Weird Running “Shoes”

Way back in 2008 when I had some knee trouble I visited an orthopaedic surgeon to make sure I wasn’t causing any damage in my training for the Comrades,  one of the things  he told me while he was examining me was that I should incorporate some barefoot training into my running schedule.

His reasons were quite valid I thought – when you run with shoes on you strike the ground with your heel first, when you run barefoot you strike with the ball of your foot first which causes less tension on your knees.

Of course the barefoot training never materialised, actually coming to think of it neither did the schedule, but last week a runner passed me on the road while I was driving home and he had these on.

I have seen these (called Vibram 5-Fingers) before and mentioned them on a few of the running forums I go on from time to time, but I’d never actually seen someone using them.  The theory behind these shoes follows what my knee guy had to say about training barefoot – which due to obvious reasons isn’t really the way forward when you are looking at boiling hot, tarred roads with glass, stones and various other foot piercing materials littering your way.

I’m curious to see how these rather peculiar ‘shoes’ perform…  Have any of you out there used them??

Photo Credit

One Comment / September 8th, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Half-marathon, Injuries, Reluctant runner, Running, Training

Marathons and Memory – A study…

Yesterday I was sent an email which pointed me in the direction of a study which was done on the effects marathon running has on memory.  I was rather intrigued, especially since I have experience being a lab rat for running research.

A short excerpt from the result of this study appears below for those of you who don’t want to read the whole thing:

Indeed, cortisol levels recorded 30 min after completion of a marathon rival those reported in military training and interrogation (Taylor et al., 2007), rape victims being treated acutely (Resnick, Yehuda, Pitman, & Foy, 1995), severe burn injury patients (Norbury, Herndon, Branski, Chinkes, & Jeschke, 2008), and first-time parachute jumpers (Aloe et al., 1994).

The study showed a significant decrease in explicit memory which deals with the recollection of facts, BUT an increase in implicit memory which is mainly unconscious and basically functions off of experience.

This made me put my running brain into action and have a think about this because this is a pretty profound fining (in my mind anyway).   I know that I feel stupid after a race and I’ve always put it  down partly to exhaustion and partly to the fact that on these long races, I’m running for the most of the way in a meditative state.

Now for those of you who don’t know anything about meditation, here is the Wikipedia definition.   I have been practising various forms of meditation for a few years now and nothing gets me on that meditative level as quickly as what running does.

A while ago I did a meditation course which lasted 5 weeks or so.  By the end of the 5 weeks I was able to reach a meditative state and keep it for the most part of 60 minutes (which is a huge accomplishment considering when you start you can barely last 3 minutes).  After these sessions I would always leave feeling a little dull – calm and with a head so quiet you could hear a pin drop, but if pushed to make any decision or answer any simple questions, you would think that I’d just suffered some serious brain injury.

So, I would like to know what the relationship is between the effects of meditation and marathon running – I know there are other people out there who reach some state of detachment while running (or doing any other form of exercise for that matter).  I think there is a definite correlation between these two states, even though the one is traditionally sedentary and the one is, well, running…

Photo Credit

2 Comments / July 31st, 2009 / Reluctant runner, Running

The Fresh Air Fund

I was contacted the other day by Sara from The Fresh Air Fund in the USA who brought my attention to this really great cause.    The Fresh Air Fund provides free summer camp holidays to children from families in New York City,  who can’t afford to send their kids to camp or on holiday during their school break.

What really intrigued me about the initiative however is that they have a team of runners who are doing the New York City half-marathon, to help raise funds and awareness of this program.  As you all know I’m all about using an event for something good, so if any of you are doing this race (its in on August 16th) and would like to run for a cause then sign up.  Of course if I was in the USA I’d be doing it AND I’d gladly run for the Fresh Air Fund!

Good luck guys!!

Leave a Comment / July 22nd, 2009 / Fund Raising, Reluctant runner, Running

I Think I’ll Stick to Running…

Dear Running Shoes

I’m writing this letter in the hope that you will forgive me for trading you in last night for the mountain bike, but I thought that if I am going to take part in the Cape Argus next year, I have to make a start somewhere.  To be fair I haven’t even looked in the direction of a bicycle in all the time I’ve known you, so if that offers some comfort then I’m glad.

I also need to tell you that you don’t need to worry about being replaced – I officially hate that bicycle!!  It is not because I am physically lacking the ability, it is that anatomically I just don’t think I was made to sit on a saddle.  Running shoes, I can have you on my feet for hours at a time and you still fit me comfortably and never hurt me – I was barely out the gate when I realised that the ride we were taking was going to be a strain, and we only went 14km’s!!

When we got back running shoes, and I saw you standing there looking all alone and unworn, even in my pain – I felt just horrid for thinking I could trade you in…  I’m not asking for your sympathy, I just want to try and explain and hopefully you will understand.  Do you know how hard it is making people believe that you are walking like John Wayne because of a saddle…?

My poor bottom is battered and bruised (it is much more difficult trying to survey the damage down there than on my feet), which I know you would never do to me dear shoes – I really hope that you can find it in your sole to forgive me…

Yours forever in comfort

The Reluctant Runner

2 Comments / July 20th, 2009 / Reluctant runner, Running, Training

First Time Comrades Runner

This is my fourth post in the “Running Stories” series, you can read the first three here,  here and here

I would like to introduce you Craig Vivian.  Craig ran the entire Comrades with me this year.  Our mothers both compete in many full and ultra marathons together and it is through them that we became friends.  Craig’s mom ran the Comrades this year with a broken foot – and she finished!

What made you decide to do the Comrades?
There were a few reasons:
(1) I had completed 2 Two Oceans and felt like I was ready to step it up a level.
(2) I was asked by a charity to run for them to raise money.
(3) I’m 27, my mother is 60 and she was running her 6th Comrades. I had no excuse really.

How long have you been running for?
I have been long distance running since the beginning of 2007 when I did my first marathon and Two Oceans. I’ve always been fit though throughout school and university, through shorter distance running and playing sports.

What was the most difficult thing about the training?
I found the two most difficult things about training were:
(1) The length of the training. It’s hard to train solidly for 5-6 months.
(2) The personal sacrifices – whether it’s not going out on a Saturday after the rugby because of a Sunday race, or just sacrificing on sleep. It was all worth it though

What was the most difficult thing during the race?
Being my first Comrades, it was difficult to get my mind around running +-90km. I always seem to have a bad period during a race, usually around the 3rd quarter. Your legs aren’t fresh anymore and you’re still not that close to the finish. My mind sort of goes walk about. Luckily in the Comrades, this period came with 18km to go, I knew that if I could hang on until 10km to go, I’d be alright which is what I did.

Was it as hard/easy as what you expected?
The Comrades was easier than what I expected purely because in the three ultra marathons (anything over 42.2km) I have done, there were stages where I got bad cramps in my legs. In the Comrades, I had a couple of scares but no painful cramping. The recommendation to go out slow in the beginning really worked.

Did you have any epiphanies about yourself during training or the race?
You have a lot of time to think when running for just under 11 hours. I ran the whole race with a friend and I definitely feel that the Comrades experience made us closer. I also felt after finishing the race that I shouldn’t be afraid of any challenge, being work, personal or sport related.

Would you do it again and what would you change, if anything?
I am definitely going to do it again. I have already told the charity I ran for this year to sign me up again. Training wise, I would concentrate more on quality training, this year I focused too much on just long distance running. You do need this but I feel that additional speed training and some strength training in the gym is also important. I would also like to a much better time, 10h:52 minutes is a long day at the office.

* I would like to add that it was such a change running with someone for the entire race.  Last year I ran half of the way on my own and it becomes very boring.  I’m really glad we experienced this incredible race together (that’s him on the left in the picture in case you were wondering)!

One Comment / July 16th, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Reluctant runner, Running, Series

Knysna Half Marathon

• 5am

Wake up to a damp, cool morning (not as cold as last year thank goodness)
Have breakfast
Head to the pick-up

• 6am

Stand in line at the pick-up point for the buses (read: local minibus taxi) to take us into the forest

• 7am

Finally get into a minibus taxi

• 7:30am

Get to the drop-off point in the middle of the forest

• 7:35am

Find a bush to have a wee

• 7:45am

Shaun and I start making our way through the 6 000 people lining up at the start

• 8:10am

The start rifle (it was actually a rifle and not a gun, I had a look) goes off

• 8:15am

Cross the actual start line and finally manage to start running!

• 8:24am

Pass the first km marker – that’s 9min/km!!  Holy Cow, we need to move through the people faster than that!

• 9am

The field finally thins out and we manage to strike a rather fast pace and stick to it (Shaun wanted to do a sub 1:50, I was just going to hang on for as long as possible).  Take off warm top I’m wearing and throw on the side of the road for the township folks who are lining the course, waiting for this annual race to top up their wardrobes.

• 9:45am

Shaun and I realize that our consistently fast pace is not going to get us to the finish in under 2 hours.  We are bummed.  Can’t understand how we can be running our legs off and still be so far behind.  We decide to sacrifice talking for a faster pace.

• 10:00am

Shaun manages to persuade his legs to go a bit faster than mine and surges ahead.

• 10:07am

I hit the grass on the field and hear the guy announcing that we have less than 60 seconds to make it over the finish line in under 2 hours.  I manage to force my protesting legs to sprint the last few hundred metres.

• 10:something am

I cross the finish line in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 33 seconds.

Conclusion

• In a race with 6,000 people (most of them seriously under trained, and not just my type of under trained but unfit and still marginally drunk from the night before) we should start in the front or not try and go for a PB.
• The Knysna Half Marathon is spectacular in terms of scenery and is still a great weekend away.

2 Comments / July 13th, 2009 / Half-marathon, Reluctant runner, Running

Comrades Marathon Green Number Club

This post marks the first of my “Running Stories” series.

I’d like to introduce Russell Mackintosh – Russ ran his 10th Comrades Marathon this year – this entitles you to a permanent number and entry to the exclusive “Green Number Club”

Here are the questions I thought were important along with Russ’ answers:

How long have you been running for?

I started running to keep fit for rugby in 1985 when I was at UCT. I eventually took running up as my main sport when I gave up cricket in 1993. I ran my first marathon in 1994 (Winelands Marathon) and my first Comrades in 1996.

Out of the 10 Comrades you have done, how many were good runs?

I had one absolute “dream” run (9:05 on the up run in 2006), probably 4 more runs that were not too shabby, and the rest were in the “I’m never doing this again” bracket.

What made you decide “I think I’ll do 10 Comrades”?

When I was in std.9 I watched the Comrades on TV and saw a guy called Colin Goosen collapse on the final bend and then crawl the length of the home straight to claim the last gold medal. I decided then that I wanted to run the Comrades some day. JUST ONCE.

And I did that in 1996, and I was content. But then you go down to the club and the guys are standing around having a few beers, and eventually the talk turns to Comrades, and before you know it the trip to Durban is planned and you’re on it. I can’t believe they caught me like that . . . 9 times!!

What type of mental preparation do you do?

A couple of things: I try to develop a positive mindset by focussing on the good races I have run recently; I go over the route in my mind and try to recall how I felt at various stages on my good Comrades runs; I remind myself that bad patches are nearly always temporary; I like to drive the course before the race, because it scares the sh*t out of me and reminds me to treat the race with respect.

When do you start training and how many km’s do you do?

I start training about 6 months before the race and generally do about 1200kms in that time, although this year I did 1500km – obviously too many junk miles, because the extra 300kms had no positive effect on my performance. Ideally I like to have five runs of 42km or longer in that period, and generally peak at about 100km a week, about a month before Comrades.

What is the most important thing you have learned by doing endurance sports?

Participating in endurance sports has taught me that if I set myself a goal and work towards it, the seemingly impossible gradually becomes possible, and eventually achievable.

What does your family think about it?

I’m fortunate in that my wife has run 7 Comrades Marathons and we do a lot of our training together.  It helps that your partner can relate to your mindset and emotions in the lead up to Comrades, and vice versa.  I have a daughter (15) and twin boys (11) who have grown up in a running family and so don’t know any different. My daughter has been up to Comrades twice and loves the vibe on race day. Hopefully one day I’ll have the opportunity to take one (or more) of my kids through their first Comrades Marathon.

6 Comments / June 25th, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Reluctant runner, Running, Series

Trail Running Series

I’ve been talking about thinking about starting to trail run for ages and on Sunday I decided to stop talking about thinking and actually just DO…

Montrail and CapeStorm have a trail running series which is coming to the Western Cape in July.  It consists of 4 runs of which you can choose to do the long (12 – 13km) or short (5-6km) routes, in different locations ranging from Durbanville Hills to Groot Constantia.

I had heard about this trail series from friends of mine and before the Comrades it was a lovely plump carrot on a stick to look forward to – with the promise of a change of scenery, some new faces and hopefully a rekindling of my motivation to run (although my lack of motivation could be due to the horrid weather we are having at the moment).

Have a look at the race details and if you are in the Cape area sign up, would be great to meet you!

4 Comments / June 23rd, 2009 / Reluctant runner, Running, Trail Running

Running Stories

I’ve decided to start another series, this one is called Running Stories and will involve interviews with different runners and their experience with the Comrades Marathon and other endurance races which have the potential to be life changing.

I’d like to cover categories like First time Comrades runners, Bus Drivers (Pace setters), People who have overcome insane things to go on to run the Comrades, Green Number runners (10 Comrades or more), Seconds and foreign runners who come over here to take part in this crazy race.

I’ll be making a few changes around the blog too, just to make it a bit more stream line (especially since my occupation is online marketing and specifically social media – which is embarrassing to admit given the fact that I’ve done so little on this blog), so please let me know what you think along the way.

Looking forward to interviewing some great people and sharing what I find!!

Photo Credit:  PakyuZ

Leave a Comment / June 19th, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Reluctant runner, Running, Series

Running Theory

I have a little confession to make…  You know when I wrote about Ostriching and that as a running strategy it is probably sub-optimal – weeelllll…

Since January I have been keeping a log of all my training and race kilometres, I’d decided to do this just so that I’d know how off track I was, but as it turns out I only ever plugged data in, I never actually looked back to check how far off I was – yes, (head hung low) I was ostriching it because I had a sneaky suspicion that my training wasn’t anywhere near where it had to be.

Of course the story doesn’t end there…  The day before the race when I met up with other runners from my club, everyone was comparing how many kilometres they’d logged in training which ranged between 1 000 and 1 200km’s since Dec/Jan – I stealthily stayed out of these conversations because when I thought back to my training calendar I remember it being rather sparse…

SO, this weekend I decided to count up how much I actually did and finally go cold turkey on the ostriching,  an exercise which made me realize that luckily I did ostrich with this particular thing because as it turns out I had to round up – to 600km’s!!!!

No really, I’m not joking I even counted again to make sure which has lead me to start thinking about this whole training thing.  Do we train incessantly for the Comrades (or any longer race for that matter) to help our bodies or our minds?

My theory is that mental training is totally separate and has nothing to do with running or how much you have trained.  Sure if you know you can do a marathon then you’d be more confidant to tackle an ultra, what I’m talking about is the fact that on most of these races I’ve found that it is my mind which determines how well my race is going to go, not my fitness…

I’m going to think about this a bit more, what is your theory?

My Comrades medals for 2009

5 Comments / June 3rd, 2009 / Comrades Marathon, Motivation, Reluctant runner, Running, Training