It's A New Day. And A New Plan!

This past Saturday was the B2B.  You know, the race I didn't get to do.  So...after wallowing in my grief about that (and a few other things) for the entire week leading up to it, Donna and I decided to start looking ahead.  We began by getting away for the weekend.  Sadly, we couldn't afford to actually go anywhere.  

Instead, we put up an AWAY sign on our door and pretended the weekend was a rejuvenating retreat.  I played Julie McCoy* and made a fun poster of possible activities (games, movies, surprise field trip (to get spa pedicures), and fun meal options) that Donna had to select.  No money = creativity!  

Saturday morning - the day of the race - we did look at the weather in Wilmington (yikes - cold, windy, possible rain - although with SNOW from Marlyland thru New England that day, I suppose the B2B-er's were lucky enough). And then? We went for a run.  Not just any run.  But we went for our first run on the official path to IRONMAN FRANCE 2014!  Coincidentally - it was also my first run of any kind in two months. 

 See these pictures?  Bare feet+puddles+soccer field+(hard-to-photograph cold temps)=FIRST  RUN!
"Why did you run barefoot?" you ask. I will tell you.  That is all I'm allowed to do! Barefoot runs, 100 yds or so - about three or four times in a session.  Yep, my first run didn't even equal a quarter of a mile.  Sigh.

But I'm not going to be a barefoot runner from now on out.  Just for a little while.  Until I learn to run.  (Remember how my left leg missed some basic instruction at left leg school years ago? Apparently BOTH legs and my feet missed the day they taught "How to Run". I tell you, my whole body is going to end up with a diploma from remedial body school before this PT stuff is done!)

Anyway - I "learned" to run in Boot Camp.  By running a mile and a half for the first time in my life on the very first day my company formed. For me, running in Boot Camp was muuuuuuuch more about surviving than form.  We ran every day. After the first day, never less than two miles. For nine weeks.  Sometimes in chukka boots**. Sometimes in the running shoes we were told to bring with us. Which brings us to the first pair of running shoes I ever bought.  The day before Boot Camp.  I went to a real running store, manned by a condescending asshole trained professional running shoe fitter who took one look at me carefully analyzed my running gait before handing me the perfect (and ridiculously expensive) shoes for a runner like myself.  He said, "Here, these are the best ones we have for a heel striker."  "What's that?" I asked.  "Don't worry about it.  Slower, heavier runners are almost always heel strikers.  Trust me, these are the right shoe."  I bought those Saucony Jazz shoes (but never went back to that store) and I pretty much just bought the updated version of that shoe every once in a while until about four years ago.  Then I went and had an actual analysis done (guess what - still heavy, still slow, still a heel striker) and switched to Brooks Glycerin. (To be 100% honest - I didn't have a scientific reason for the switch - even with the electronic pressure mat thing measuring whatever they measure. The Brooks felt fine, were in prettier colors and on sale that day. And? They were the ones Donna wore. So I switched. And still never learned any more about the heel strike business.) Which brings us back to the "learning how to run" bit.  There is a crap ton*** of debate (here's one article and follow up comments as an example) about how to run. I don't so much understand all the minute particulars.  I don't aim to. My PT's goal is to get me in touch with my body's natural gait and to help me learn to minimize the extraneous movement and rotation.  That's her idea of teaching me to run.

I ran!  It was glorious!  I was sore from running less than a quarter of a mile.  Which hurt my feelings.  But still...RUNNING AGAIN!

What do y'all think about the heel strike stuff? Any advice on changing or not? Any of my blog buddies POSE folks or CHI RUNNERS? Any anti- those methods?

It is fascinating to me how many facets of our sport(s) there turn out to be.  Peace y'all.

TODAY I LOVE: running (duh!) and also puddles (though I prefer the ones that aren't almost frozen!)


*Gosh darn it. Now I have that stupid song stuck in my head.
**I wanted to post a picture to show you exactly how NOT-designed-for-running chukka boots are were.  But the google search turned up about a million and twelve images of boots none of which were remotely similar to what we wore. However, I did find these two gems.  I realize that those of you who clicked either/both of those links just learned waaaaaay more about Navy footwear issues than you ever wanted to know, but you gotta love the word "boon docker" doncha?
***That's the scientific term for "A LOT" if you were unaware.