I was chosen as one of the lucky bloggers at the start of the Mizuno Mezamashii Run Project. While I was flattered to be included, I was worried about what shoe to choose. I'd just gone completely minimalist and Mizuno didn't really have that type of shoe yet. I'd run in Wave Riders for many years and loved them, but they no longer worked for me after months of running in VFFs outside and barefoot when inside on the treadmill. After some discussion with the Mizuno folks, I settled on the Mizuno Wave Universe. It was listed as a "racing flat", but with a 4mm drop and a 3 ounce weight, it fell somewhere between my VFFs and the Brooks Pure Connects I had moved into. With their red and black coloring and flames, these shoes fall … [Read more...]
I’m weird
Ok, maybe just my feet are weird. Ever since last fall, when I started running in Vibrams a lot, I've found that my right foot hurts in regular running shoes. I get this pain near the top of the ball of my foot, right where the toes start. It's not unbearable and it doesn't affect my gait, but it does make running uncomfortable after about the 6 mile point. It's like I'm landing too hard on a bruise. I thought maybe it was that my shoes were too small, so I bought my next round of shoes in a half size bigger. I had hoped that with a summer of wearing the Pure Connects instead of either more drastic drop shoes OR VFFs that I'd retrain my feet. But, no. Yesterday's run was pretty uncomfortable by the end and my feet were a bit sore this … [Read more...]
Running in Socks
I try to run at least one run each week barefoot on the treadmill. I feel like it helps me be really aware of my form and how my feet are landing. I find it virtually impossible to heel strike while barefoot as it just hurts too much. My treadmill has kind of a rough belt, plus it gets pretty warm. In fact, the brand I have was deemed "unrunnable" by a barefoot runner who reviewed a bunch of treadmills. I don't think it's unrunnable, but around the four mile mark, the balls of my feet start feeling a bit roughed up. Enter a pair of Adidas socks: Why these socks? 1. I had them on already. 2. They are cheap. 3. They are black, so wouldn't show the dirt as much. I didn't actually expect to wear them for the whole run. … [Read more...]
10 miles in Vibrams and a Sparkly Soul Giveaway
That's right. This... In these... I honestly thought I'd never break double digits in minimalist shoes. Of course, lately I can't seem to run single digits in regular running shoes, so I was beginning to wonder if my days running anything longer than a 10K were over. I'm happy to say they are not. Today I'm a little sore (but who wouldn't be after their first double digit run in almost a year?), my calf is a little tight and cranky, and the balls of my feet are a little roughed up. All in all, I would say it was a successful venture. In other news, Sparkly Soul sent me two headbands to review (and offered two more for my readers!). I've now run in them a couple of times and worn one to yoga once. I even wore one running … [Read more...]
Just call me Cinderella
Wait, that was many feet, one pair of shoes. So, maybe Goldilocks. But that only took her three tries. Crap, I'm not up on my fairy tales. What can I say, I'm the mom of two boys - all I hear about are legos and ninjas LOL. But, seriously, I do feel like I'm on a quest for the perfect shoe and I can't quite find the right one. I love all of them, but each and every pair comes with a drawback. Here's what's currently in rotation: Mizuno Wave Riders Newton Gravitas Brooks Pure Connect Merrell Pace Glove Vibram Five Fingers My feet After running in vibrams the other day and barefoot on the treadmill for my speedwork, I'm pretty sure that my other shoes have become too small. Become too small, you … [Read more...]
And my feet said “Ahhhh”
I may have mentioned a hundred few times that I've been having issues with my toes/feet lately. It doesn't seem to matter which pair of shoes I wear (and I have everything from Saucony Triumphs to Newton Gravitas to Brooks Pure Connects and I switch regularly). At about the two mile point in any run, the ball of my right foot starts hurting and then the bottoms of my toes start to hurt. The pain doesn't really change my gait and it goes away immediately upon finishing the run. But, I've got to tell you, running 9 miles with pain in the front of my foot (and it is pain, not just discomfort), really sucked. So, I tried an experiment. I don't seem to have the pain when I run barefoot on the treadmill, so I'm pretty sure my problem is … [Read more...]
Three Things Thursday: Chiro, 100 miles, and PInterest
1. I saw a different chiro yesterday. He went to work on a calf issue I've been having. I pretty much cried like a baby. Then he put on some KT Tape and told me to run with it today. The result? 4.1 miles of pain free, barefoot running on the treadmill. Yay! He also told me I should try wearing calf sleeves. Guess it's time to actually review those Tommie Copper sleeves I have. 2. I have 1.3 miles left to hit 100 miles for the month and 6.5 miles left to hit 800 for the year. I think if I'd known that was all I had left, I would have kept running. Good thing I didn't know. I'm trying really hard to be smart about both my increase of mileage and my barefoot running. I'm also trying to be happy about that 800 miles. I've been … [Read more...]
Zemgear Ninja minimalist shoe review
I recently got a chance to try out the Zemgear Ninja shoes. I've worn them quite a bit, but haven't exercised in them much since they are only for use indoors and on soft surfaces. I don't exercise indoors much during the summer and one would never call the streets by my house a "soft surface". Aren't they cute? My kids think they are hilarious. I've run on the treadmill once with them and they were great. Very comfy and nice traction. I've also used them when I was lifting weights at my parents' house. I wasn't fond of them on the elliptical, but that was because I always end up with my toes against the front of the step when I use it. In normal shoes, this isn't a problem, but in these I felt … [Read more...]
Goalz? I can haz dem?
Source I've been running with very general goals since I injured my achilles back in November. My main "goal" after that was just to get back up and running without reinjuring myself. I accomplished that and then some when I trained for and ran the National Half Marathon this past March. My goal for April was to become a barefoot/minimalist runner. I feel like I've accomplished that. I ran 72.5 miles in April - all of them in VFFs, Merrell Barefoot Pace Gloves, or completely barefoot on the treadmill. I've felt my calves, ankles, and feet become stronger (who knew that running barefoot would make it easier to rock the 4 inch heels!) Now it's time to get serious! So, here are my short term and my long term goals for now (will … [Read more...]
Camping with the Princess
Jones is a bit, umm, high maintenance. He's been that way since day 1. I will say we've seen improvements every year and he's way easier than he was when he was little, but he's still a much more demanding child than Shoo. He also has some sensory issues and can feel microscopic rocks in his shoes, under his mattress, etc. Hence, the princess reference. Yesterday, we went camping with his cub scout pack. It was a fun day of hiking, orienteering, skits, and s'mores by the fire. Oh, and a "man meal" - hot dogs, hamburgers, and chips. All in all, it was a well organized, fun event. Then we went to bed. Or should I say "to foam mattress on the hard ground." The cold hard ground. With a mattress that felt sufficient when I went to … [Read more...]
TTT: minimalist running, protein, and bathroom humor
1. Today was the first day since I began running exclusively in Vibrams that I woke up and my calves felt normal. I ran 4 miles yesterday and my legs don't hurt! Woot! I received the bigger size Merrells in the mail this week, so I hope to get some miles in with those soon too. And just for the record, wet Vibrams smell like a nasty combination of feet and wet dog. I'll be wearing Merrells today while the Vibrams have a date with Efferdent. 2. I joined Sparkpeople to try and knock off the couple of pounds I gained in St. Martin. That has worked for me, but I've noticed that my protein consumption isn't quite where it should be and that the protein I do eat is fairly high in fat. Anyone got some great suggestions for non-dairy … [Read more...]
