didn't stay with us for long. She passed us on the way back and shouted to me " I was going slow at first but now everyone is starting to slow down and I'm ready to go fast". I was pretty impressed with her strategy and she did very well. Her next goal to to run a 5k. Kaden played it conservativley throughout the race staying by my side for most of it but once we made the last turn and he saw the finish line, he was off and there was no holding him back. Spencer, whos favorite pasttime includes watching paint dry and idolizes the lifestyle of a sloth took some prodding but had a lot of fun. As came around the last corner he was holding my hand and Rachel came out of the crowd and grabbed his other hand. The path to the finish was lined with peopleshouting encouragement. I think everyone there was cheering for him at the top of their lungs and it gave him just enough motivation to finish.

Watching the kids, I saw different personalities in each of them and I realized there are some pretty common facial expressions that show up over and over regardless of if it is a 100 mile endurance run, or a race against your own bladder in a quick sprint to the toilet. Anyway, I decided to share my observations.

THE PRE-RUN PHOTO:
This look is always the one that shows up on posters, in scrap books and blogs. Probably because it makes us remember the good times and not the stomach aches, dizziness and whole body cramp that sets in half way through the run.

THE OPTIMISTIC RUNNER:

This look is commonly on everyones face as the race begins, but rarely remains until the end. The truly optimistic runner is one who is easy to hate because they can be exhausted, collapsing on the ground, or vomiting and they still have a smile on the face, and are usually still in front of me. They seem to enjoy self-inflicted suffering and many also have unexplained fascinations with events that cause many to shudder in horror, like the holocaust. slavery and in this particular optimistic runners case, stories about her father risking life and limb to cut firewood.

THE DETERMINED RUNNER:

This look signifies focus and the ability to overcome physical exhaustion to accomplish what one set out to do. This looks can be the poster for inspirational pamphlets, calanders or post cards. The determined runner sets his sights on a goal and achieves it no matter what.

THE WEAR-YOUR-EMOTIONS-ON-YOUR-SLEEVE RUNNER:

While this type of runner can offer the same inspiration, they do often lack the grace and dignity as the others. We've all heard "A picture is worth a thousand words" and I'm pretty sure this type of runner inspired that expression.

THE I'M-SMARTER-THAN-YOU RUNNER:

Some may argure these are mssing out on sense of accomplishment, victory and self-empowerment that comes with testing yourself. Allthough, that face looks pretty satisfied with his decision to me.

Vibram Five-Fingers Tips

A few weeks ago I posted my story about getting into minimalist running and a little about my experience with Vibram's FiveFinger shoes.  I was out running the other day and I thought it might be nice to post a couple nuggets that I've gleaned from experience using these strange shoes.  These are tips that have worked for me, but may not work for everyone.  Just a little disclaimer there...

1. Wear socks.  I know, I know...People say you don't need to wear socks, the shoes are made to be worn barefoot, and you're thinking, "but socks will make them too tight."  My advice is to give it a try.  Because if you don't wear socks they will stink.  Bad.  And I don't get blisters when I wear socks.  I used my VFFs with naked feet for several months before trying socks in them.  It took a little getting used to but it really wasn't as uncomfortable as I thought it would be.  They smell much, much better now.  Injinji is the most well known brand of toe socks for runners because that's their target audience.  They're nice but pretty expensive for socks ($8-12 for one pair).  I found some others on Amazon that cost me a lot less and have held up pretty well so far.  They're called Riverstone Goods toe socks and you can check them out here ($14 for a 4-pack).

2. You can patch the bottoms of the shoes if they start wearing thin.  I noticed that the 5th toe of both my shoes was almost worn through but the rest of the shoe was still holding up alright.  I didn't want to drop another $90 because one little spot was worn out.  So I did a little digging and found some blog that mentioned this stuff called PlastiDip -- basically a liquid rubber that dries hard.  I've linked a couple websites that describe it pretty well.  It's an awesome product and PERFECT for patching the bottoms of FiveFingers.
And the best part is the price.  I bought mine at Lowes but Home Depot has it too.  Click here to see the price for yourself.  Mine has lasted about a year...maybe longer.  I use a tongue depressor to scoop it out of the can and spread on the bottom of the shoes where I need it to be.  You can put several coats on as long as you let it dry in between.  I let mine dry overnight at least before running with them again, and that seems to work pretty well.  It really is great stuff.  So if you're into saving money I highly recommend PlastiDip.  My VFFs have been around for two years and are still going strong.  I probably won't retire them until the strap breaks or something because I'll just keep patching the sole.