I started running and I started this blog in January of 2011.  I actually started this blog strictly as a way to keep track of my running and to keep myself motivated.  I just read my first post; I forgot I had signed up for a half marathon and THEN started the Couch to 5K plan. I made it to the end of the plan, I did not make it to the half marathon.  And in 2 and a half years, I’m still not regularly running a 5K.  My average at the moment is a 2 mile run. I guess I should be ashamed of that fact, and sometimes I am, especially publicly.

But privately, I’m thrilled I’m still running at all.  I’m not the type to stick with something. I am the type to see I’m getting better at something, freak out that maybe I should be pushing harder, and then stop altogether. I’m also fairly shocked I’m still keeping up this blog but I still enjoy it. Hmm, maybe I’m maturing. Probably not though.

It makes me wonder, why am I still running? I like the way I feel after a run, like I actually did something.  Like I’m following through with something even though no one is making me. But that’s never made me stick with anything before.

There’s something special about running.

I remember when I was a kid I went running with my dad a couple of times. He told me to run on the asphalt, not the sidewalk because it was better for my joints.  I don’t even know why I remember that so vividly, we only did it once or twice.

Even then I wanted to be a Runner. I have no idea why.  No one I knew ran, my dad only ran those few times that I can remember. I never saw running in the Olympics, watched a single race, or tried out for track in school. It was just something I wanted to be.

I spent most of my life around Phoenix, AZ and if that is a hotbed of running I never saw it. Brutally hot in the summers and too cold in the winters, it wasn’t a great place to do anything outside.

Then I moved to Florida and everybody here runs.  Still no one I know, but I pass runners every time I leave the house. I drive past people who must be doing ultras, people who must be new to running, people who must be 80 running.  They can do it.  Why can’t I?

But the question remains. Why do I run, even when it would be easier to just not, even when I know I don’t run far, I don’t run fast, I will never be a great runner or even good at it?

When I was little I wanted to be a veterinarian. I wanted to work for the Peace Corps. I wanted to learn karate and be a ninja. I wanted to live out of a backpack and walk across the country.  I wanted to be a runner.

Then I grew up and I had kids. I became a technical analyst, not a veterinarian. I had to have a degree or some useful skill to join the Peace Corps. Although my dad was a black belt I never learned karate. I do wear lots of black though. (Kind of like a ninja)  I can’t pick up and hike across the county (yet) but I can go outside and run. So I run.

Why do you run?

Related articles

• Couch to… Half Marathon? (Part 1) (momsruncleveland.wordpress.com)
• My inner Phat Runner was itching to get out (phatrunner.com)
• It’s fine…I ran today! (healthymommy4life.com)

If you’ve read my blog much (and you probably haven’t) then you know I’ve been running strictly barefoot for all year, except for mud runs.  Something about climbing a rope net barefoot intimidates me, though at the last one I went to there were a few people who did so maybe I’ll give it a go the next time. (sorry, squirrel)

Anyways, while I mostly run in the neighborhood I also occasionally run in the woods across the way and I have never yet hurt my feet.  Something about knowing I don’t want to step on a snake or bug seems to just make me more aware of where I’m putting my feet.  The funny thing is that I still space out and don’t consciously look where I’m going fairly often – but something subconscious seems to be paying attention because I DO pass freakishly close to the occasional snake, bug or oil spot but always jump over them.

Tonight I ended up running on the treadmill because I hate running outside when it’s not dark and I felt like running early.  As a matter of fact, all day today I couldn’t wait to run tonight.  So, I got started and it was horrible.  My right calf hurt, which it never does. I got really hot really quick, I got tired, I quit at about a mile because my stupid calf was just feeling weirdly not right.

I got off the treadmill and went to the kitchen to make a drink (vodka and grapefruit juice DOES cure all ills you know) and I realized my toe was hurting. Bad.  Why? Because I had a loooong splinter in it.  That I got running inside on a treadmill.  WTF?

Does it ever feel to anyone else like life is a series of jokes?

This is an extremely late race review, Mud Endeavor Dade City was July 20th.  But it just so happens that was when I fell off the blogging wagon, and this race was too fun not to mention. Honestly it was long enough ago that I don’t remember all of the obstacles or the order, but I do remember it was a REALLY well put together run, well enough that I would be interested in any run Mud Endeavor puts together.

This was the stickiest, muddiest run I’ve done so far.  There were a bunch of people who lost their shoes, some at the very beginning of the race. I was wearing my minimalist toe shoes and they lasted to almost the end of the race – then I got both feet stuck and couldn’t get them out of the mud.  I had to get them out without the shoes then pull the shoe out with my hands – and I thought for a couple of minutes they were lost.

As great as that is, it wasn’t what made the race so great.  I don’t know if all of the people working at the obstacles were volunteers or part of the crew but they were awesome and they made the race.

The obstacles had lots of options.  For example, we had to climb several HUGE walls with 2 by 4s to help you get up.  There were 4 places to go up, each with the 2 by 4s arranged in ways to make it easier or harder.  The people working at the obstacles actually gave advice on how which one to take, how to get through the obstacles, and cheered you on.  On top of that the water stations had tons of water and it was CLEAN which I’ve found isn’t always the case at these runs.

I ran this one with my sister. Here we are before and after, slight difference.

This is the first race I ever did that I was able to go up a rope.  I was super excited but in the interest of full disclosure it was only because of the guys helping people at the obstacle.  But I still had to put in enough effort that my arms were useless for a while afterwards – definitely something I would like to get better at.  You never know when being able to climb a rope may save you from zombies after all.

In spite of how proud I was to get up that rope, it wasn’t the hardest obstacle.  They had several, I think 3 layers of black tubes like the one in the picture below in a pyramid and you had to climb them.  The picture is of one at the park that is maybe a foot and a half wide.  The ones they had were so tall I could barely reach the top of the bottom pipe.  But what made it impossible is the fact that it had been raining the whole time, so they were insanely slippery.  Even the biggest of the guys were having a difficult time with this one.  I had to get a boost up.  Going down the other side took a leap of faith all in itself!

I think the final thing that made it so fun was that it was just me and my sister, and neither of us are strength rock stars.  There was a series of walls we had to get over were she gave me a boost and then I came back around and gave her a boost.

We had to be the biggest nerds on the whole course but I did every single obstacle and in this race that felt like a big deal!

I am the queen of the snooze button.  So much so that it’s a bit embarrassing.  I’ve set my alarm for 5:30 am for as long as I can remember so that I’ll get something done in the mornings and for just as long I’ve hit the snooze button till at least 6:15. Sometimes I even go online and favorite a work out the night before that I pretend I’m going to do in the morning, which makes me feel like I tried a little bit even though I didn’t. It’s just so comfortable to lay around when I should be getting up!

Monday I set a date with my sister to go running on the beach. I had to get up and be there at the ridiculous hour of 7 am, after all she was waiting for me.  Mind you that meant actually getting up and driving there even earlier than 7.  But I had a great time. We saw dolphins, talked about our mud run next weekend, and generally talked crap.  I never, ever run in the morning so that night I felt like I was supposed to be running.  I even wanted to, but I know I’d regret running more than every other day let alone twice in one day.  My hips would so get me back for that.  So instead it was a glorious night of getting stuff done, (ya, glorious laundry. I never said I wasn’t a nerd) messing around on the computer, and generally feeling like a senior ditch day. I knew it was allowed, but I felt kind of like I was being bad anyway.

Monday night I bought Zombies, Run! 2 (half off, now is the time to try it!) hoping it would help motivate me to run more consistently. Three times a week is my currently undone but suddenly looking do-able goal. Then just to be sure I called my boyfriend and asked him to please ask me if I had got up with my alarm  Tuesday, and if I didn’t to please give me as  much shit as possible for it.  That’s right, I don’t trust myself so I have to drag other people into my lack of motivation.

It worked!  I got up, fed the dogs and went for a run.  Two miles with one short rest.  I should be going a lot further after all this time, but I keep falling off the running wagon and starting over.  Which is odd since I actually like running; I have a very strong streak of self-destructiveness.  It’s one of those things that acknowledging just doesn’t help. BUT.  I did the two miles and was back in the house by 6:02.  I didn’t quite finish the Zombies, Run! mission because I was nervous I would run late getting ready for work.  I’ll do the same one next time, it hurts the brain to leave it incomplete!

So long story short, all day Tuesday I felt great.  I had energy to spare and I came home knowing I had already got my workout in, I could get other stuff done. Just mopping the floors, but I was glad to get it done!

I think I may be hooked.  I’m seriously having difficulty waiting until it’s time to run again even though I know perfectly well that running more often will likely lead to injury. My alarm will be set for 5 a.m. again tomorrow,  here’s hoping the running bug sticks with me!

My sister and I have been talking about meeting early Saturday mornings to run on the beach for months now. It has to be silly early, because she has 2 year old twins and we have to be back before they wake up. Yes, there are other people there to watch them if we weren’t back in time, but you know moms are the ones who have to be up with the young ‘uns.

We finally made it out this Saturday, and I am totally hooked. There wasn’t as much soft sand as I had hoped for, but I wouldn’t have been able to run very far if there had been! The little bit of dry sand there was kicked my butt, as expected. But it was really fun to alternate between running on the road, wet sand, dry sand, and trails all in one morning.

An invitation to Run!

We even saw a few dolphins though of course they split when I pulled out my camera. Maybe next time…

I was a bit surprised that I was the only one running barefoot there considering a lot of it was beach; I’m beginning to feel like the only barefoot runner in the entire state of Florida. Thank goodness for online groups!

Since I ran so early, which I never do, Sunday I kept feeling like it should have been a run day. All day long I felt like I was cheating.

We’re not going next Saturday because we have the Mud Endeavor City Lights run that night, but after that this will be a definite habit. I wanted to go again the next day! Running like that makes for sore ankles though, and once a week is probably plenty to start. I’m already jonesing for the next time though. Life is good when you have things to look forward to!

So I’ve been at my new job about a month now.  I get off work at 5 EVERY DAY and I’m home by 5:40 if I  drive slow.  Um, ya I’m still thrilled.  I never used to be home before 6:30 and that was the one week a month I didn’t have to work a later shift. 

What difference does it make?  Well, I can do laundry and other fun stuff during the week and leave more of my weekends to feel like weekends.  That alone is pretty nice.  Today I actually took the dogs to the woods across the way for a walk, came home and ate dinner, and it’s still light out.  Craziness!

I used to run the trails over there barefoot when I first started the barefoot running thing, but since I’ve seen signs over there for wild hog hunts and someone on Facebook posted a picture of a very, very large cat in that park.  Now I get freaked out when I hear a lizard crawling through the leaves over there. One bad thing about running barefoot (besides the occasional stepping in yuck) is I feel a bit more vulnerable. What am I going to do, kick something attacking me with my bare foot?  Great, I’ll break a toe but at least it won’t matter because some rabid beast will be eating my leg anyway.

I’ve recently realized that since I started running barefoot in January I’ve worn shoes a lot less in general.  I’ve always been one to wear shoes to work that I can kick off under my desk but these days I rarely even wear them when I go visiting the family.  I tend to take them off when walking in the rain because water makes my sandals slippery. And honestly, that makes perfect sense to do, but I never used to, I’d slip around on my shoes all night instead.

It makes me kind of wonder.  Why do people not do the sensible?  It’s sometimes a bit embarrassing to walk around barefoot in public (bar hopping lets you get away with it though) just because no one else is.  I have no desire to make any kind of statement but if it’s more comfortable and easier, why not?

The biggest thing I wonder is if other people who run barefoot find themselves wearing their shoes less and less?

I haven’t been running too much lately, I’ve just been too tired.  I decided I’d try a mile again tonight, and I did it but I had to stop in the middle for a few minutes.  Between the heat, the humidity, and being sick the last few weeks I don’t even know if I should try and run or not, but that sounds like a bit of a cop out so I figured I better!

So I did my slow mile and then looked on line for a short yoga video.  I didn’t feel like doing the after run yoga I usually do so I decided to try one specifically aimed at feet instead.  After all, if you’re going to run barefoot you should watch out for your feet, right? This one felt kind of silly while I was doing it, but my neck and feet where both undeniably relaxed afterwards so I can’t complain!  However, it’s not going on my after a run list since it is very focused on just the two areas.

Yoga Therapy for the Feet and Neck with Erica Fritch

It’s been much too long since I did yoga regularly, it is soooo good for everything!  I’m going to start looking a bit harder for a good yoga video on line specifically aimed at barefoot runners, maybe I’ll find something awesome.

So, I haven’t run since I wrote No More Excuses.  On the plus side I DID say it would be a couple of weeks before I got into my new schedule.  On the bad side, really? An entire month without running? 

I do have good excuses though. I was out of town for a week and that gave me a reason not to bother running until I got back (2 weeks down). By the time I got back my ulcerative colitis started acting up. Still is actually – you’ll have to trust me – that’ll keep you from wanting to go running by itself. But to be honest I’m not that sick, it’s nothing but an excuse at this point.  

Today is National Running Day.  I don’t know why or even what that means.  However, it sounds impressive!  So I decide that the least I could do was go run 1 slow mile.  So I did. Hmmm, amazing what happens when you try.

My mile wasn’t fast and it wasn’t amazing. Garmin says my pace was a 13:07 mile which is slow enough that I should probably be embarrassed to even say it in public. But I’m not. Because somewhere on the way I found my motivation.  I remembered that I actually like running and that it makes me feel great.

And if that wasn’t enough?

I finished my mile and started walking home thinking I may have to do a mile again tomorrow instead of waiting a day and running further.  I was feeling very good but a still little upset with myself that I hadn’t run in so long and that I wasn’t running 10 miles by now. After all, if I’d been running steady since the first day I ever started running I’d be running ultras by now.

As I was walking home I passed 2 guys who asked me if I was really running barefoot.  Um, yes.  They were tough looking guys but they told me I must be made of steel to be running barefoot.  Um, me?  There isn’t a steel or tough bone in my body.  But it certainly felt good to have some one mistakenly think so! As if I wasn’t motivated enough after running that reminded me that running can be all about perception.  I was embarrassed to only run a mile and these guys thought I was somehow tough for running at all barefoot.

All in all it was a funny, motivating night and I think it was more than enough to get me back on the running wagon.  Too bad I can’t run with a six pack of beer or I’d run it over to that house and celebrate my next mile with them!

I had a pretty great weekend, and I’m finally feeling like I may be able to start running again. Taking it easy and not setting goals so I don’t over do things is a great idea, but it’s also a lot harder than it sounds. I want a goal!  But at the moment I’m still trying to keep with taking it easy since I do still have a minimal amount of pain in my hip after a run.  But it’s minimal!

Saturday I went for a hike on the trails around the lake near my house, it was almost an hour of barefoot hiking and it was pretty fun.  I went with a bunch of family.  I’m pretty sure they were just spiting me when they announced they had lost the trail and just cut through the woods.  Evil? I think so.

Sunday I went for my first mile run in the neighborhood.  It felt great to finally do a run that was actually measurable.  Granted it was only a mile, but it works for me.  So for this week my goal is to run a mile every other night.  I’ve heard so much about how people over do barefoot running and get stress fractures that I’m a little paranoid to add much distance at a time, and really a mile is a huge jump in itself.

I used to run with my iPod, setting a distance goal and agonizing over how slow I run.  I actually lost said iPod, so I am being forced to ignore all of that and it’s actually pretty fun!  So far I don’t miss the music but I probably will get something to replace it. I’d especially like to try the music apps to help with cadence.

I’d really like a GPS so I can go running or hiking on the trails without worrying about getting lost that also tracks pace and plays music.  Oh, and I also want it to be cheep. So far I haven’t even seen a GPS that plays music but who knows maybe I’ll find the perfect gadget if I keep looking…

Any suggestions?

I can finally start running again in two days, Saturday.  Considering the sad fact that the longest I’ve ever run was 3.5 miles and really just 3 miles on my long runs about killed me I figure I’m pretty much starting from scratch again.  Which I’m actually OK with, that just means that every step is an improvement over today. And it means I can try something new without worrying about backtracking.

I’ve been reading lots about getting started running barefoot, and just like ever other subject the information out there varies from several web sites content being word for word the same (I always wonder where on earth the original content comes from when this happens) to totally contradicting information.

A lot of sites recommend starting with just 200 feet per run the first week.  That sounded great until I looked it up and found there are 5280 feet in a mile.  So they are saying I can run down the driveway and be done?  I understand that you are supposed to start easy but geez, I’d like to actually start.

So I pulled up Mapmyrun.com to see just how far 200 feet is, and just how far a quarter mile is since that’s what I intend to start off with, and I want to see what the difference is.  It doesn’t show feet so I still insist I’d be done with 200 feet before I left my yard.  But it does show a quarter of a mile is about to my parents house, which is about that far up my street. 

So there you go, I have my first goal.  A quarter mile barefoot run Saturday, and if I feel great I’ll do it again on Sunday.  I have my Fila minimal shoes I’ll have to wear on weeknights I run, I’m not home when it’s light out on weekdays (thank you, daylight savings time) and I’m not risking stepping on a snake/frog/giant beetle/whatever in the dark.

I think this will be great fun.  I go everywhere I can barefoot now, and if I have to wear shoes it’s pretty much always sandals so the only worry I have is my stupid hip.  Oh and the fact that my sister says I’ll get worms if I run outside barefoot, my coworker says my knees will be useless within 5 years, and my mom just thinks it’s gross.

Lucky I’m used to it, if people I know started telling me now that my super-great ideas are super-great  at this point I’d be very suspicious.  When will they learn???