Recently in Health & Wellness Category

Been falling behind in my posts about running and Vibram five Finger KSO's, and I'm here to report the runs have been going well even with my gardening and other home projects and getting used to another schedule!

I have been running intervals and as stated earlier that put a new type of stress on the calves and I think I'm finally almost out of the discomfiture that caused mostly.

The thing about it running shorter interval distances trying for speed really gets you up on your toes and the balls of your feet more than the 5k's & 10k's. Especially once you wind down to doing anything under 400 meters! Being on your toes and forefront of your feet really stretch calves and ligaments in a way not used before in the typical running shoe circa now!

I also strange enough noticed that with the VFF's (Vibram Five Fingers) my toe nails are growing out! Let me explain.

I was on the back end of doing the end of my interval workouts a week or two ago and I noticed as I got up on my toes I felt a weird pulling sensation as my feet gripped the ground, my toe nails!

Before in umm ... ahem what passes for normal running shoes my toe nails took a beating and rarely grew out especially the toes right next to my big toe which are the same length and maybe a tad longer than my big toe. In fact my toes right next to the big daddy toe always had crunched up bloody looking toe nails that were about 1/8^th of an inch thick.

This is the first time I could ever recall having intact regular sized toe nails that weren't, half off or mutant looking. Another unexpected benefit of running in VFF's barefoot minimalist style!

Next up is a 10k this coming Sunday at the first annual Natomas Mayday run here in Sacramento California right here in my neighborhood utilizing part of my normal road course. How exciting!

Anyway her is the link to the run Sunday: http://www.natomasmaydayrun.org/

I'm signed up and not totally in the shape I want but ready to go come on out and join us and run part of my course!

Going to be cruising in my VFF KSO's on this run as well of course!

Oh yes in case you are confused even though I have discomfort getting used to the VFF's it is well worth it my running has become more efficient and the only discomfort are a little getting used to the calves doing the job they were meant to do

Wow its late for me time to go to bed!

Finally able to get some pictures of my vegetable and flower gardens.

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Went to Lodi California this morning and ran in the inaugural  "Run on Water" 5k that benefits helping clean and get decent water supplies in areas of the world where the water isn't very healthy. 

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I have been ramping up more on doing track intervals trying to increase my speed for running 800 & 1500 meter events. I have noticed that when doing the shorter intervals particularly anything 400 meters and below in the VFF's this puts a bit more stress on the calves since you are on the forefront of your feet & toes even more.

This took me back to when I first started running in the VFF's in September last year but of course the recovery has been quicker.

I did a time trial with a running buddy that I work out with for track intervals this morning and it went well considering we were both leg weary from the weeks intervals plus I hit the weights hard, including the legs, Tuesday right after doing six 800 meter intervals.

As we walked from the parking lot to the track I thought no way would I be able to run this 600 meter followed by a 400 meter time trial even after warming up. Once we ran the trials my legs and calves felt a lot more relaxed than when we got there and still do now and that was 0800 hours (8 AM)!

I think running intervals in the VFF's will give me further flexibility and push once I really start getting in shape for these distances! I mean I haven't done interval training in over a decade at least and probably beyond that!

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That's right I am now officially trying to get in shape for the all-comer track meets and attempt to run my old races the 800m 1500m and maybe the 3000m runs on track.


I ran the 800m this past weekend to see where I was at and it wasn't a great run but considering that I was leg dead from my weight & runs, plus I stayed up until 4am in the morning still got up early.


I also had to replace and rebuild my starter(replaced plunger & contacts internally) on my truck after getting virtually no sleep after a hectic week in which I had to get my trucks rear end rebuilt, had electrical issues plus I had to repair some critical components on my servers.


Back to the running I was worn out as heck but now I know I need to do intervals more dramatically and work on my speed I felt very tight.


The other reason I wanted to run out here in California,at least locally here in Sacramento the funding is no longer there for the high school sports and my little entry fee helps them.


Stay tuned they are having the 35 and over championships here in Sacramento this year and I intend to be an entrant and work towards more than being decent in the 800m.

Its been a while since I posted on my workouts but the Vibram Five Finger workouts are going great, whether using them in the gym or running in the street or on a track.

I'm pushing the frequency & distances of my runs and no signs of shin splints or anything like that for the first time in my life!

 I am also starting to push my gym workouts harder increasing weight.

As far as my runs the 7mile runs are increasing in frequency per week and once again I'm hitting the push-ups, crunches (on Roman chair), leg raises and trunk twists immediately after my runs on days I'm not hitting the weights. Push-ups right now I do 3 sets of fifty, Roman Chair crunches I do 3 sets of 40 now soon to increase, leg raises I do 3 sets of 40 and three sets of 200 trunk twists.

I have always found that increasing core strength and endurance really helps posture and performance in runs. Hitting abs especially helps with breath control and stamina for running!

I'm also starting to do intervals with a running buddy on some days.

I missed an all-comers track meet I was intending to run the 800 meters & 1500 or 2 mile runs as well due to my truck's rear end going out.


Oh Well time to take a run down to the gym which is a little over a mile away and hit the weights and then on the way back instead of hitting the treadmill I will run a bit over 4 miles in my Vibram Five Finger KSO's!

 

Well since I have been running in my Vibram Five Fingers whether KSO's or Flow's the seven mile runs have become routine. I judge the runs being routine from he comfort I feel during my runs, my pace during the run and how I feel after the runs. In all phases I mentioned I feel comfortable relaxed and strong.

Now I just need to stop staying up late (2am -5am) working on items to start getting up early again with the proper rest! When I stay up late I rush to get things done make phone calls, get to appointments, etc... and subsequently any little issue may prevent me from getting my runs in.

I have been running & working out in my VFF (Vibram Five Fingers) KSO alternating with the VFF Flows I purchased last month and increased my frequency and distances.

I now run 4 miles after my weight work outs and 7 miles on days I don't hit the weights when there is enough daylight.

Now I will have to start revising my LSD (Long Slow Distance) and find a bit longer course and map it out to maybe 10 miles.

I'm loving that I'm picking up my pace as well on the treadmill in the gym.

This is usually when I start shedding the weight as long as I keep pushing and now I can do that without any stress injuries this time!

I ran my first 10k in my Vibram Five Finger (VFF) KSO's this morning @ the Davis, CA TurkeyTrot. I knew there was a 10k run today but wasn't sure where or if I wanted to run until I woke up this morning.

Searched for runs on this date around the area on the web and found the Turkey Trot which I have heard of before but never run.

The KSO's performed fine but my feet were really starting to freeze due to the cold concrete transferring the cold through my KSO's into my feet. Maybe the VFF Flows will be better for the winter or I need to keep my feet off the cold surfaces until close to starting time.

Forgot to look at my watch and stop the time or look at my time while crossing the line in a pack and then looking to get the sensor cut off my foot.

All in all a cool run especially considering I'm still in the stage in my running where I'm improving but mainly still getting the body shaped and losing weight for really affective running!

Like Ice Cube said "Today Was a Good Day" overall for running.

I'm finally starting to push the distances more frequently and getting very good results going on my seven mile runs with my KSO's and recent addition of Injinji socks.

I still find myself trying to lean back on occasion as I would do with my old (modern cushioned running shoes) footwear which throws me off for a brief moment. I think it takes one or two steps then its like my body auto corrects.

I am barely 7 weeks removed from running in my old footwear so an occasional slip back to the old form is expected but its so uncomfortable now to lean back and land on my heals wearing the VFF's it throws my stride off noticeably for a moment then I get my 10 - 15 percent lean forward and all is right again!

My 7 mile time is better just a bit than it was before even though I stopped a few more times and longer times for traffic.

I feel I am finally once again on my way to being in the shape I was before without the shin splints & stress fractures I used to endure when trying to run competitively when I was younger.