A messy way to get information about my stride

I really like the Skechers GoRun shoes I know wear when I run.  No more shooting pains in my instep after running, because I've shortened my stride, and eliminated the heel strike.  There's no cushioning under the heel, so you HAVE to land on the midfoot.
[Disclosure: I have no financial connection either to Skechers, or to DSW, the store where I bought them. Damnit, I haven't figured out how to land an endorsement deal with DSW :-) ]
Today I took my longest run, mostly on pavement, with an occasional digression to a dirt muddy trail.
Total mileage: 9.7.  After that, I walked to the Irving Park Y for a post run stretch and some crunches.
Oops.  I dragged mud into the cardio room.
I beat a retreat pick up the dirt clots, and then  to the men's room to clean off the mud from the soles.
Most of the dirt was right under the midfoot.  There was a little bit near the toe.
Although I regret making a mess in the sink - I tried to clean up as best I could- it was satisfying to know that I was successfully transitioning to a midfoot strike.
Next time, I'll wait until the dirt trails are dryer.

Mission (almost accomplished)

The event.  St Paddy's Day race along Chicago's Lakefront.  I ran in the 8K
Weather: A LOT warmer than last year's event.  it must have ben 65-70 when the race started.  No forest gren long sleve top this year.  I was in a short sleved replica Liverpool training kit.  The shirt sponsor's logo for a certain Danish beer was emrald green on a white background. .
The positives: I wanted a slow begining.  Slow as in 11 minute miles.  Mission accomplished for the first mile.  The second was about 10:30.  The third-Ido't remember, except it was too fast, so I decided to slow down for the fourth.  I tried to save energy for a finishing kick.  Yep, as soon as we get a cross the bridge over Diversy Harbor, I'll step on the gas, I thought. 
Bridge crossed, I accelerated..and forgot how much longer I had to run!  I almost went the wrong way dpwn the path where the 5K runners were suppose to go. Ooops.
I slowed down to get control of my breathing.  All the turns in the course made it longer than it seemed.
now that I think about it, the course wasn't layed out any different than last year.
Final turn.  Gasp Wheeze.  The fiinsh line seemed so far away.
Official time: 48:43.  About 4 minutes slower than last year.  Well, maybe if it had been colder.  Well maybe if I had trained a little more.  Well maybe.....I need water to drink and soak my head, a banana, and a couple of bottles of the sponsor's drink.

Once more to the races

The event: St. Paddy's Day race along the lakefront of Chicago.  I've signed up for the 8K again.
Last years time: 44:28.
Of course, last year, I ran the first mile in 9:30, and almost swore a blue streak when I saw the time at the first mile clock.  Way too fast, to early. 
This time, I'd like to plod along at 11 minutes paces, for the first two miles.
Also: after a short "training" run yesterday (more of an OH MY GOD IT'S TOO EARLY TO RUN) I have decided to spare myself the sharp pains in the instep, and wear the Sketchers GoRun shoes instead of my pair of Brooks.
Midfoot strike now and forever.

What NOT to wear?

After days of crummy 30 & 40 degree weather, Mother Nature turned off the shower and turned up the heat. 
At this time of year, I would be wearing thermals to ward off the cold and wind, but yesterday and today, it was sunny in the 60s.  Find that Bullfrong sunscreen!  Check.  Wear shorts, no thermals undermeath.  Check. Long sleeve shirt, because I don't want the upper body muscles to tighten up.  Check.  Fleece top. Why?  Because, um...it's got poclets, and I can carry the phone and wallet.
One layer too many-especially this afternoon.  39 minutes into my lakefront run, I had to stop and tie the thing around my waist.  Why was I so worried about the wind? 

After a week of sloth....

...On Friday, I was riding the Pulaski bus home from work, wondsering when I should resume running.  There's a St. Paddy's day 8K coming up.  Shouldn't I be getting back into it?  Yes, but the forecast called for snow flurries, wind and....
..Then I saw someone running the other way on the sidewalk.  He was dresed for the cummy weather-tights, cap, etc.  I have the same type of clothing.  What's my excuse for not running?
OK.  One more night to veg out and then,,,
...I went out this morning, after dropping by the office to return some stuff.  Down Pulaski, to Foster, and then over to Milwaukee.  It was a slow chug, but by God, it was a chug.

I never owned a pair of Earth Shoes, but....

...this is what they must feel like, I thought, as I was running around in a pair of Sketcher's goRuns over at my local DSW.  I had tried on several different brands before the Sketchers.  I was disappointed that the New Balance "minimalist" shoes (on sale for $70.00) didn't have enough room in the toe box.  (If they had a half size higher than what I wore, maybe those would fit).  other brands were OK, but didn't seem light enough.  I considered the Fila Skeltetoes model that came in 11 and 1/2, but then, don't I have to buy the special toe socks too?
Yes, there is room in a DSW to run around.  Of course I do, when I'm buying running shoes. I noticed the extra padding under the mid foot as opposed to the heel.(Thus my comparison to an Earth Shoe.  Right analogy?) Of course!  This is a shoe that encourages mid foot strikes instead of heel strikes.  I've been trying to wean myself off the heel strike in order to decrease the post-running pains to my instep.
I bought the shoes on Saturday.  Did I really need a break in period?  Nah.  Start running on Sunday.
I ran a little over six miles, from Chicago's Lakeview Y to the lakefront trail. From there I ran north to Foster, and then headed back.
Running to Foster was fine.  It was the run back INTO the wind.  If I had to do it over again, maybe I should have started the trail run by going South.  I had a windbreaker on, but by the time I got to Foster, I was all sweaty, so I unzipped the thing.  This turned my run into...resistance training.  It was as if I had a drag chute on my back.
Oh well, I never know what to wear.
I'll have to check my stride again to see if I'm still landing on the mid foot.  I'll keep running in the Sketches.  maybe try some treadmill running set to an uphill grade.  That seems to encourage mid foot landing.
[Disclaimer: I have NO financial connection to either Sketchers or to DSW, except I'm a consumer.  Now if DSW wants to contact me about an endorsement deal, hurry up!  I've bought most of my shoes
 from them! :-)]

restart

The powers that be at active.com locked my previous blog.  I don't know why?  Was it because I said "damn bronchitis"?  Anyway.  Here were the first posts.  I'll have newer postings later.

How I started - part 1

Posted by Don Mac Gregor Jun 25, 2011

      In  2010, my running consisted of going 'round & 'round the track at the Irving Park Y for a mile - no more than that.  If I wanted more aerobic activity, I used a recumbent bike or an elliptical. Well, I used the ones with the working TV screens. At the time, I had no interest in entering "fun runs" 5K's etc.

     In August of that year. I was at a monthly  meeting of the Portage Park Neighborhood Association. Tom Allen, who was 38th Ward Alderman at the time was speaking at our meeting. If you've never seen Allen, imagine a tall, gray haired bean pole of a 50-something man, who regularly runs around Portage Park, and - as I later found out, plays four wall handball at the Irving Park Y.
     One thing on Allen's agenda that night was to plug a 5K run his office was sponsoring, the "Fall Into Fitness 5K".  My curiosity was piqued.  I live in Portage Park, and within walking distance of the actual  Portage Park, where the race would start.  I wondered if I could finish a 5K.  The race would happen in six weeks.  I figured there would be enough time to  increase my mileage.

How I started, part 2

Posted by Don Mac Gregor Jun 25, 2011

     Once I registered for the "Fall Into Fitness Run" I printed out a copy of the race route.  That weekend, I walked and jogged the route just to see what 3.1 miles was like. On the following weekend, I tried jogging the whole route.  I forgot what my time was, but it seemed doable.
     Since the weather was still good, and there was enough light, I did a lot more running outdoors.  One of my favorite places to run was, and still is, the Sauganash Trail, which runs from Bryn Mawr to Devon Ave. in Chicago's Sauganash neighborhood. If you're traveling on Peterson Ave. towards Pulaski you'll underpass it.
     As the days became shorter, I ended up doing more running indoors at the Y.  I'm not a fan of treadmills, unless there's something on the TV I want to watch.  So it was 'round & 'round the track.  It was a poor substitute for outdoor running.  On the other hand, I didn't run into or accidentally inhale small bugs like I did on the Sauganash trail.

How I started, part 3 Posted by Don Mac Gregor Jun 25, 2011

     September 25, 2010, I got up real early for a 9am start- 5am.  I'm something of a morning person-if you call stumbling into the kitchen to make coffee, and then stumbling over to the computer morning person activities.  It was my first race, and I wanted to make sure my body was awake.  I wanted to be up in time to have a small amount of coffee for the wakeup, but not so much as to keep my blood vessels constricted for a long time.  I also wanted to make sure I had time to stretch. 
I live ablot a half mile away from where the race would start, so the walk over to the park was part of the warmup too.  Looking back, I wish I had left for the race a little later.  I eneded up at Portage Park with an hour to kill.  Plenty of time to jog, chat with folks, and tease Alderman Allen about having the opportunity to beat him in a race.
     As for the race itself I have these observations.
     --I ran the first mile too fast.  9:30, if I remember.
     --I was actually taking the race seriously, trying to find a good pace.  Every time I thought I had one established, I'd almost run into somebody jogging with their dog, or pushing a baby stroller.  Ohhhhh, so THIS is what they mean by a fun run!
     --Chicago city streets have quite a crown to them.  The streets on the course were well paved.  I only saw one hole on Pensacola Ave.
     --My time? Under 30 minutes! 
     --Alderman Allen beat me by two minutes.  He's had more practice.
     --The next time, I'm at a race that's offering post-race back massages, I'll be patient and get in line.