Going into the Weekend

Good morning!

It's finally starting to cool off in December. Yesterday was unseasonably hot outside. Well, not hot but certainly spring-like and that's just weird. As such, I will soon be taking off for a run this morning after my oatmeal settles in my stomach. What makes this oatmeal worth mentioning however, is that we added our first servings of Flax-Seed to the mix. While I did not taste any nutty flavor promised by the package, I do feel slightly healthier for having ingested it. I think.

So I would normally rewind a bit and review my past runs but I haven't got many to review. The last time I ran was Sunday night with headlamps. That really was fun and enjoyable to out when it was so quiet, even before dinnertime. The air was cool but not uncomfortably so and we kept up a good sub-10 minute a mile clip. Like I said, nothing fancy or fast but comfortable.

It's worth noting how motivation from upcoming events, even in the very recesses of our thoughts is critical to our simply getting out. Our next "race" (read: fun run) is December 13 and since it's a 5K we're not sweating it at all. I suppose we could train harder and look to increase our times but that would be contradictory to all the rants we tend to spill on people who do just that: take a fun run and aim for a PR. I'll admit that I run these events quickly, often sacrificing B-May's company in the process, but I never go absolute balls-to-the-walls looking for the time of my running career. I was speaking to a co-worker about this the other day and we agreed that individuals timing themselves and picking up water at aid stations on 5k (5K!) runs are straight up silly. It's not an insult to their fitness, but a valid point that demonstrates people aren't having fun with running. I try to keep up a pace that is brisk enough to haggle my breath but still easy enough so I can smile throughout. It sounds cheesy but the point, I think, is clear. We shouldn't be out running for the obligation of it - leave that to the Catholics. No, we should run because it's enjoyable and a great social community. This is where Somerville gets it right: after the run, there's beer. What better social magnet than booze? On a Sunday no less!

Anyways, we're looking forward to that though bumming it's officially sold out and none of our friends we've been trying to recruit will be able to join. Alright, that's enough of a rant for now. Besides, I'm pretty sure if I checked through older entries I would find a similar tirade.

Later!

An Experiment

I just got back from a 10 minute run. Boring, I know but insightful. I've recently been of the opinion that you can use kung-fu shoes in the place of Vibram Five Fingers, given their sparse support and super-flat sole. They go on and off quickly which makes me wonder if they'd be a good alternative for the FiveFingers come triathlon time.

Well...I was not overly impressed. I managed to snag a pair from my folks' home this Thanksgiving and my run left me with some tough spots on the sides of my feet and each footfall was louder than any I've ever taken in my FiveFingers. I am not dismissing the idea entirely yet - but it's not looking good. At the end of ten minutes, my attention wandered to barefoot running and I gave it another go on the last two hundred yards home. That was awesome! I kept thinking about a recent article I read about the road being like a massage for one's foot. I don't entirely agree but it was MUCH easier than I expected. I'll definitely do that some more - perhaps tonight on a night-run with B-May.

Back up a little: on Thanksgiving, B-May and I entered the Feaster Five Road Race in Andover and we crushed it. We both did the 5 mile distance (as did her sister from Somerville) and I finished at 43:20 and she was about two minutes behind that. I was moving and felt great the entire time. Though it wasn't very cold, my toes got numb and by mile four, I regained complete sense of them. Oh well!

Food updates: Thanksgiving x2, given my family and B-May's family. We hit them both. Been snacking on leftovers since. Lunch, which is soon to follow is probably some sort of turkey sandwich if I am good like that. Dinner tonight is predicted to be leftovers as well but will be wonderful after a cool, 4-mile run to the Newcastle Cemetary and back!

Later!