Foot Work

A blog post about feet - just what you've been waiting for, right?! But seriously, there are updates to be shared.

TATTOO: My new tattoo is beginning to heal (it hasn't vanished!) with diminishing pain as the initial swelling subsides. I'm getting lotsa love for this latest ink.

BAREFOOT RUNNING: I was a bit nervous about running exclusively barefoot in my Sprint VFF's (they look like Mary Jane's and do not cover my paw prints) for the next two weeks - wondering if I would strain muscles or joints in new ways since I'm not accustomed to 20+ miles per week without shoes. Until now the longest distance I'd run in my VFF's at one time was 4 miles, with a grand weekly total of 7 miles in the VFF's. In the past three days I've run 14 miles, including a 7-mile run this morning, in my least desirable VFF's, and aside from some blisters (this is why these VFF"s aren't as good for running as my true running Bikila VFF's), I am feeling better than ever. For the past month my right knee has had a mild patellar tendonitis, and my left hip has been tight. Three days of barefoot running, and both conditions have greatly improved.

RUNNING PROGRESS: I started my second running life on July 23rd, 2009 -about 8 months after my herniation. My journal entry for that first run is something to behold. I ran a total distance of a 1/2 mile - running a 1/4 mile, walking 2 minutes, and running another 1/4. It was pure hell. I did that first run at an 11:06 pace, and my maximum heart rate (HR) during that run reached 175 (gasp). Contrast that to today's run - I ran 7 miles with no walking at a 10:24 pace (actually a slow-ish pace for me) with a maximum HR of 145. Amazing how the foot turn over and the heart conditioning has changed in a year, eh? Last week I passed the 700 mile mark for the year and fully expect to exceed 1,000 miles run before 2011. I gave blood today, and when they took my BP (100/58), they asked, "Are you a runner?" Why yes, yes I am. :)

JOE'S FEET: Joe's feet are doing better as well. He hasn't run for 8 weeks as his left metatarsal stress fracture healed. He's gotten his left orthotic re-fashioned and expects to start running again in the next week - taking it slow and easy, so as not to damage his feet before our approaching backpacking trip.