October 2009 Archives

I'm just back from my first run (hour ago) in VFF (Vibram Five Finger) KSO's of over 4 miles I should have done it earlier but head colds, home projects, schedule & trepidation delayed me a bit.

The first part of my run was pretty standard pace for my 4 miles runs and maybe a little faster than I wanted as there was a runner going the same way I was on my course for the first time I could recall in a very long time. The other runner kept me from backing too far off of my pace as you tend to do when running a longer distance than you had in bit.

During the run I reminded myself to keep a slight 10 - 15 percent body lean forward which seems to insure my proper foot strikes and stride.

Normally after my initial run of this manner my body feels a bit beat up and jostled around. Today I just feel like I had some cardio and my calves feel like they did some stretch work and I felt a tinge in my right knee (slowly going away) that has been there since June well before my introduction to the Vibram Five Fingers.

The trepidation's I had were my old reasons of the stress on the body I knew running this distance previously when not being in the best shape and how it keeps you from sometimes running again soon. I was also trying to ease into the VFF KSO's since I felt weird about being able to get so comfortable in them for the 4 mile runs.

Well I don't feel all beat up I don't have to get into my hammock and crash for a while and take it easy after this run! I now know I should have been doing this run about 2 or 3 weeks ago if not for the head cold!

Here are some chickens I smoked this evening so I will not have to cook a main dish the rest of the week.

I used the "Indirect Smoking" method with my Char Griller model #2424.

They came out very tender and the smoke taste was all the way through the meat.

I noticed that when I skipped my weight workouts where I hit my legs I'm not quite as flexible in my muscles as without hitting the weights.

I'm not talking about "peaking" or lots of weight and low reps to build bulk but medium to high reps with lower weights and an amount of weight where you can do at least 3 complete sets.

The leg exercises I'm speaking of are, while wearing VFF (Vibram Five Fingers) doing my presses, curls, extensions, calf raises and sitting on a bench with my leg fully supported with just my foot off the bench and placing a collar on my foot connected to weights and then puling my foot towards me.

The aforementioned exercises really help me feel a lot more comfortable when running in my VFF KSO's.

I noticed this week as I had been to busy to hit the gym last night and then ran right afterwards. My calves weren't as tight and it was very soothing after I was done and feels really stretched out today.

I am settled in more comfortably than I could have expected after about three weeks running in my Vibram Five Finger KSO's and have noticed the following differences for me. Here are some I can recall at this time having just run about thirty minutes ago.

1. My stride is more upright and effecient
2. My lower back and hamstrings aren't tight and strained after a run.
3. The part of my body that becomes tight is are my lower back calves right around the Achilles. This stretches out as I run and is becoming noticeably stronger.
4. I have a lot more spring in my step when going up steps and my instep I think it called is getting new muscles.
5. My pace is nice and fast even though it seems it isn't since the run feels so comfortable once I'm into the run.
6. When I step on a branch or large stone I didn't see in time to avoid stepping on my ankle doesn't roil. I think this is due to the fact I don't have a single/solid piece of material strapped to my feet that can only go one way. My feet actually mold around it and yes its not comfortable but I'm not rolling my ankle either!