Running 3 Miles in Another Man's Shoes...

Ignoring all the advice that many (but not all) physiotherapists have given me throughout the years, I decided to try non-orthotic barefoot running. The decision came out of frustration from the return of some slight pain in my shins after two weeks of increased running and I have been here, done that. I know the only way to get rid of it involves rest and icing my shins using a large block of ice from an old butter container that I keep in the freezer and then starting again before I get more pain somewhere down the road (literally). This has been the cycle since I was 18, when I'm convinced that a mixture of the Mardyke's concrete astroturf, new hockey shoes, then end of my growth spurt and Asics first ever Kayanos (which were very heavy) caused my splints. As I always say "you can manage them, but never get rid of them".

With this decision and knowing I have no intention of running down a road with nothing on my feet, it meant only one thing...Five Fingers. So in I went to John Buckley's and tried to try on a pair. I felt sorry for the sales guy as it took me nearly 25 minutes to get one on and I couldn't even get the other one on. I told him to go for his lunch and come back to me, but he declined! Eventually I got them on (after 50 minutes) and walked around a bit and jogged in the shop. I bought them and left expecting to be clamped with a parking fine.

It took me only 20 minutes to get them on when I got back to the office and I kept them on for the day. To say that they feel weird is an understatement, like gloves that pull your toes apart. The first thing I noticed is how they force you to walk on the balls of your feet, as opposed to on the heels and when I jogged around a little, it was the same thing. Bizarre to say the least.


So on to my first run - I thought better of running more than 3 miles, as the advice is to build up slowly, maybe a mile at a time. I drove to the pitch in Glanmire and off I went. The difference in running style was immediate - no cushioning means you can't land on the heels and have to run more upright with a straighter back and there was no weight in them at all. I still had some pain in my shins, but it was a different pain, almost the sort of pain you get from trying something new, and it was the same for my calves. No pain in the soles of my feet and I felt I was running reasonably efficiently. The only other issue was a slight chaffing at the back of the ankles, but it's not a worry, I'm sure my ankles will get used to it.

Whether this will be the same in the longer term remains to be seen and I'm not sure will these solve the splint issues, but at this stage I'll try anything.   

The last thing I need is to find a method of training with them - do you run in them all the time?; alternate them with my normal runner?; wear my orthotics in my normal shoes?; do core exercises to help my running style? I'm not finding much online but I'll keep searching.

Was going to add in a crap joke here about giving my old runners the finger (get it? rubbish I know), but I can't see myself running over rocky ground in the fingers, let alone the desert. Will do a trial run in Youghal over the next week or so. Daycent ba!

Shlap her in neutral and think about d'fingers...

January 2011 - Happy new year! Indeed, merry everyone...

A new year, new beginnings. Christmas was peaceful, the running consistent. It was the first time in 16 years that I did not take part in the annual charity run from Limerick City to Lisnagry. I missed the hot whiskey. Instead I opted for a quiet run in Cratloe Woods, where I landed in a ditch and cut myself in some briars, Christmas day off to a flier.

At least the running was steady, more so than it had been for a while. Maybe it was the allure of the country roads of home, or a lack of distractions to stop me from going, albeit I did bring the Wii home and am now addicted to Goldeneye and have hooked my brother-in-law on Call of Duty, much to my sister's annoyance. 



So I have been running in neutral shoes ever since my physio suggested that "you can have too much cushioning". This is the same physio who dry needled my shins to remove the pain, as in the picture below, which was nice.



Dry-Needling My Shins

The move away from Asics, the trusted kings of the road, with their Duomax supports was difficult. It has, though, proved to be fruitful as there is not as much pain in the shins as usual - although it is not clear as to whether this is the result of the brand switch or a switch from cushioned to neutral. Right now though, I am trusting Saucony until I have reason not to. Many thanks to AOD for helping with the big move!


Then there's the Five Fingers...Vibram's answer to running like a Neanderthal. These are rubber and neoprene and are essentially gloves for your feet, but apparently force you to run how humans are meant to - barefoot. They strengthen your arches and should eventually negate the need for orthotics...we'll see says I. They are the same Five Fingers that injured Elmer of the sub-3-hour blog. I reckon they might be worth a look to see if the arches will be forced to comply with my commands, something they haven't done since I have been 18.

Vibram's Five Fingers

So into January and after a slow start, things are picking up and the mileage is increasing, slowly. There's no plan in place except run when I feel like it. MDS entries are usually in February, so I'm keeping an eye on their website for the 2013 race. The more I think about it, the less daunting it seems, easy to say sitting at home in 4 degrees and wearing gloves while running.

Had a great run in UCC's Farm a couple of weekends ago, I had forgotten what a great spot it was for a jaunt, a shame it's on the wrong side of the city, I'll have to stick to "the Pike" in Glanmire, the perfectly sculpted half mile running trail on the GAA pitches. With d'fingers it'll be down to Redbarn near Youghal for some low tide beach running, on the assumption, that is, that I buy them.

The running season is coming, there's a great stretch in the evenings...

Long time, no post and no inspiration from a poet...

Currabinny Wood and its excellent network of trails

It's been so long since I last posted, I had nearly forgotten my password.

Since my last post, I got married and went on honeymoon, visiting St. Lucia, San Francisco, Yosemite and Vegas. I never met Ray. Also the country is in recession and is on its way down the drain and in the last week or so is experiencing an unbelievable cold snap. 

So where are we now? No closer to where I was a few months ago to be honest. It was a miserable November in terms of training - I think I had a total of 10 runs for the whole month, and I may be exaggerating a little, it was probably closer to 8. The lack of training was down to two things - firstly my own laziness and secondly some slight shin splint issues. It was mainly the laziness, however.

Since I returned from honeymoon in early August, training has been excellent some weeks, disastrous others. Between hill runs in Currabinny (see above) and loops of the Glanmire GAA pitch (plus a disaster of a time trial on the old train line), I have not found a regular training rhythm, but will struggle on trying to do so. I have, however, gotten very good at Prince of Persia on the Wii and also defeated the Nazis on more than one occasion on Call of Duty. Both involved a lot of running by whichever character I was controlling.

My buddy Elmer has decided to try and run a sub-3 hour marathon and has turned to running in Vibram Five Fingers. This was followed by him standing on a rock and injuring himself, which is unlike him. You can see his blog here: http://www.canirunasub3hourmarathon.blogspot.com/

So onward and downward into December - downward when I fell on my ass due to the ice and snow. The cold weather has allowed me to improve my Rayman Raving Rabbids score, but not so much on the running side, but we will soldier on.

I bought a copy of the republished Soundings (the poetry book you study in secondary school in Ireland) the other day and whilst looking for a reason not to go running, I decided to open it for some inspiration...I got Kavanagh's Stony Grey Soil. I stayed in.

I shall struggle on...

A Ray of Reality

The Book That Started This

As of my first post, I have thrown myself into the book (left). So far, so good. The author, Steve Cushing, describes his mileage, his training and staying injury free...all of this is okay with me. His gradual build up of mileage seems achievable, although he does say the programme suited him, but perhaps it will not suit me. At any rate, it is an interesting read.

As of my last post, I have a friend semi on board. He likes the idea of the training, which is funny because I don't! He's not so sure about 151 miles across a desert in 40 degrees though. We ran a 5 mile race in Glanmire last night (the Monday after my stag weekend), about 15 degrees in the lashing rain. I sent him a text this morning - ''only 146 miles to go in the MDS''. He was mildly amused.

Next things next - speak to someone who has done it, in some ways bypassing the book and in others adding more information to the what I am already gathering. I found just the man on the Internet. His name is Ray O'Connor, he is an ultra-marathon man, a member of Athenry AC. Once I got his details and emailed him, I awaited his reply - ''it's the hardest thing I have ever done, you'd be mad to even attempt it'' was not what he said, to my surprise.

He said that it was a great event and spoke very highly of it. I am becoming more and more interested. He was coming to Cork for the marathon on the bank holiday this June and was happy to meet me.

Hopefully he'll have time to have a chat and he'll put my mind to rest!

Phone a Friend

As I began to digest more of the book, I started to realise how life would be easier if I could find someone to share the training and the race with. I phoned a friend of mine, leaving a message of intrigue for him and he eventually returned my call.

After a general explanation of the event, the training and the challenge (during all of which I was glad he didn't hang up), we decided to consider the prospect. For me I will make my decision on finishing the book. He might take a little more convincing though, but he thought he would at least share in the training.

Yippeee, now there's some bit of an incentive at least! If it doesn't work out, I suppose I could always buy a dog, like my old pal, The Littlest Hobo!

It will be at least 2013 before I could race, as it's booked up until then, but I will keep an eye on the website!

Marathon Des Sables - What am I thinking?

18th May 2010 - Marathon De Sables. Am I nuts? Why am I even considering this?

I have no idea why I want to do it. Sitting on my couch at home, it is easy to think I'll bite the bullet, sign up and complete an event with over 150 miles in the Sahara's sand, rocks and dunes.

I ran today - 5 miles in the drizzle on the GAA pitches in Glanmire, no pack on my back and no heat to deal with, all the time thinking about the MDS. Could I do it? What about my shin splints? What about the training? What about the organisation? How would I acclimatise? Madness.

I had a half day at work today, had a nice lunch in Wildways in Cork. Visited Waterstones, said to myself that if I found a book on the MDS, I would go for it.

I was horrified when I saw it, sitting there on the shelf - an account of the MDS.

"Right" I thought, "I'll buy it, read it and see if I can convince myself to do it". And we're off...