BarefootInKy

I am a mommy of two-I run (barefoot when its not too cold or too hot); I also am a wife (of one), daughter. You may know me from such films as "I own a mystery shopping firm," "I herd cats," and "I like to have wine with my lunch."

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So this weekend, I took my shoes off earlier in my run (before the one mile mark).  I didn't start out in my Vibrams on these runs, either.  I don't get enough feedback.  Instead, I started out in my Promate Neoprene Aqua Socks.  I love them.  They are cheap (less than $10 on ebay), they keep my feet warm when its cold, and they are thin enough with the neoprene sole that I can get pretty good feedback (enough to keep good form), and they've got these sticky dots on the bottom (I suppose for gripping in water). Anyway, something clicked into place.

I quit having to think once I took my shoes off.  My body just fell into form.  The only thing I did focus on was my hips.  Lifting the feet off vs pushing off.   I discovered, or really, felt that when I lifted my feet up, and was activating my hips, my foot drove forward while I was in the air.  It made sense.  No blisters at all.   I feel like I had a breakthrough.  

[barefootinky-blog]

WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER WHEN YOU ARE IN A BAD MOOD?

running! napping!  Kissing my babies!  Kissing my spouse!

[barefootinky-blog]

Oh yeah, she runs in scuba socks

Yep. That was me this morning running past all of those kids at the bus stop in my scuba socks (one way at least); on the way back, I was barefoot.  I am pretty sure that the parents were warning their children about me.  

Anyway, it was 43 this morning-so not nearly as cold as its been the past two mornings. I think I do like running in the scuba socks.  Neoprene all around to keep my feet warm, and the bottoms are really very thin, and provide some good feedback.  I think I like them better than the VFFs for that reason. I can feel the ground.

The run was nice. I hit my stride pretty quickly. I went 4.69 miles as opposed to my typical 4.1 as of late.  Pace was a 12:24 (Ugh..such a creeper).  But, I felt something drop into place today.  A few weeks back, I felt like I was leaning back from my pelvic cradle.  It seemed to feel very comfortable and I've been trying to get back there.  I can't seem to do it in my VFFs at all.

Today, I worked on thinking of the runway walk that Ken Bob Saxton talks about.  Lean back, legs forward and in my mind, kind of crossing over one another-almost. Concentrate, relax. Quit concentrating so hard.  Head on a string, facing forward.  Body moving in alternate directions (shoulders opposite of feet-at least I think they were; that took too much concentration).

As I pushed the one hip out, I felt my knees being pulled forward while my feet were in the air-avoiding the push off.  I think lately, I've been focusing on pushing the knee out first, with the hip following.  Perhaps I've been going about it backwards?  Noodle legs were a focus, and that driving forward was a focus.  I think I realized that my concentration was actually stiffening up my body.  

Would love feedback.  I figure if I keep writing out what I learned after a run, then it has to help...right?  (even if I am the only one reading it)...

[barefootinky-blog]

Slow run in my Vibrams

It's 29 degrees out, and I drug myself out of bed and out of the house this morning.  My Buffalonian husband might think I am a wimp, because 29 in KY is not nearly as cold as a Buffalo morning.  Anyway...

I've been struggling lately.  My speed is slow, as I've been concentrating on my form.  The concentration is hard for this ADD girl.  Lift feet, kiss heels, lift toes.  Drive knees forward from hips.  Relax shoulders.  I go through the mantra over and over in my head.  

My runs start quick (for now) at around 11:49, and slow down to about 12 - 12:15 minute miles.  Embarrassingly slow for me..I've never been fast (top out around 9:45).  Right now, I feel like I spend so much time concentrating that I may not be listening. However, I do listen for feet dragging and slapping.  I guess I mean listening through relaxing.  Is it possible that concentrating makes me stiff?

I have also noticed that my form seems to get better around mile 3, and then I get a little tuckered (mentally) by mile 4.  I need to add some distance, increase my speed (although I know I shouldn't do it at the same time).  I run better barefoot, but again, I am not brave enough for 29 degrees. (BTW-my barefoot runs are slow as well).  

I would like to be able to drop into a good form in the first mile, as I think it will keep me going longer, and help me avoid the mental exhaustion from concentrating by mile 4.

Anyone have any feedback?