Barefoot Running

Run, the Devil Dogs are Chasing Me!

2009-10-13T22:06:00.000-07:00

So I am running at 11:30 at night after my Tuesday gig. I strap my Vibrams on and head out the door. The weather is cool and sweet, the night is dark and thick. I was having a great run until I approach mile 3 and I see 2 sets of eyes reflecting, red and shining back at me.

Positioned about 10 feet away from me I could see these dark masses right in the middle of the road, as my pace got slower. Racoons? Opossoms perhaps? Is it a skunk? The creatures stood up and let out snarls that made my blood run cold. I flipped on my belt-light to see 2 very big dogs with their teeth glaring back at me. The growls got much louder.

My worst fear. The dogs darted after me with conviction. And now they were barking as they charged. My primal brain made an executive desicion without consulting my logical brain-side. I found myself in an involuntary flat out sprint in the other direction within a hundredth of a second.

My body was light, my heart was pounding, and my eyes were sharp. I was taking giant strides at a break-neck speed. I couldn't feel anything as I bolted through the night. That is, except for these to dogs snapping at the back of my calves as they got closer. "Please God NO!" I was saying outloud. They were actually assaulting me. "Oh God NO!" I said again. I could feel the vibrations from their barks on the back of my legs. This can't be happening, I kept thinking to myself. "PLEASE NO!" I was repeating over and over again.

Eventually they turned around, and left me alone, but my pace didn't slow until long afterwards. I am luck, because I am unscathed. But I was very shaken up by the event. My adrenaline was pumping brother.

I wish that people with devil dogs could be strung up by their toenails, hang naked in town-square, and splattered with hot-sauce. Because it's not fair for the rest of us to have to tolerate these evil creatures created by neglectful parenthood. These territorial dogs are a crime against civilization.

I am considering running with a stick from now on.

Florida Trek: It's Just Gotta Happen!

2009-09-29T21:57:00.000-07:00

I am up in the air as to how I should run across the state, should I really be able to pull this off. It is not a big question of IF someone could get across the state running on foot. It's a question of TIME away from busy schedules. Time away from work, family, life. Both for training, and for the actual event. If I could section off enough time for training, and have a definate plan for hoofing across the width of the state, it would be 80% less daunting of a task. But I need to be working my mileage to 100 miles per week in order to be ready for the high mileage ahead, if this works out.

Lodging presents an issue too. Where do I stay? Pitch a tent? Have Jamie follow me in a trailer? Push a stroller with my camping gear? Hotels? Money is always an issue too, although I would try for sponsors, but would they really be interested in a wild red-headed barefoot runner treking across the sunshine state? I mean, it's not all that impressive in the grand scheme of life. There are folks ruunning across the US in only a handful of months. People running time-honored ultra-marathons in the heart of the desert, like Badwater. Folks running up mountains at 23,000 ft elevation. Monsters who run across continents, or Appalachian trail runs, etc. So could I even find a sponsor at all?

I'd also like to run for a cause. Perhaps Habitat for Humanity, which is an organization I believe strongly in. But could this really happen for me? We'll see. If I can find a way, I'd love to do this before I kick the bucket!

Treking Across Florida? Reality for Me?

2009-09-19T20:48:00.000-07:00

This morning as I peeled myself out of bed and went for my weekly long run, I couldn't help thinking about my longing for an adventure. I want to do something that is meaningful to myself. Something that is physically exerting, and exhilarating too. I was sick this past week with a fever, and I've been to 3 funerals in the past 2 weeks. I want to LIVE. You know?

I have been tossing the "Trek-across-Florida" idea for a while, and have been researching how some ultra-runners have been training for an event like this. It looks very possible for me. And also, very grueling.

Paul Staso, from P.A.C.E (http://www.pacetrek.com/) runs several ultra-runs for charity each year. He does them solo, and pushes a 67 pound stroller full of his goods and gear across the U.S. I don't have the time or resources for a journey that long, but perhaps it's not so impossible to consider a solo run across Florida while brining a few belongings.

He runs anywhere from 20-30 miles per day, at a 12-14 minute mile. That's not so unbelievable to think about. A brisk 12 miler in the morning, then a pit stop mid-day, before heading back out for another 10-15 miles? Or perhaps running the entire 20-30 miles in the morning, and taking the rest of the day off?

Perhaps I am crazy, and maybe I am talking of disaster. I will keep calculating, planning, and seeing if this is something that I might be able to do.

Got a Crazy Idea

2009-09-10T07:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, I stayed up last night researching a few crazy ideas I have. The one that I am most thinking about is a run "across" Florida. It's not organized by anyone or any organization, but would be a "Sean and Jamie" extravaganza.

The course would start in Pensacola, FL and end in Jacksonville, FL. It would be 350 miles, and I am trying to think of the best way to approach it. I am researching how some of these other distance runners, who've run across the U.S. or the Appalachian Trail, have trained for and attacked a course such as this.

This might not ever hatch and come to be, but I have wanted to take a trek across the state for a little while now. Is it really possible? Perhaps I could run along the Florida trail instead. It stretches from one side of Florida to another.

Or perhaps I could sit home on my duff. I am tired of the marathon ritual. I want a spiritual challenge that makes me feel alive!

Overheated on Hwy 30A

2009-08-15T16:33:00.000-07:00

It is the weirdest thing: It can be dreary, rainny, and cloudy all day, until the moment I decide to head out for a long run. Right now, my face is a lovely shade of purple, and I feel like a Florida runner once again.

I treked across busy highway 98 onto 30A highway and ran on the nice sidewalks. Thank God I brought my camel-bak today. Half way through I stopped at the public access beach entrance and sprayed myself wih the hose lustily, desperately trying to get cool. It helped, but I got a few strange looks from tourists. Ahhhhh, who cares. They expect weirdness on 30A.

Speaking of which, I think it's funny how 30A has been romanticized among the general crowd. I understand that people really love it, but I hate that some people in this area are so desperate to identify with the "hipness" of 30A, turning it into nothing more than a fad. The old school 30A crowd aren't a glamourous bunch, but a group of real living breathing people. They don't try to be hip, they are just themselves. So step off all you wanna-be hipsters! Okay... okay... maybe the heat has gotten to me!

A Runner's Midnight High

2009-08-03T22:29:00.000-07:00

Went for a short run outside tonight after the gig. It was 11:30pm. Strapped on the FiveFinger shoes, and hit the road with my arm-band GPS, a cell phone, and a small LED headlight. It was a pleasant run. The kind of run that makes me remember why I fell in love with running. As I enter this blog post into the oblivion, where only 2 people might read it (1 of them being me), I am enjoying the too often mis-understood "runner's high."

People sometimes tell me that they have tried to experience the high runners get, but it didn't work out during their 2 tries, and so they gave up.

I think part of the "high" has to do with why the one is running in the first place. If one is running out of compulsion, then I don't think there is going to be any thrill. It will be torture. But if one is running out of a desire to really live, then the run can be filled with nice experiences. I think this all contributes to the resulting "high".

However, there is also an actual feeling that comes physically, at least for me that is. Right now, after my shower, I am feeling like my skin is soft and cleansed from all the sweating. My mood is content. My legs and feet are completely relaxed and there is some mild euphoria. My body feels loose, and my feet are pleasantly worked.

It's a unique feeling all it's own, hard to describe, but entirely unique to running for me. Plain vanilla physical labor never leaves me feeling quite like this. Running alone has this unique feeling that comes with it. Maybe it's the way our bodies have adapted through time. Perhaps this is a trait shared by our ancestors. And perhaps when we run, we are tapping into an acient instinct that releases biological responses that make us feel alive. Really alive. Maybe.

Need Purpose

2009-07-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

So I'm having a hard time getting freakishly obsessed with any upcoming marathon that is out there. Therefore, without a plan in the future, I end up floundering.

I really enjoy being on a warpath that leads to the actual event, whatever it is. I plan out long runs on the mental calendar, and start training very methodically. Right now, since I have yet to choose a race, I am just maintaining. Biding time.

I need purpose. If anyone is out there, and has a good recommendation for a FUN race, or a really fun thing to train for, let me know!

I would love to train for the 50 mile run up Mount Cheaha in Alabama, but my only drawback is the poison ivy on the trail. I am deathly allergic! But the Mt. Cheaha race is one of the only ultras that sounds like any fun, this side of the Mississippi. Which brings be to the last point. My GOD, I need to do an ultra!

Jazz, Tequila, & Night Running

2009-06-23T21:45:00.000-07:00

After the gig at Pandora's tonight, Jim (My bass playing friend) wanted to do some tequila shots of Patron. Well, I have never done any tequila shots at all, so I was hesitant. But Jane Lee, Nicole, and Jim were all hoping to see me take the plunge. So I put the salt on the hand, tossed'er down, and sucked the lime. I didn't feel any burn going down at all. So Jim took me to Pranzo's (across the street) and bought me a pasta dinner with bread, oil and the whole thing, while the stuff did it's work. For those of you who don't know, I am an extreme lightweight. I don't ever drink, so I am a boring kind of guy.

I got home, and needed to run! So I hit the road at 11:30pm on my deserted stretch of highway where I live and hit the pavement. My belly just ached from running on a full tummy, and I had to relieve the pressure a few times by letting it just come up and out. Gross I know. But the run was great and I am still a bit woozy from the Patron while I type and massage my left leg with "The Stick" to prevent any inflammation.

Good Times... Still trying to figure out what my next challenge is going to be. I feel like I just got to do something.

Hotter Than Hades!!!

2009-06-09T12:19:00.001-07:00

So the temp today is 85 degrees, and feels like 89. And I decided to hit the pavement for a run to mom's house. Things were good on the highway, the breeze from the cars was nice. Turning off the highway onto Mack Bayou, the asphalt was cooking me alive. And I was really wishing that I had held off eating those mexican lentils Jamie made last night... Oh the burn.

One thing that has always amazed me about the Vibes, is that they handle heat really well. Especially Florida heat, that can melt the sole off of a normal shoe at times. Something about the high grade rubber I guess.

But other than that, I have been keeping the muscles stretched and primed for action.

Oh yeah, on a side note, for those of you who haven't heard me talk about it in person, we bought an Airstream trailer a few weeks back. I have been redoing

Slowly But Surely

2009-04-30T16:04:00.000-07:00

It takes so much time to heal sometimes! My ITB, the band around my knee, has been so sore since the marathon 6 months ago! I have had to take things SLOW, with a capital "S".

The knee is involved in almost every endurance activitiy. Even kyaking to some extent. So I have been taking things at an easy level of intensity, and no long distances. YET!

This week, I have felt so alive though. The knee feels completely back to normal. I am so glad that I put my type "A" personality on hold for a while and let me body rest from the vigorous marathon training from last season.

The Blisters are Back!

2009-03-27T12:56:00.001-07:00

Went for a great run a few days ago on the beach road and got some blisters. Those of you who know that I took some time off from running after the Marathon in November, will be glad to know that my feet have grown somewhat tender again. Not much, but enough to get that pleasant soreness on the bottoms of my soles.

Looking forward to training for another big distance event, but I would like to do something a little more obscure than a marathon this time. Maybe a trek across some part of Florida or perhaps Alabama. I don't know, but I am letting the idea simmer in the back of my mind.

Back in the Shaddle

2009-03-11T15:30:00.000-07:00

Well, this week, I started my post marathon running. Seems like a long time ago that the Atlanta Marathon had it's way with me. About 3 months I think. But BOY oh BOY, did the ATL Marathon take me down. OOooh, what hills lie yonder in the land of Atlanta! My joints, ligaments, muscles, etc. hurt for months. I am a Florida runner. Flat-land-Sean.

Everytime I would try to go for a run within the first couple months, I would get about 3 minutes into it, and my right knee would start aching hard! So I'd stop and go home and ice it, and do nothing.

Well this past Monday, the sun was shining and I decided to give it a go. I made it 2 miles with no pain, felt like being alive again. So now I can begin preparing for the next torturous marathon. Maybe this next one will kill me. :)

Merry Christmas to All

2008-12-25T12:36:00.001-08:00

Well, I am feeling better today than I have been for the past week. I have been sick as a dying dog. Fever, sinuses, chest scum, etc. Finally went to the doc after 4 days of it and got on a Z-Pack and some syrup. So I have been couch-ridden for 7 days!

It's Christmas and I am feeling better. Not normal. But better. Thank the heavens. This sickness has really kicked my rear. It happened during my break from school, which is a good thing and a bad thing. Good that I didn't miss any classes. Bad that I didn't get to kick around for the Holiday week.

But that is okay, because it's all behind me now. (Fingers crossed.) Glad to be having the holidays here at Jamie's parents house. Mom bought me a GPS for Christmas. I love it. I am, how you say, directionally-challenged. So that will help me when navigating through unfamiliar territory.

Merry Christmas to all 3 of you who actually read this blog!

2008 Atlanta, GA Thanksgiving Day Marathon

2008-12-01T19:52:00.000-08:00

Well, I did it. I came back after back surgery and ran my 2nd official marathon. The Atlanta marathon. What attracted me to it was that it was the 1996 Olympic marathon course. And let me just say that it certainly was Olympic.

I was in decent marathon shape. I can complete a 26 plus long run with minor damage on Florida elevation. But running this hell-bent Atlanta course made a woman out of me.

8:00pm: We arrived in Atlanta in just enough time to pick up my packet. I bought a few gel packs from the expo (which was closing down.)

At around 11:00pm we hit the bed. We awoke to the blaring alarm at 4:30am, and made it to the Turner Field starting line at 5:30am for a good parking spot.

We sat in the car for a while with our hands on the heater vents of the dashboard until the gun went off at 7:30am.

The first 13 miles: My legs are feeling good. I had some nice tunes going in my earphones. I called Jamie on the bluetooth at mile marker 13 and told her that things were doing really well, and that I felt fresh.

Mile 20: The world ends. The course takes a sharp up-hill slant, and my calves begin to scream foul obscenities.

Mile 22: I veer off the course momentarily to the porta-john. My whole lower body is wrenched with serious pain and burn. My knees feel like someone is stretching the muscles into Play-Dough. It hurts so bad to run. But it hurts worse to walk. So I keep running.

Mile 24: I don't know if I am going to make it. But I didn't drive 6 hours, train for 7 months, and pay my money to walk or quit. So I kept running. The hills won't quit. I am cursing inside at the powers that be. It's like climbing a giant staircase. All the Atlanta natives are breezing past me. My world is fast becoming a living hell. My pace continues to drop.

Mile 25: I am holding onto conciousness. Literally. I feel like I am about to pass out any moment. Then I meet Jane. A mid-aged runner in my same plight. A glorious personality who is hurting like me. She sticks with me and we motivate each other to the end. Well, actually, she motivates me. I just moan and at times cry.

Finish Line: I bring myself to smile for the camera my wife is holding. I find a chair and slam an orange juice, water, 2 granola bars, and 2 packs of peanut butter crackers. I am in agony.

My wife helped me into the car, and we arrived at my aunt and uncle's. I was shivering cold like a beaten horse, and felt like I was dying. I crawled in the shower and let the blistering hot water run over my legs for a bit. Then I took some pain-medication and enjoyed Thanksgiving. There was a glow inside me. After all, I did it. And the fact that it was so hard, made it taste better when I finished.

We spent the rest of our holiday weekend in Ashevill NC, and people looked at me limping around the city like I was a war veteran. And I felt like it. I still can't walk down steps without wincing. But, it is a pleasant pain. It brings me joy that the infernal race is over.

I am still limping, and I will never forget the Atlanta Marathon. It about killed me. I will run this one again next year if it works out. I will conquer this course someday.

28 Mile Video Blog

2008-11-02T11:28:00.001-08:00

Well, I hit the road this morning for 28 miles. It was a good go. I took the camera with me and strapped it to my camelbak shoulder strap. Every few miles or at my pit stops I would make a video entry.

I took a spill while running. My first fall. I tripped on a seam in the sidewalk and toppled onto my left shoulder. Thankfully, I fell on the grass beside the sidewalk. After realizing that I had fallen, I looked up at the sky for a moment. I stood up and brushed the blades of grass off me and kept going.

The weather is getting cooler down here in Florida. It kinda sucks, because I prefer the mild-fall weather as opposed to wearing gloves, hat, tights, etc. Enjoy the vid.

Chilly Running

2008-10-30T21:12:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of me from my run last weekend. At about mile 24, I kept telling myself that I was going to take a picture when I was finished, and that somehow all the suffering would to be worth it once the picture was snapped. For some puzzling reason, it pumped me up to know that I'd have a picture of myself. Oh my, the crazy things the brain starts to spit out after a long run. I believe I was in some kind of delirous state, because I could care less about having a picture of myself! Ha ha ha.

It's a bizzarre temprature for running down here in Florida. When I wake up and hit the road at 4:00am, it's freezing. But then the Florida sun begins to heat things up after a couple hours and I find myself over dressed. However, I shouldn't complain, it is a LOT nicer than running in the dead summer. I can run during the middle of the day during November. If I were to run in the middle of the day during July, I'd probably wake up with an IV in my arm in an ice bath in ICU.

Completion of "Lone Wolf Marathon"

2008-10-26T08:16:00.001-07:00

Today is Jamie's (my wife's) birthday. So in honor of her 35th year upon sod, I have run a marathon in her honor. I won first place. Well, at least that is what I'm going to proclaim in the online blogosphere. True, I was the only registered racer, and I also had to supply my own water, fuel, and crowd support, but who cares about the details? The race just happened to start and end at my front door. Today was actually my scheduled long run. I went 26.2. Fun.

I started my personal marathon at 4:15 am, and ended at 9:28 am. 5 hours and 13 minutes. A pathetic marathon time, but this includes several pit stops, bathroom breaks, convenience store refueling, a brief conversation with the cashier Miklov about my strange shoes, and lots of cautious slow-paced highway shoulder running.

Right now, I sit Indian style on my sofa with my laptop recovering. I look at my freshly scraped and raw feet and force myself to slam another bottle of water. Why in the hell do I do this? What in God's name makes me tick? Why do I choose to forgo sleep, and beat myself for 3-5 hours each weekend? I must enjoy it.

My wreaking Vibrams, CamelBak, Garmin GPS, MP3 player, gel flask, hat, gloves, sunglasses are stinking up the garage right now with their vile sweaty odor. I'll deal with all that later.

We are preparing to take a long drive out to Pensacola to eat at "End of the Line" vegan cafe for Jamie's B-day, the one eatery in the area where the staff understands our set of vegan-lifestyle oddities.

Happy 35th Birthday Jamie! My Love!

24 Miles: Nothing Worth Mentioning

2008-10-12T17:50:00.000-07:00

Had a good run yesterday morning. Nothing worth mentioning, except it was hard, and I was 7 pounds lighter when I got home. It was a pleasant run, and took me 5 hours even to complete. Hopefully I am faster on race day.

Right now, I am writing on an EeePc. We just got it today, because both of our computers had freak outs. Our PC doesn't get the internet, and our laptop wasn't getting it either. Sucks to be so dependent on technology. And after getting things all squared away with our router, I restored internet to one of the computers, so there is some equanimity to our lives once again.

Reading While Running: My New Kick

2008-10-04T20:15:00.000-07:00

21 miles this morning. Ran to Wal-mart and back. Felt good, and I can't believe how audio books make the miles fly by for me. I downloaded "King Solomon's Mine" by H. Rider Haggard and got 9 chapters into it. Librivox.org has more than enough classics to keep me entertained for many long runs to come.

The run took me 4:14, but that is including 2 pit stops at passing porta-johns. After getting home, I ate some oatmeal, and we scooted off to do some yard saleing. Our favorite thing to do. Seaside had their mega-yard-sale today. I got a bag of books, a few hanging pictures, one of which is of a cowboy. I love the old West. My love for it has be reignited since reading Zane Grey.

And I found a pair Asics Gel shoes. I know that goes against the "barefoot-ness" of this blog, but there are times that I need shoes for certian things. Like when my wife wants me to look like a normal guy when around certain people. Like last year when we went to Disney World for Thanksgiving.

So that's it. A good day. Nice weather, nice run, good deals at the yard-sales.

Bearing the Vibram Name

2008-09-27T20:15:00.000-07:00

So I have been in contact with the kind folks at Vibram Five Fingers and I'll be flashing their logo on a custom jersey that'll be printed. I will wear it at some upcoming marathons.

Why bear the name of the shoe on a jersey? I am not a fast runner, so it's a far cry from a pro athlete promoting a mega-shoe by his or her magnificent performance.

Well, people at races are always asking about the shoes, so I'll gladly be the billboard. Also, I sometimes feel like a hypocrite wearing New Balance, or Nike gear, when I don't even wear their shoes.

My honest opinion is that barefoot running needs all the exposure it can get from people who can lend credibility to its benefits. As long as people keep having knee problems, shin splints, and other shoe related injuries, they need to keep hearing about running bare.

Most average Joe's are scared of begining a barefoot running program because of the callous issue. The Vibe's are a good way around this.

I'll do average at a handful of the season's marathons, but hopefully I'll be drawing some attention to the shoes.

Endurance Jelly Recipe

2008-09-25T21:10:00.000-07:00

I have been experiementing, and reading about endurance gel recipes. It can get expensive paying for 4 gel packs every weekend run. So I have found something that has worked well for me lately. This is the uncomplicated recipe I have been using.

BAREFOOT ENDURANCE JELLY

8 TBSP of Strawberry Jelly
4 TBSP of Water
2 TBSP of Sugar
1/2 tsp - 3/4 tsp of Salt
1/8 tsp of Citric Acid

Mix jelly and water in bowl with a fork to make into smooth syrup-like mix. Add sugar, salt, and citric acid (usually found in the canning aisle of the grocery store). Pour mix through funnel into gel flask and take a squirt every 45 minutes.

Pretty easy. Tastes good, and does just as well as some of the products on the market. I am not going to say it is as good as Hammer gel, or Cytomax. But I will say that it is every bit as good as Powerbar gel that I have used.

18 Miles: I Love Librivox.org & Caffeine Pills

2008-09-25T20:40:00.001-07:00

Okay, school schedule is nice and crammed tight. I am studying, doing homework, gigging at night, and sometimes running doubles to fit mileage in. Enter Publix (local grocery store) brand caffeine pills. 200mg of energy in each chalky little pill. It was 5:00am on Saturday and all I wanted was to sleep another 24 hours. While I am a big advocate of sleep, this was one of the only free times I had for an 18 mile run, and skipping is not an option.

So aside from the magical pills I used an audio book to get me going. Librivox.org offers mountains of books as free audio files. My indulgent book was the "Lone Star Ranger" by famous old West author Zane Grey. The miles just seemed to wiz underneath my feet. The audio book really does the trick sometimes.

I ended my run by meeting Jamie at a house across town (in Kelly Plantation) where she was working as a nanny for the weekend. That's it. Another fun run this week.

Barefoot Mileage

2008-09-14T12:03:00.000-07:00

The Vibrams can give your feet hell. Granted not as bad a regular shoes by a long shot, but hell nonetheless. Especially when the feet get wet and friction increases. Here you can see some wear spots across the tops of my feet since I wear the sprints, and along the inside of my feet.

Went for a 16 mile run across town the other morning. I used my LED light for running the dark gravel road I live on. I strapped it on the front of my camelbak, and set out at 5:00am. NPR was on my mp3 player/radio. I listened to continuing coverage of hurricane Ike. It's funny, each longrun weekend, there is a new hurricane that is getting it's 15 minutes in the limelight.

Also used my gel mixture of jelly and salt thinned down with water. Seemed to work fine. The only other thing I could add to it is some crushed caffeine pills, and some citric acid for extra electrolyte replacement. I'll experiement more in the future.

Jelly in the Flask

2008-09-12T18:58:00.000-07:00

Last week we went to Atlanta, GA to pick up some furniture from my aunt and uncle. What I found while I was up there was a very hilly marathon route! I hope I can survive it come November. I haven't been doning any extensive hill training. I am still trying to be gentle with my back since surgery.

Couple weeks ago, I bought a gel flask fot $1.50 at Running Wild in Pensacola while I was at a gig that was just down the street. I filled the flask with a mixture of jelly, water, and a bit of salt. I'll consume this tommorrow for the long run of 16 miles. I'll know how the mixture worked by then.

My Vegan Journey

2008-09-02T06:53:00.000-07:00

So I looked though a bunch of old blogs of mine to figure out just how long I have been a Vegan now. Well, come October it will be 2 years. That's weird! It feels like a LOT longer than that. My diet has changed MUCH MUCH since then too. This video was the video that did it for me. A great video on veganism, and worth a watch.

Let me give you a run down of how I have eaten at different times in my life.

AGE 0-12:
Was raised eating healthy, but not "super-healthy." We are talking mid 70's through late 80's healthy. When asapartame was the miracle powder, and frozen yogurt was the rage. Dad was a distance runner, and was very obsessed with eating balanced.

AGE 12-15:
Dad died, and I gave the big middle finger to healthy eating. It was canned salty treats, sugary honey buns, and pizza pizza pizza. Also learned about beer during this time. Not a good time of my life dealing with Dad's death, and my relationship with food reflects it.

AGE 16-19:
Started distance running, cleaned up my life, and eventually was running 5 miles 7 days per week. Lost a bunch of weight because I was reading anything and everything I could about diet and fitness. I would check out mountains of books from the area's libraries about health and fitness. Very fertile time for me, I learned a lot about nutrition.

AGE 19-20:
Got married, and let go of healthy eating and all training for one solid year and learned all about marriage. We ate frozen fried chicken patties, hamburgers, potato chips, pizza. It was bliss. Gained small amount of weight. Was unhappy with my body to say the least. I remember waking up one morning and going for a 3 mile run, it about killed me! But I still had stamina.

AGE 20-22:
Had enough of crappy eating for one whole year and cleaned things up to the way things were before. No junk food, no white flour, lean meat, balanced meals. Woke up one morning and went for a 6 mile run on a whim. That started the whole running thing up for me again. About a week after that, I started going barefoot.

AGE 23-25:
Watched a video called "Diet for a New America" by John Robbins, and decided to go Vegan. I cut out all animal products all together. Felt much better for it.

So 2 years, is comin up around the corner.

14 Miles on Sunday Morning

2008-08-31T17:29:00.001-07:00

Did my 14 mile long run while Gustav brewed out in the Gulf. We hope it doesn't hit anywhere near here. We've decided to hang out here since the projected path is for New Orleans. Hurricanes suck. And it looks like we will be dealing with hurricane Hannah after this one.

I put off my long run that is usually done on Saturday mornings and did it this morning. I wanted to do it yesterday but didn't want to be exhausted for a gig I had over in Pensacola later that night like I am right now. I am pleasantly tired and loosened up. I wanted to do it last night, but decided not to take a chance with any possible drunk labor day drivers being that Destin is a party city.

So I popped a 200mg No Doz caffeine pill and went running at about 8:00am. It was hotter than I would have liked, so I ended up drinking 2 of my camelbacks. I ran 7 miles out and around my in-law's neighborhood (where we used to live) and stopped to fill the camelback with their water hose and ran back home. Last week I had a bit of a headache after my long run, I was a bit dehydrated I guess. So today, I kept taking sips every 2 minutes or so. I was drenched by the end of my run. It was just a typical hot Florida day.

Trying to Ramp Up The Mileage

2008-08-28T20:39:00.000-07:00

I am reading the book "Positively False" by controversial Tour De France winner Floyd Landis. It is a very interesting look into the mind of a serious pro cyclist. I enjoy reading about his history being raised as a Mennonite and being as obsessed with cycling as he is. It is a nice motivator to read about an endurance athlete who is committed to his sport.

One thing cool about Landis, or any pro endurace athlete for that matter, is that they all train with very high mileage. Whether it's Olympic Marthoners, ultra runners, Lance, or another pro cyclist.

I have been doing some reading up on high mileage training after reading this book, and watching the Olympic Marathon and getting pumped up. I have been slowly bringning the mileage up and hopefully increasing my endurance for a future ultra-marathon.

This week, my mid-week run (on Wed) is up to 6 miles. Usually, on this training program I've been following, the mid-week run increases by a mile every 2 or 3 weeks. So 2 or 3 weeks from now on Sept 10 or 17 I'll be increasing my mid-week run to 7 miles.

Sammy Wanjiru: Kenya's First Gold!

2008-08-24T08:06:00.000-07:00

2:06:32! That is the winning time of Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya. 21 years old, and he won Kenya's first gold in the Olympic Marathon!

It was a fun race to watch. When they bolted off the start line, Sammy W. started with his 2:05 pace and held it to the end. The others kept up for a short while, but the lead pack started to thin out. I was rooting for Kenya the whole time, I must admit.

Ethiopia held in there for a long while, I was sad to see his teamate come up and pass him right at the very end and grab 3rd. You could see he didn't have any juice left.

What a great race to watch. Historic too. After all the races Kenya wins each year, they deserved to win the Olympic marathon. With such a great legacy as distance runners, it only seems fitting that they should take the gold.

ABC News: Barefoot Running Video

2008-08-23T19:35:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Fay was supposed to be hitting us all day today, but there was no bad weather. There was a touch of wind and rain last night, but nothing worth mentioning.
So, I decided to hit the road at around 12:00pm and go for a 12 mile long run. It was very humid out and I did great until the last 2 miles when I was really starting to fade. The humidity was killing me. My back is doing fine, and I am pleasantly fatigued. The Vibram Sprints gave a little chaffing on my left foot due to the friction caused by the moisture.

So here is the ABC news spcial on Barefoot running, featuring the guru Ken Bob Saxton. He is my favorite dude. I remember finding his website when I first decided to try barefoot running. It was a great time in my life deciding to embrace the rebellion against the shoe makers. I had a hard time finding the video when I searched for it, so I decided to post it to maybe make it avaiable to watch. I like this report because it gives some real scientific evidence and explanations.

Hurricane Fay GO AWAY!

2008-08-22T19:29:00.000-07:00

Well, Hurricane Fay is supposed to be hitting this area for the next 2 days. Things are already very windy and I anticipare the rain to start any moment. This is not good news for me, my long run should be tommorrow morning. I am assuming the weather will not permit me to go. BOO!

So my reasons for asking hurrican Fay to go away are not entirely for the greater good of my community. My reasons are selfish. I want to run. Oh well, we'll see what happens. Hopefully things won't get too wild.

That's a Good Meat-a-Ball!

2008-08-20T17:47:00.001-07:00

Of course you know we are vegan, so that is why I am talking about food. But we have gotten quite creative since turning vegan a few years ago.

Tonight, after a 5 miler mid-week run, I made pasta with bean-balls. I was amazed that the balls looked like real meatballs. When the bean-ball mixture was raw, it had the look of ground beef. Anyway, I made the balls first, and then went for a run. I came back and cooked the whole thing just in time for Jamie to get home. Yummmm.

One thing I am about to begin researching, is an energy bar that is relatively cheap to make, and easy to take with you when away from home. I welcome any suggestions!

I Have Got to Find This Trail!

2008-08-17T10:23:00.000-07:00

Ran into a fellow runner here in the Destin area while playing at Fleming's on Friday night. Chris is his name. He asked me if I wanted to go running with him and his friend when I got off the gig.

After the gig, I packed up the car very quick and raced home to change. I met up with Chris and his friend (also named Chris) and went for a short run through Sandestin and Baytownne Wharf. Very cool guys. Had some good conversation, and learned about a trail that starts in Crestview and goes to Defuniak. 50 miles supposedly.

All I can say is: "I Gotta run it." I don't know what the name of the trail is, or where to find it. I am about to attempt some internet digging to find this trail. I am looking forward to possibly running the length of it between February and May. Somewhere around those dates, at least if all goes well.

I am inclined to think they are refering to the Florida Trail. 1400 miles of trail that stretch across Florida. Hmmmmm, sounds like fun! The Pine Log state Forest (pictured above) is the closest inlet to the Florida trail to where I live.

Atlanta Here We Come

2008-08-14T07:11:00.000-07:00

I called my aunt and uncle (Bunny and Sam) who live in Atlanta and scheduled our Thanksgiving stay. The morning of Turkey day, we'll wake up and head to the race. Then head back to her house for some delightful food. Jamie and I will bring our Tofurky for me to enjoy. Last time I splurged and ate turkey at a Thanksgiving feast, my vegan stomach rebelled hard.

My uncle Same has been marathoning for a very long time. I want to say that he's been long distance running since the mid 1960's, but I might be selling him short. He's probably been running since Hoover was president. I think he's run around 40 marathons. I don't know I am probably way off.

Regardless, Sam was the one who introduced my dad to marathon running in the early 1970's. My dad was a young smoker, and a German beer drinking tank. Dad did some cross country running in high school and then gave it up like most guys.

Sam, a rigid Army officer, invited my dad along for a short run, and my dad accepted the challenge. 2 minutes into the effort, my dad was sucking wind. His smoked lungs were complaining and his rigid joints were wimping out early. He finished the run according to Uncle Sam's version, and quit smoking that very day.

After that run with my uncle, my dad became a man obsessed with running. He even fit his long run in around my mother's baby delivery at the hospital when I was born. He ran over 30 marathons of his own. His favorite being the annual Pikes Peak marathon, which became a family tradition. And now that is where his ashes lie. He ran seriously until his death in 1994. Around 24 years of long hard running.

So I am carrying on the tradition. I am excited about the Atlanta marathon, and seeing my family too.

11 Miler: Feelin' Fine

2008-08-09T16:11:00.000-07:00

Woke up at 4:30, popped half of a No-Doz and went for an 11 mile run to my mother's house on Main St. It was fun, but not nearly as hard as it should have been. I seem to be rebounding nicely after back surgery.

It feels good to be back in the swing of things running like this. I am thinking that I am going to try for the Atlanta marathon on Thanksgiving morning. I have some family in Atlanta.

The only thing is, I need to start some major hill training for the Atlanta race. I am not "hill-ready" from living here in Florida. Things here are pretty flat. So I am going to try to get creative with training and try to throw in some stair-work or some small hills that we have here locally. Or better yet, some bridge running. We have some big bridges that rise like hill.

We'll see. All I know is I'd better be ready for some of these monster hills I've been reading about.

3 Miles In the Morning

2008-07-28T08:12:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, I woke up around 6:00 and took a 3 miler run before we embarked on our garage sale adventures for the day.

Its amazing how easy it is to run when things are cool (as they are in the morning hours) outside. I had a good run, and some of my speed is coming back without me trying. I consistently run a 10:00 mile without working at all. This is encouraging to me, because when I started again (after my surgery) I was being cautious and averaging an 11:00 minute mile.

The Vibram sprints are probably my favorite barefoot shoe thus far. Although I am now very interested in the Vibram KSOs which cover most of the foot. For a marathon in Huntsville, I wore my Vibram classics (that DO NOT cover the entire foot) in 10 degree weather. In order to protect the tops of my feet from the cold, I cut the toes of a pair of dress socks I had with me and ran with those. It looked pretty stupid if you ask me! But with the KSOs it seems that they would work well in cold weather. Crap. Now I want a pair!

So there I was on my easy 3 miler, feeling that surge of minor euphoria come over me, when I got the urge to run two races. First, the Pikes peak marathon. It was my dad's favorite marathon, he ran it every year, and we scattered his ashes on top of Pikes Peak. Two: The Ledville 100. I know this one is an overly ambitious goal. But I know that if I carve out enough time to train for this 100 mile race, I could do it. So I'll talk more about these later.

Happy running.

My Run Was Hot, Hot, Hot!

2008-07-24T17:07:00.001-07:00

Wowie! I went running today in very hot weather, and felt like I was going to vomit halfway through! It was so scorching hot.

I didn't know it was hot before I went. The breeze was deceptive. I used the Garmin GPS armband to clock my run. It was great having that. It seems like its more accurate than the Timex GPS watch that I have. I like both though.

When I got home, I felt like I was going to collapse. I drank and drank to replenish. The cold shower I took also felt very refreshing. Man it was hot.

5 Miler Long Run: Back is Doing Great

2008-07-21T13:09:00.000-07:00

Well, yesterday morning I got up at 7:00 and drove to Jamie's parent's house, and then ran back to my house.5 miles all together.

It felt so nice waking up early in the morning to go for a long run, even though it was hardly "long" at all. But I love running when the majority of the world is asleep or at least sleepy.

It was good on the back, I had no problems dealing with the run. It was a good run. I am so overjoyed to be running again, with less back pain. The Vibram sprints dealt so good with my feet. No blisters. I had to use a massive bandaid patch over my bloody heel. A repercussion from the walk the day before.

After the run, Jamie and I drove to Pensacola to meet our friends Fred and Cynthia at a vegan restaurant caled End of the Line Cafe. I was so pleasantly surprised by the food. We had vegan sausage and biscuts with gravy. Mole baked beans with cheese grits. Salad, corn and potato chowder. Watermelon, and carrot cake. Wow, all vegan. No guilt. It's been SO SO long since I have gone out and enjoyed myself in a restaurant. That is one of the elements of being a vegan. It comes with the territory.

Ran to the Grocery Store

2008-07-17T20:14:00.000-07:00

Well, I got the itching to save gas and accomplish some grocery shopping today. So I ran to the grocery store and walked back to the house. I wore my backpack and put the items in it. The first part of the route is mainly overgrowth along the side of a busy highway. That's when the early-style Vibram 5 fingers started to inflict bloody hell upon my feet. The weather was hot! And the breeze was medium. It's funny how people look out their car windows at me like I am a strange guy. At one time everyone in the US walked or used horses.

My old Vibrams were the ones I wore today. Not the new ones (sprint model)that I got from Jamie, but the old ones. They gave me such nasty blisters! Oooo. My feet are sore. Even though I've run well over 26 miles in the old vibes several times. They bothered me. The new Vibes are MUCH better. The fit the foot in a much more comfortable way. The original style Vibes don't agree with me anymore apparently. I guess I need to get used to them again. Oooow.

The reason that I got inspired to get mobile was because I read that the average American walks 1.5 miles p/week! That is roughly 350 yards p/day. PATHETIC. Then I got to thinking how rarely I walk.

I sweat like a dog, but it felt good.

A Change of Route: So Nice

2008-07-16T16:21:00.000-07:00

The pic is of Topsail reserve state park. It's pretty close to my house. Maybe 2 minutes away.

The park has many trails that go deep into the surrounding Florida woods. Very serene. I took a few trails until I realized that all I could see in every direction was trees. No signs of civilization around me. Then it struck me what an odd thing. I am not used to being enveloped in nature like that. I am too domesticated.

The Vibes handled good. There were a few trips on roots under my feet, and scuffs from fallen branches, but all in all, the Vibes handled nicely. However, I am running on Florida sandy soil, not rocky terrain like the trails up north.

I can see the need for more nature time. I have been cut off (by my own doing) from nature and didn't even know it. There are a bunch of parks around us in the area. Within 30 minutes to an hour. I'd like to visit some of them and start experiencing more outdoor moments.

Today it felt nice to change my normal running route. Even though I ran approximately the same mileage, it just feels so refreshing to see new scenerey.

Great Hot Run

2008-07-15T12:30:00.000-07:00

Man oh man. My feet were a little sore from running outside today at 1:30pm when the asphalt was steamin'. I was surprised that I could feel it through the Vibrams. It wasn't bad by any means, but it was very warm. And I am thinking if I were running the Badwater Ultra-Marathon, I might melt right to the road!

It felt good running today, I am still feeling loose from the 4 miler a couple days ago. I am keeping a close watch on my achilles heels, and their doing great. Very loose and relaxed.

A New Song From Your's Truly

2008-07-14T21:29:00.000-07:00

I figured that I would share a recording that I did tonight while my wife was at a personal chef gig.

I needed a new intro song for my music site (www.seandietrichmusic.com) so I chose to re-make a song that I have liked for a while. The Bonnie Raitt song "Let's Give'm Something To Talk About."

On the song I am playing the drums, bass, keys, and singing. For anyone who is interested, you can listen to the song here:

Let's Give'm Somethin' To Talk About (By Sean Dietrich)

Okay, so now you can be one of the 3 people who will ever hear this song!

Vegans Take Your Vitamins!

2008-07-13T08:02:00.000-07:00

How do you like that picture of me inspecting the vitamin bottle? Pretty cheezy cool huh? Well, the reason for all the cheeziness is because I wanted to touch on the subject of vitamins.

For a short while a few months ago, I noticed my hair kept falling out each day. It was kind of freaky. But I am convinced now that it was due to a vitamin deficiency due to the vegan diet I adhere to. Once I started loading with vitamins, the problem disappeared.

Vitamins are more important to a runner than the average Joe. They are even more important to a vegan runner. We are burning through nutrients like liquid silver. It's important to get our Omega fatty acids, and our vitamins replenished.

Like I said, my hair was coming out in the shower, my skin was really really dry (especially on my face) and sometimes I would see purple spots in my vision. I was failing at eating a balanced diet. But it's hard to balance a diet so that you receive perfect amounts of vital nutrients evenly each day. At least for me.

Since I got on a good vitamin plan, things are much better now. Skin is good, hair is good, vision is good, and my frame of mind has actually improved.

Here is a fabulous set of articles on nutritional requirements for vegans I found. Great stuff.

http://www.veganoutreach.org/health/stayinghealthy.html#currentstateofveganhealth

I'm sure most vegans are more responsible than I was. But if there are any vegans who need a stern word of advice. "Take your vitamins all you vegan kids."

"Speed Doesn't Matter", I Keep Telling Myself

2008-07-13T07:47:00.000-07:00

Who cares if I run a 10:00 or a 7:02 minute mile? No one? It's funny how the "grass is always greener."

Last August, when I ran a 10k at a pace slightly over 7:00, I was happy with myself, but I wanted to be faster! After all, I didn't win that particular race. Which means someone out there is faster than me. Yesterday's 11:00 minute mile makes a 7:00 minute mile look like a flash of lighting.

Right now, I am thankful to be running at all because of my recent back surgery. But yesterday's 11:00 minute mile is a very slow pace to get used to. The ego doesn't like it one bit. I was begining to think old ego was asleep in his lazy-boy. But he's awake. He keeps telling me to train faster. I keep telling him to shove it.

In the scheme of things, speed doesn't matter to me. If I hang around a 10 or 11 minute mile I'll stay clear of injuries. And that is more important to me. I don't want to miss 2 months of running because of one silly inteterval session.

"A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson: A Really Good Book

2008-07-12T21:48:00.000-07:00

I am enjoying Bill Bryson's book, "A Walk in the Woods." I just love it when I find a book where the pages almost turn themselves.

I started this book while Jamie was in the Publix grocery store buying ingredients for an experimental dinner. I just bought it at the thrift store. (like I do many books) I just burned through the pages without even noticing.

The book is about an average middle-aged man who decides to hike the Appalachian trail. The book goes into more serious conversations, but it peppered with plenty of really refreshing humor. I found myslef laughing out loud most of the time throughout reading the book. It's hysterical. I haven't read a funny book like this in a long while. It feels great to laugh.

I love books that take you to another place. And I guess, deep down, I am an outdoorsman at heart. This book is all about the beautiful outdoors, and the glories of the Appalachian trail.

A very easy read. And well worth the time spent reading it.

First 4 Mile Run After Back Surgery

2008-07-12T12:22:00.001-07:00

The picture is of the first small stretch of my typical route.

Right now, I have that pleasantly cleansed feeling. I'm sitting on our newly recieved couch (from Jamie's mother) as I type on the laptop. Today at 1:15pm I hopped out the door after massaging my stiff calves and went for my first official "long" training run since back surgery 3 months ago.

The weather was more than accomodating. It rained all morning, so the sky was still overcast, and the air was cool and humid. Good weather for running. I gently fell into an easy pace as I trotted down our gravel driveway. It felt good. I was ready to start putting some distance under my feet.

It took me 44:17 to complete the 4 mile run, meaning I was running an 11:00/mile. Which might have bothered my ego before my back surgery. But right now I am just thankful to be running at all. I had it in me to run faster today, but I was being extra cautious. After all, I really don't care about being fast. At least not yet.

After I made it home, I had that loving-familiar feeling of being drenched in my clothes. My whole body was wet and loose, and I was finally (after months of a lay-off) exerted. How I missed the feeling of a nice cleansing long run. Even though it's only 4 miles. For now.

VeganFitness.net a Vegan Running Forum

2008-07-12T08:36:00.001-07:00

Forums are one of the greatest things about the net. People can carry on conversations about topics of interest.

A great site I found is veganfitness.net. I didn't expect the board to has as many posts as it did. It seems like a active forum that could be fun to hang out in.

It can be hard to find people who live the vegan lifestyle, and sometimes it's nice to have people to rap with.

2 Years to Perfect the Ultimate Hummus Recipe

2008-07-11T22:12:00.000-07:00

I am a Hummus freak. I eat at least once a week. I make a supersized bowl full of it and eat with organic blue corn chips, or a toasted whole wheat pita. It's high in protein, fiber, and good fats. It's a great high energy food for running.

My first hummus mixes were terrible. They were either too sour, too salty, too dry, too wet, too oily, too bland, too garlicy etc. But through trying several different recipes and trying hard to emulate different brands of my favorite store bought hummus, I have come up with something that finally pleases me. And yes, it's taken me 2 years to get it right. And here it is for you.

There are a few things that I have found make the hummus truly good. Using one can of northern beans to each can of chickpeas gives the hummus a better texture and flavor I find. Also, the purple garlic is a winner. I use a touch of liquid smoke which adds a delightful kick to things. Also use citric acid (this is KEY). Hard to find, but look in the canning isle. I got this tip from topsecretrecipes.com. It makes the hummus come alive and taste like store bought stuff. Paprika (a good amount) is an important key. White pepper, also very important. Okay, enough talk.

SEAN'S BAREFOOT HUMMUS RECIPE

1 can chickpeas
1 can White Northern Beans
2 cloves garlic (the purple-ish kind if you can get it)
1/3 Cup Canola Oil (I've found that olive is too strong for hummus, you want tasteless oil that doesn't dominate.)
1 TBSP Tahini (heaping)
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp white pepper
1/8 tsp liquid smoke
3 tsp salt
1 Roasted Red Pepper (optional)
1/4 citric acid (or to taste)
1/2 TBSP lemon juice

Puree in a blender (not a food processor) if possible. This makes the hummus come out smooth like the store bought kind. If you need to add moisture, then add the drained liquid from the chickpeas or northern beans. Good luck!

How I Began Running: In Loving Memory of My Dad 1953-1994

2008-07-10T11:03:00.000-07:00

In 1953 my father John Dietrich was born in Humboldt Kansas. His family later relocated to Lawrence Kansas when my dad was a bit older. Lawrence is the home of the Jayhawk, Kansas University.

His father worked as a local iron worker. My father and his brother would follow suit and work as an iron worker as their career. The Dietrichs were a driven German family with a very strong work ethic.

My father's obsession with running began when he was in high school where he was an enthusiastic member of the cross country team. After high school, he became one of the 70's cliched "baby-boomer runners." His love of the sport was deep. He completed several marathons before I was born.

Late afternoon, during the 29th of Dec 1982, my mother went into labor with me. She drove herself to the hospital while my dad was still at work. Once my dad got home, he changed into his running gear and ran to the hospital in time for my delivery.

There were many weekends my mother and I stood by the finish line of a local race waiting to snap a photo of dad as he crossed the line. He ran the Pikes Peak Marathon annually and loved it more than any other place in the world he said.

I went on my first run with dad when I was 5. I remember noticing how he conserved his energy. He ran very different from the way that 5 year old boys run. Which is wide open. We'd run for a bit, and then take a walk break.

I remember emulating his stride on the school playground. I tried to pace myself like a distance runner. Just like him. I remember other kids thinking I was a goofball. And I'm sure I looked silly running in that short strided fashion at 5. My dad's running form eventually became my own. I guess there are certain things we inherit from our parents.

I grew up running weekly with dad. I entered the kiddy races at the big races where my dad competed. Eventually I was running 5ks with him. It felt good running beside him knowing he was proud of me. We moved to the country and I ran the gravel roads with him until he died.

When my dad committed suicide in 1994 I quit running. I was 12. I hated him, I missed him, and I was angry with him all at the same time. We took dad's ashes and scattered them atop Pikes Peak mountain. That's where he wanted to be scattered. He loved that race.

By the age of 14, I was clawing to hold on to dad's memory. Although I still hated him on the outside, I missed him on the inside. One day I was sitting in the garage, staring at the dozens and dozens of race numbers he'd proudly hung on the walls. It was then that I took up running again with a vengance.

I started running low mileage, until I was running 25 miles per week on my own. I had no friends, and I hurt inside. But I am thankful for the gift of running. I have a special gift that was given to me by dad. The pleasure of a good run.

At first, I wore his old running clothes. And I knew that every time I laced up for a run, he was proud of me, whether he was here or not. I pushed myself, I got faster. I wouldn't have admitted it, but I have done a lot of it for him.

Shortly after I turned 22, I began running barefoot. I completed my first marathon in Dec 2006. I am glad for the gift of running.

I never run without thinking of dad, even just a little bit.

"Into The Wild" Book By John Krakauer

2008-07-10T07:29:00.000-07:00

I have been reading the book "Into the Wild" by John Krakauer and been enjoying it. I've been staying up late into the night turning pages while Jamie sleeps beside me with her eye-mask on to block out my reading light. This book is really a captivating read.

Krakauer's book is about a young man (Chris Mccandless) from a well-to-do family who gets rid of all material possessions and becomes a hitchhiking wanderer. He heads to Alaska to face the wilderness with nothing but a few books and personal items. He burns the remaining cash in his wallet and donates the money in his savings account to charity and heads into the Alaskan wild. His corpse was found by a few moose hunters.

The book reads like a television "Dateline-ish" report. Very thorough. Also, John Krakauer takes the time to give bios on the people that Chris met on his travels. He pieces together old postcards, letters, and interviews to compose Chris' journeys across the US.

All in all, the book is good. I enjoy the fascinating character study. I like the outdoors-ish feel to the book. The adventurist mood that it carries. Though the book is a tragedy, it is also uplifting in a strange way.

I recommend it to anyone who is fascinated by in depth character studies.

I think there is a part in every male that would love to hit the wide-open road and do nothing but explore. To be free from the chains of a career or family commitments for a while. This guy did it. Not exactly the most prudent lifestyle. But he did it.

Marathon Planning: First Light Mrathon in Mobile, AL

2008-07-09T15:47:00.000-07:00

Had a great run today. It was hot outside, but a nice breeze was moving. When I got home I had that nice all-day-at-the-beach kind of feeling. I was loose and relaxed when I was running. My tendons were nice and flexible. When I got home I just felt good all over. I can't begin to tell you how happy I am to be running again.

This week I am upgrading my current easy going routine to something a little closer to my old routine in preparation for my next marathon. I'll be running on Tues, Wed, and Thurs. Resting on Fri. A long run on Sat. I'll start this week with a 3 miler on Saturday. Followed by a rest on Sunday and Monday. I'll just keep inching up the mileage for the long runs each week.

I have been pouring over marathonguide.com to find a race that suits my training. I am aiming for December or January. I'd like to stay somewhat local, since gas is so expensive and I don't want to drive for days to get anywhere. Sure, I'd LOVE to run a race in Colorado and say hello to Dad. (We scattered his ashes on top of Pikes Peak. It was his favorite marathon. More on that later.)

The First Light Marathon is in Mobile, AL is not very far from me. (See above pic)

(http://www.firstlightmarathon.com/)

I'll be ready for it come January 11th. Some of it runs through the same area of Mobile as the Azalea Trail race, and I've run that before. From the reviews on MG it sounds like a fun race. I'll also be looking for a half marathon to run somewhere in between now and the marathon.

Wiki-Barefoot: Not a bad article

2008-07-09T11:34:00.000-07:00

I was checking out Wikipedia today, and noticed that they had a pretty decent little blurb on barefoot running. They make it sound like a "movement" but whatever. I guess that's correct.

They do give credit to Ken Bob Saxton from RunningBarefoot.org for heading up the movement, and I don't mind that. His website is how I first heard about it 2 years ago. I enjoy his site a lot. You should check it out.

The only thing that is odd about the wiki blurb is the link to the Nike Free shoes on the bottom of the page. Nike Free shoes are definately NOT barefoot shoes. Even though most people who have questions about barefoot running mention this pop-culture novelty shoe. The heel on these shoes is a thick piece of rubber that positions your foot in the typical "athletic shoe" position. In a pair of shoes like that, there is almost no choice but to hit the ground with the heel.

To view the brief wiki blurb go to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barefoot_running

Video From Last April 2007

2008-07-08T13:28:00.000-07:00

The above is a video I made last April 2007 of one of my long runs. I cringe at how cheezy and ridiculous I act. I don't even know why I made the vid. But it was fun, and entertaining for me to have a camera with me on the run to talk to. I am not sure why I never posted it on my blog.

Also, just so you know: I didn't litter the gel pack in the video. I retrieved the tab, and put it in my back pack until throwing it away. Just wanted to make that clear. :)

In the video I am wearing a 2$ pair of water shoes sold at the beach stores down here in the area. They don't last long, it's easy to wear a hole in the toes quickly. But they weigh nothing, and you can roll them up and stick them in your back pack if need be. I like the Vibrams better. These are cheaper though.

Achilles Tendon Sore...Nevermore! Nevermore!

2008-07-08T10:35:00.000-07:00

I just got done with a great run. The weather was overcast, but also very warm and muggy out here. There is a great spot I pass on my route that is a typical Florida marsh with hundreds of white water lillies on it. I'll take a picture soon. It's really something to look at.

My achilles tendons have been tight and sore since I resumed running in the past few months. Not dangerously painful, but sore. I have learned that there is a difference between a real injury and minor aches and pains when adjusting to a new routine. My discomfort is most definately the latter.

I am trying to listen to my body and take a couple days off in between runs if I need them. I've been cross training by taking a ride on the stationary bike.

Also, if anyone is not familiar with "the stick" I highly recommend it. I have been brutalizing my calves with a similar self-massage rod. For those who don't know what it is. It is a self agonizing rod used to knead out your leg muscles with a vengance. Self-brutality. But hey, you're a runner, you can take it. You might even like it.

Well, for the past week, I have been steamrolling the be-jesus out of my calf bellies. Today, after a session with the stick, I had my first run with no stiffness, and loosened calves.

If you can't find a stick, I also have used a rolling pin before. Just make sure that you really dig into the muscle. Also, I read on "the mindful runner" about using your opposite knee to massage your calf by crossing your leg. This works good too. I got my "stick" at a garage sale, because I am a tightwad and couldn't bear to spend $20 bucks on a new "stick."

Vibram Five Fingers (My babies)

2008-07-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

I decided to write a little bit about the vibram five finger shoes. To me, they are the bomb-diggity.

When I first started running barefoot, I was going completely unshod. I lived in a place where the roads were smooth and the only thing I had to watch for were occasional broken beer bottles. But then we moved to a more rural setting. The roads have no shoulder, and there are thorns (sand spurs) everywhere!

Enter Vibram 5 fingers. I found them reading another barefoot blog, and bought a pair. The day that I took them out of the box, I ran a half marathon in them with no problems whatsoever. I knew these shoes were magic. I ran the Huntsville marathon with them on, and had no problems either. God, that was a fun marathon. I can't wait to do another.

So now, I wear them almost exclusively when running. I am on my second pair now. They are the second model. They have a velcro strap on the sides and top. I highly recomend this model over the previous model. It seems that there are less possiblities for chaffing.

Had Back Surgery (Resume Running)

2008-07-04T13:45:00.000-07:00

Well, it certainly HAS been a while since I wrote last. It's funny to read over my old blog entries and see where I have been.

I took about 4 months off running because of the doc's advice, and it did nothing but make my back pain worse. At which point I decided to have surgery to eliminate the nagging, life-destroying pain down the left leg. Boy have things taken a turn for the better. I still have pain, but it seems to be growing dimmer each day. I really hope that it finally disappears.

But, after weening myself off the ridiculously mood altering pain pills (oxycodone) I began by walking on the beach. Things started loosening up, and one day I slipped on the old Vibram five fingered shoes and hit for the road. AAhhh. Nice feeling! I missed the fire I got from running.

But I think things are returning to normal. I am already planning for another Marathon. Maybe the Huntsville one in December again. I don't know. I am just happy, VERY happy to be running again!

Herniated Discs But Still Running

2007-04-04T06:23:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in a while. We have been busy moving from house to house. (That means a new running route.) And then we got 2 new dogs. Boone and Hurley are their names. Also have a new injury (not running related.)

The doc told me about 2 months ago that I had 2 herniated discs in my lower back. Got the MRI and X-rays to prove it. I went through some pretty intense depression for a bit, but didn't stop running. The doc said I might need to quit, but everything I was reading said that running was actually great for the spine.

I went to physical therapy, and the PT told me that I should keep running to keep myself limber. Haven't heard news that made me happier! I was lifted out of my depression for a moment upon hearing those words.

I've been running out where we live just like normal. However, I have started wearing water shoes. They are more liks slippers. The reason is: that there are thorns everywhere out here on the side of the road. And I have to skirt to the side of the road quite often when cars come by.

However, I am getting faster lately. Just ran a 10K in 43:29 last Saturday. That is a new PR for me. Felt good doing it.

Completed Huntsville Marathon

2006-12-11T08:23:00.000-08:00

Well, over the weekend Jamie and I travelled to Huntsville to do their annual marathon. It was COLD! 17 degrees in the morning. I am not accustomed to running in that kind of weather. In Florida it gets 38 degrees at best. But 17 degrees! Sheesh!

It was a fun race. It was a fun weekend. I ended up running a 10 minute mile consistantly, which is better than I anticipated doing. I ran it in 4:41. Not a very amazing feat. But I was pleased with it.

So did I use shoes in that cold weather? Well it depends on your definition of "shoe." I used Vibram's five fingers. They are really more like a slipper with toes. They give me minor blisters because I am not used to wearing them, but in 17 degree weather they were a God-Send! I cut the toes off of the socks so that my toes could fit inside the "finger" portion of the shoes. Of course there were hundreds of comments on the shoes I sported.

The marathon was my first. I had a great time. We stayed in a Holiday in. We ate at Carrabba's Italian restaurant the night before where I became the ultimate cliche and loaded up on pasta. The pre race jitters were really great. I felt like I was getting ready to go fight a bull, even though I was more than prepared for the mileage. I have run well over 26 miles on several occasions, but I was still nervous.

After the race there was a great big ballroom at the finish line with music, food, and beer. I ate some of the soup, but the rest of the food was not vegan-friendly, so I chose not to eat much. However, on the drive home, we stopped at a pizza place off the interstate and chowed down on (non-vegan-friendly) pizza. It was blissful. I hadn't had pizza in a while.

It was quite a day. A good day I'd like to remember for a long while.

I Guess I'm a Vegan Now

2006-10-09T20:02:00.000-07:00

I've always had a distaste for vegetarians. Never really liked'em much. I didn't understand how someone could justify that kind of lifestyle. Let alone enjoy it! Well now I am living up to my hypocrite name. I am a vegan. No meat, eggs or dairy. And I feel absolutely incredible!

I've been vegan for a little over a month now, and it has been rather easy for me. My wife and I made the switch after watching "Diet For a New America" by John Robbins. Later I found a book called "The China Study." I didn't realize that most major diseases are caused by animal proteins. I didn't realize that the healthiest people on the planet are the poor Asians who live on rice and beans. I also didn't realize that meat can affect the way you feel mentally!

Though people look at me cross-eyed, I am very happy. I feel much better, and my running has been incredible. I have so much more energy and vitality! Man what a difference.

Glass in Foot Again! ARGGH!

2006-09-30T23:07:00.000-07:00

On my route there are about 4 different spots where shattered beer bottles pepper the road. I must admit, it really annoys me that these folks litter like they do!

I do my best to find a little path through the shards of broken glass, and most times the glass doesn't penetrate my callous, but not today! I got home and my left foot was hurting a tad bit. But then I made it worse by digging! I took the knife, tweezers and sissors to the foot and only made a bigger hole that now hurts to walk on at all!

I am going to try to leave my foot alone for now. The next time I run into some glass problems, I am going to try not to dig in my foot to get it out. The glass usually works itself out anyway. If only people would QUIT littering!!

Trying Out Living Barefoot

2006-09-15T09:17:00.000-07:00

Of course there is more to "barefoot-ideology" than simply running barefoot. What abour trying to live barefoot.

I've been wearing Birkenstocks almost exclusively for 10 years now. In the winter time, I wear them with a pair of socks. Jamie loves that... not. The only times I have not worn my Birkies, are at occasions like weddings or church etc... When I need to look respectable

The rest of the time, it's barefoot for me! I enjoy going without shoes. It just feels right. Athletic shoes cramp my feet immediately. I develop blisters in 5 minutes. No no. I think man was meant to go barefoot.

That's a picture of me (stupidlv) mowing the lawn barefoot. I knew a guy when I was growing up who had no toes on either of his feet. He had to have special shoes made to keep his balance. When he was a kid, he slid on some wet grass feet first into a lawn mower. I should know better than that. Kids, always wear your shoes when mowing.

How Does Everyone Know Who I Am?

2006-09-13T13:57:00.000-07:00

It's funny, I get allot of people who recognize me out in public as the "Barefoot Guy." I guess you don't easily forget the site of a bare-chested, wild-haired, red-bearded freak running down the road barefoot. One gal at work came up to me and said, "Sean, I didn't know you were 'that guy!'" Apparently she'd heard about the barefoot freak around town, and never really knew it was me. Yes, in my other life, I am a barefoot freak. It's not an extreme sport like some people think. It's rather a more serene sport, with a very "nature-esque" feeling.

I am finding that by increasing the mileage for marathon training, I am recapturing that "runner's high" that I so enjoyed when I first started running. Gosh, I love that feeling! It's a feeling of euphoria, completion, elation, and confidence. It's why I started running to begin with. I remember the first time I completed a run. I collapsed in the easy chair and told Jamie how wonderful I felt. Since then, I have been addicted.

Wet Ground Makes Feet Raw

2006-09-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

Aaaahhh, Sept. 11th. A truly gloomy day for me. It's raining down here in sunny Florida. It's a gloomy day not only because of the terrorist attacks, but it is my father's birthday. He would have been 53 today.

So I went for my long run this morning. Planned on waking up at 5:00 am, but woke up at 6:30 am instead. Drank a bit of coffee and shot out the door. It really was a fun run today. It started to rain half way through. That cooled me off allot and kept things easy.

Each time I push up the mileage, the soles of my feet can tell it. They get very raw on long runs. However, they get a little more raw on wet days like today. More friction because of the moister on the ground.

Foot Pain

2006-09-09T09:55:00.000-07:00

Went through some intense foot pain while up in PA for Faith Night, a Christian concert with Randy Stonehill and Mattew Ward. My good friend Don had me open the show.

While going through the different airports on layovers, my left foot really felt sore. Very sore! There was even a small bruise on the top of my foot that developed. I even had to take some pain medication, which made me feel loopy. But it disconnected me from the pain so I could walk at least.

My foot healed up within about 1 weeks time, and everything is fine now. I would hardly call it a running injury, I would call it an adaptation to running. I've been reading Dean Karnazes' book, "Ultra Marathon Man," and I agree with him when he says, "Pain is the body purging itself from weakness."

Setting Sites on a Marathon

2006-09-07T14:23:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to build a solid foundation before attempting to amp up the mileage a bit. I must say, I am excited to pump the weekly miles up. It always feels so good physically, to push your body with intense training!

I've got my sites set on the Kansas City Marathon. My dad ran it several times before he died 10 years ago. I am from KS originally, so if I do run the KC marathon, I will get to see some old friends. It will also be the first time I have visited KC for about 7 years. I'd love to take my wife around the city too.

I imagine there will be plenty of cross-eyed people who think I am a bit strange for running barefoot. There have only been a few times I've run barefoot and not gotten a bizarre look of wonder when I pass by.

Okay! It's time to get serious with training!

Long Runs in the Morning

2006-08-30T09:51:00.000-07:00

Okay, last week I did my long run (13 mi.) in the morning instead of my usual run in the evening around 5:30-6:00 pm. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed running in the morning. I am normally a night person, so morning time has always been out of the question for me.

I drank some coffee before I went running and I noticed that it gave me the jitters a bit. I have been off of caffeinne for over a year now, so I am MUCH more sensitive to it than I used to be. I don't like a caffeinne-type of nervous energy when I am running. Sometimes, I take an herb called Kratom before a long run. It is a very interesting herb that will give you a dose of good clean energy (not jittery energy.) However, it also relaxes you at the same time. It is an excellent herb I have used when doing the long run.

Something is Stuck in my Foot. Ouch!

2006-08-09T22:09:00.000-07:00

Okay, my wife and I got back from a weekend at the "Endless Yardsale." 450 miles of back to back yardsales. It's always a challenge finding places to run while on vacations. I never have good luck finding a good route.

While walking along at a yardsale along the highway, something poked my foot. I was wearing sandals. I was a little shocked being that my feet are incredibly tough on the bottom. When I examined my foot, I could find no puncture mark of any kind at all. But I could sure feel an object in my foot.

I tried taking a steak knife to the callouse and cutting a little opening so I could root around and find whatever it was with tweezers, but the steak knife wouldn't cut my callouse! I tried sissors next. No luck. I guess I need something with serrated edges to cut through the thick skin.

Headache Anyone?

2006-08-01T13:05:00.000-07:00

I completed a 13 miler yesterday and all in all had a great run. It was overcast so I decided to run between 2-4 pm. About 2 hours after I was done, there was a minor head ache developing. It grew into a really nagging problem that kept me awake all night long. I am hydrating now and feeling much better. I must pay more attention to pre-hydrating and post hydrating.

I have so many amazing moments running barefoot and free. It gives me time to reflect and time to just be alone. When teenagers aren't yelling outside their car windows, "Hey freak!" Sometimes because of my long hair and beard they yell out at me, "Hey Jesus!" But, I must admit, that comment always brings a smile to my face! Jesus is cool. Now if they yelled out somthing about Charles Manson, then I might get depressed.

Callouses Are Coming Along Nicely

2006-07-08T17:49:00.001-07:00

Hi there again,
Been so busy on the music site www.seandietrich.com that I haven't had the chance to blog in a while.

It's neat to feel the bottoms of my feet though, the callouses are like thick leather on the bottom of my soles. It's amazing how the body develops its own protection against the pavement. Almost like we were meant to run that way or something!

Glass In Da'Foot!

2006-05-24T19:16:00.000-07:00

At the end of an 8 miler, I stepped on some glass and got it in a couple parts of my foot. Coming home, I scraped and dug inside the wound with tweezers to no avail. If I can be frank: Having glass in your foot sucks. I think I finally got over it though, both wounds are almost completely healed. I am sure this will be a repeating problem as long as I run barefoot. Oh well, its worth it.

I have contemplated buying a pair of water shoes, (The kind with no sole) and using those if ever anything prevented me from running barefoot, like 105 degree weather that heats up the asphalt. Just a thought.

Barefoot 7 Miler

2006-05-10T19:10:00.000-07:00

Last week I completed a 7 mile barefoot long run. Things are picking up nicely. I love to run, there is no way around it. I love to be connected to the simple ways of living, the ways that we are designed to live.

Birds fly, dolpins swim, bugs crawl, and I run. It feels so good to do certain things our bodies were meticulously designed to do.

Running barefoot in beautiful enviroments reminds me that man and his descendants most assuredly did this same thing. As I slip into a comfortable rythymic breathing pattern I am aware that the body is an orchestra of moving parts. Running is certainly more than an exercise for me.

Gravel Running

2006-05-03T06:16:00.000-07:00

Its been a while since I have posted a blog. Lots of things have happened since then.

On one of my routes, there is a stretch of gravel that goes for a ways. I decided to see if I was able to run on gravel, so I went to the side to try. The rocks were big and jagged. I quickly found out that it is almost comfortable for me to run on gravel now. Wow. I couldn't believe it! I can run on gravel! The human body is amazing. Many people won't believe it, but it's true.

I ran a race at Village Baptist church where I used to work. Saw many old friends (and enemies) there. They all had questions and comments regarding the barefoot thing. The familiar route (10k) was pretty and fun. I finished in one hour which is a whole 6 minutes off of my previous 10k. Slow, but getting better.

Azalea Trail Run 10k (Barefoot)

2006-03-25T19:42:00.000-08:00

Went to Mobile to run the Azalea Trail 10K. The "Mobile Maids" were everywhere cheering runners on. Hence the picture.

My wife and I wanted to save some money, so we checked into an RV campground, and stayed in our tent. A room at the Ramada with a discount was 99$ while a campground space was only 22$ We had originally wanted to stay at cheaper park, but found out that it was in Prichard, AL which is Crime Central. The night-time temperature was 39 degrees. We had plenty of comforters on us and we were on our air mattress so we kept warm. We were right next to the indoor shower and bathroom. We had fun.

We got to the Mobile Civic Center at 7:30 am. After changing, I ran into the center to fetch some safety pins to attach my race number with. Jamie ran to the car to retreive the camera. At 8:00 the race started and we were off. There must have been well over a thousand runners there. Lots of crowd support.

I got more comments on my bare feet than ever at the race. People would comment to each other, (though I could hear them behind me.) Some people would shout out "Go Mr. Barefoot!" then laugh. Some people were somewhat ridiculing from the sidelines but it doesn't bother me. Lots of runners were curious and had questions. A bike cop pulled up next to me and asked me some questions.

What is really funny; When I made the finish line, people were looking down at my feet in awe, like I had done something really incredible. People were responding to me as if I had run an ultra-marathon over a sea of broken glass. People are funny. Running barefoot is no incredible FEAT. (No pun intended.)

All in all, I had fun. It was a great weekend trip and it was a good race with alot to do afterwards.

Perfecting Barefoot Running Form

2006-03-14T16:52:00.000-08:00

I've been working allot more on my form lately. I've been trying to glean as much as I can about POSE running techniques from the net. Been trying to fall forward by bending forward at the ankles. I've also been concentrating more on keeping my column straight.

I quickly found out by a simple self-examination, that I was "running with the brakes on." Though I have been landing with my mid-foot/forefoot, I am extending my legs a bit too far. So when I land on each foot, there is a slight bit of "stop" to each stride. Almost like I have been scuffing my feet instead of landing on them. I have had success with this new adjustment. My running feels much more fluid and smooth. I am now firm believing that the way you run greatly affects recovery.

Hot Pavement! My Feet are Tender.

2006-03-11T14:17:00.000-08:00

Had a good 5 mile run today out on Highway 30A. The beach road is so pretty to run on. There were a lot of spring breakers out, as well as old people biking. My wife went out to Seaside with me to do a walk on the beach while I ran.

The weather was much warmer today than it has been, the shirt came off after the first 30 minutes. The run was easy and fun except for the bikers behind me constantly saying: "On your left." Or "On your right." The Spring breakers gave me weird looks freak, a few screamed obscenities out their car window.

When I got back to the car, my feet were a little more tender than they usually are. It must have something to do with the climate. It brought back memories of last summer when the scorching hot pavement literally fried my soles and left them with blisters the size of half dollars.

Run vs. Run/Walk

2006-03-01T07:49:00.000-08:00

Been going back and forth in my mind about this whole run/walk thing. I am trying to decide whether I would like to train to run a marathon continuously or use Jeff Galloway's walk every 10 minutes system. There are convincing arguments on both sides of the fence. If the run/walk method keeps injury away then I would be a fool not to apply that technique right? But something inside me wants to run continuously for 26.2 miles. Maybe it's pride.

I guess it doesn't really make that big of a difference on the shorter runs, and I have only ran 6 miles in my longest run. I need to decide which method is the best soon before my long runs get longer. I would really like to know what research has to say about this. I read a story about Paul Reece who ran across the USA in the late 80's and he was 73 years old at the time. He ran continuously and seemed fine.

I guess I need to do a little more searching for the right information. I think what I am hoping for is to find out that running continuously for hours is better for the body. That way my pride will stay firmly in tact.

Commentator Sport

2006-02-21T14:27:00.000-08:00

I ran an 8K 2 weeks ago and really enjoyed it. It was wonderful weather, flat course, and all around fun. As usual, there were plenty of barefoot commentators hanging around. Most people notice me running unshod feel compelled to make a opinionated comment of some sort. Beware of running bare if you lack self confidence. People have all sorts of opinions.

When someone asks me about running barefoot I am always well prepared to recite the facts, mention the proven research, and then I include my personal testimonial. I try to be nice about it.

I think my little streak of stubbing my left toe has finally come to an end, its been a while since the last bad stub. However, there is a nice sized permanant blemish on my left toe from that last stub. My ITB problem is doing MUCH better now as well. I am very excited about that.

Things seemed to get better with my ITB when I discovered a contraction in both of my calves. Since I always have a tennis ball, baseball and rolling pin out in my living room to work out contractions and spasms, I went to work. It really has helped me.

I am now reading Jeff Galloway's book "Marathon" and looking forward to running one, maybe between August and October of 2006. Last week for my long run I completed 6 miles, I am slowly, cautiously working up to marathon endurance. My biggest goal is to train injury free.

First Barefoot 5k Completed!

2006-01-22T15:15:00.000-08:00

Finished my first barefoot 5k yesterday down here in Destin FL. Surprisingly there were what seemed to be almost a couple hundred people there. I came in 1st in my age group, big whoop.
During a run earlier that week, I had stepped on my first piece of glass, I didn't think that would ever really happen, but it did. I simply plucked it out of my foot and kept going, it wasn't that bad. I don't think much can hurt your feet if they have a good healthy callous on their sole. I would have surely been cut bad if my feet were tender.

Really Stubbed My Toe!

2005-12-26T17:34:00.000-08:00

Ouch!
After a run today, I noticed a pretty big chunk taken out of my left big toe. It was bleeding pretty good, and it was starting to hurt pretty bad. I don't know why it didn't hurt at the exact moment I stubbed it, or while I was running. It might have something to do with all of the adrenaline pumping through me when I am running. Anyway, bandaged with 3 bandaids before I could take a picture of it. Barefoot runner beware. Don't let toe stubs scare you away from running unshod. This is only my second one, hopefully my last.

It's really amazing how tough my feet are now. They are able to run on some pretty rocky pavement now with no discomfort. I used to tread lightly across this large and very jagged section of pavement on my route, (basically feels like gravel.) But now it doesn't affect me in the slightest, it feels the same as running on the smooth stuff.

Good 'Ole Tennis Ball

2005-12-26T08:10:00.000-08:00

Been religiously training barefoot, and loving every minute of it, but the morning after a good run, there is some tightness in my outer knees. ITB (Illiotibial Band.)

Anyway I found a site which has finally put me on the road to recovery. http://www.julstro.com/ They explain that the problem with the ITB being too tight doesn't really originate with the ITB at all, but with a muscle (attatched to it) located in the hip area, called the TFL (Tensor Fascia Lata.) They recommend laying on your side and placing a tennis ball underneath your hip. This will release the spasm in the hip, which will release the tension on the ITB.

Sure enough, when I placed the tennis ball under my TFL, it was in spasm. 4 days I have been using this tennis ball treatment, along with a rolling pin on my quads and have seen more improvement than I have in 4 months. My runs have been MUCH better.

Brrrrrrr Stings the Feet!

2005-12-10T15:41:00.000-08:00

Something I had been thinking about since I started running barefoot, was cold weather. Do you still run through the cold damp (possibly snowy) climate? My search led me to Ken Bob's site: BarefootRunning.com Ken is pretty much the authority on barefoot running. He has been doing it a while now. I even watched a clip of him on ABC news in a segment on barefoot running. I was happy to see that modern mainstream is taking a look at barefoot running. If you haven't seen Ken Bob's site, check it out, you won't forget the guy.

On his site, there is a clip of a guy running barefoot through the snow. Man, I am not at that level of foot fitness yet. I live in Florida anyway and the coldest it gets here in Destin is around 45 degrees. I did go out running in that type of weather, it wasn't that bad actually. I guess once you get that blood and adrenaline pumping, you don't notice anything.

I stubbed my toe the worst I've ever stubbed it. I didn't even know a thing had happened until I got home from a run and noticed bright red trails of blood all over the top of my foot. A chunk of skin the size of a green pea was missing from my left big toe. An hour after the run, the pain began to set in. Ouch,

Jeff Galloway's Training Plan

2005-12-10T08:08:00.000-08:00

Decided to use Jeff Galloway's training plan. I think that it is pretty balanced, he includes more walking in his program than I'd like, perhaps that is why I have an injury and he is an Olympic athlete. He has some of the most practical advice in my opinion on running injury free.

He sells the "Stick" at his site, but since I am so cheap I have been using a rolling pin to roll out my quads. Basically, you roll the pin over your thigh, (the sides, upper parts, and hamstrings,) and find where it hurts and roll as hard as you possibly can like pie crust. It has really helped my Illiotibial Band loosen up. Actually what it is doing is releasing the spasms in my quadriceps that are connected to the ITB, when the muscles knot up, the ITB gets tight. The rolling pin, living on ibuprofen, and moderation have helped me heal.

Excited about running my first race barefoot. I get plenty of looks when I am on the road running barefoot, I can imagine I will be the village weirdo when I run a race barefoot. Oh well, at least my feet are strong and healthy.

Been Running Bare 4 Months Now

2005-12-09T19:10:00.001-08:00

I've been running barefoot for a little over 4 months now. Why run this way? It was actually a last resort because I minorly injured myself. I noticed that running shoeless was one of the only ways I could eliminate the pain. I was always intrigued by the story of Abebe Bikila who ran the Olympic marathon barefoot and won. I never thought I'd actually run bare.

Oddly, running this way feels very natural. Still unsure whether I should begin running in my nature shoes, I decided to ask my wife how it sounded to run barefoot. She sighed and gave me that look. The look that says "you're a nut."

The first runs were short ones. I had a minor ITB thing going on. It was a good thing too. If I would have run too far, I would have tore up my poor lily white soles. Well after my first little run, I was addicted. It was so freeing, and so silent. My bare soles made no sound on the rugged asphalt. I was a stealth.

Over the next weeks, my feet went through many stages. BIG blisters, and layers of skin peeling away. This was painful, I found myself limping and having to explain my ridiculous new hobby. I was the "Shoeless Idiot."

Slowly I been ramping up my barefoot mileage, and now I have decided to enter a 5k on January 21st.