Training Log Archive: Bags

Humid again. I was on a good pace first half but second half was about a minute slower...it was a good walking rest workout all that matters. I tippy toed up to curbs and 'hurdled' them to get up on my toes a little.
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4:15 pm 92 this after noon and 96 heat index. This is Okie version of heat training substitute for altitude. It has been 120 in Altus and we had one hot stretch about 7 years ago just guessing...it was 110+ several afternoons.

For second time in 3 days walked and trotted barefoot. First time in backyards...probably 250 to 300 yards back and forth...even did a few 15 yard start of sprints...today did one loop then walked to church one house over...the ground is clay and hard...grass thin and at least 40% stubby weeds...instead of going out there and trying to do something too much I mostly just walked to get feet toughened up slightly and I did trot off and on and a few 10 to 15 yards semi pickups.

I did a second workout of my situps/core exercises where I'm working on the floor on my back, sides and stomach. Did light weights. And my band 'things' where I'm working each leg 4 directions....pulling back then on each leg pulling to right and then pulling to left then finally pulling away from the door.

I might start doing a afternoon walk or semi trot here and there. The OKC Memorial Marathon was postponed until Oct 4th. That's 5 months. Let's see if all my preventative work will pay off and I can get in some long runs and keep up the fartlek stuff for my speed. I don't see how I can run more than 4 days a week. I need those walk days and I have the base from 40 years ago that I've never completely lost.

I worked up to one 12 or 13 miler couple or 3 years ago and have at least 3 8 milers in so far....problem is my speed is so slow that 10 minutes average is fast for me...I need to average that or better for a 20 miler in training. I'm hoping LSD/Joe Henderson (summer 1971!) will work for an old geezer.


So in spite of being upset with all the barefoot nonsense in Born to Run I do think there is something to it and will see if I decide to incorporate this into workouts a little. I am able to do jumps now...today did 150 or so ropeless jump ropes, jumping jacks and stride hops. Even when I just do 50 or 60 it seems to put a little spring in my step.

C • Barefootin' 7

I was tired from the beginning. At 4 miles I was '6 miles tired' so with half way to go I just had to plug along. I dodged around a little but not much as I was tired. When I did it was for distraction purpose.

1M 14:15
2M 25:20 (11:05) Started 20 x 45 (average) surges 1.25 to 3.5 miles
3.5M 40:50 (15:30 for 1.5 miles or about 10:20 pace thx to surges)
4M 46:50 (6...this was 1/3+ gradually steeping up hil)
5M 57:20 (10:30)
6M 1:08:00 (10:40)
7M 1:18:48 (10:48)
8M 1:28:28 (9:40)

I never did a surge more than 55 yards or so. I just did not have it. I did short ones only. Last week mostly same thing but last 2 or 3 was up around 70 to 75 yards.
90% humidity! Just checked. If it had been even 5 degrees warmer I would have probably crashed and burned.
I was on full mental power to get through this one. At least I did not die. There was humidity and even though nice day temperature and wind wise I know it slowed me about 2 minutes.

I just noticed googling the Tarahumara there is this restaurant :La Tarahumaras...the Tarahumara...se part of OKC metro area. It is only a quarter mile from real old gym where James played some BB tournaments and 1 mile north of last job Chrissy had at Trosper Golf Course (before James was born).

In Born to Run the author goes crazy about barefoot running. I've never had a book that was such a page turner and then suddenly screech to a halt while the author raves incoherently for pages over some weird idea that has merit, just nowhere near the merit that is being presented. Okay I'm ranting about the author ranting.

I ran cross country in Minnesota and ran some barefooted but they have extremely soft grass and dirt versus other areas. If you grow up barefooted and continue that into adulthood you have some sort of advantage I guess but not nearly as much as living at altitude. While I lived in Norman probably about 81 or so I experimented with what felt like a stride landing on my forefoot. It felt like I was flying, but I needed to be on a smooth grass surface and I could not sustain it for long periods of time. And it was hard to run slow using that form.

I believe in moving your muscles and joints all directions. It seems by running after a ball in their race soccer game it takes their mind off of running and their form. I feel the running they do over rough terrain forces them to use all kinds of muscles in many different direction.

Was leaning towards 5.5, but I could tell 5 would be better so left it open if I felt okay to run more, but I was never tempted. I was tired, but I have enough running strength now to push to an okay pace. It was breezy...actually a more typical Okie day and wind...getting spoiled...last year had more calm days than I can recall in almost my entire rest of Okie lived life. It has been unbelievably.

In the past half the days the wind did not blow were in July Aug when little breeze would be welcomed. Or if it blew it would be 20+ and like a hair dryer if it had not rained and like a windy sauna if it was humid.

1M 12:45
2M 23:55 (11:10)
3M 34:11 (10:16)
4M 44:45 (10:34...fighting wind from 3.5 to 4)
5M 54:56 (10:09)...some uphill for half mile and into wind or swirly sidewind whole way.

I could have run 1.5 to 2 minutes faster if calm day.

The shoes did great. Best first run in a shoe in forever. Took about half mile to get used to them. Less of the springy cushiony feel of the Saucony's and Skechers but they still had a springy feel the further I ran in them. Good combination of shoes now. 4 pair I love and they mix well together.

1M 12:40
2M 23:45 (11:05)
3M 34:25 (10:40)
4M 44:44 (10:19)
5M 54:39 (9:55)
6M 1:03:58 (9:19)

I'm in the mode now of little surges of 5 to 20 steps...that are just a little quicker than the pace I'm going. It is a way to run a little overall quicker pace, but also mental of just breaking things up. Instead of grinding along at same pace or effort I pick up the, often using a landmark such as a pole, sign, spot on sidewalk, etc to surge up to. It really seems to make the run go by faster from a mental stand point.

Speedgoat 3 size 9 fits like Saucony...more like 8.75 which is the exact perfect size I need for a running shoe. Not as cushy or springy walking...and it usually takes me a month or more to get used to a shoe but just putting them on they felt great which is good sign.

Almost the same pace as first 5.5 Sunday...took as much out of me also. Much more breeze coming back. Not much power so this was a good run for how I felt. I had some fight in me, but I just could not quick kick it into another gear the whole run. I would try to reach down for a little more speed and my feet just would not turn over as quick as I wanted.

1M 13:00
2M 24:30 (11:30)
3M 35:20 (10:50)
4M 45:55 (10:35)
5M 56:10 (10:15)
5.5 1:01:23 (5:13 last half mile)