So, after months and months of daydreaming about barefoot running, I've finally bit the bullet and ordered my first pair of Vibram Five Fingers.
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/products_KSO_f.cfm
This desire to try barefoot running has come from not only the inspiration of reading "Born to Run" (borntorun.org), but also from the realization that even when injured, my legs and feet feel just great when I am barefoot. There's got to be something to that. I'm willing to try to figure that out for myself. There are many who criticize this barefoot running movement, but if you look at any new idea, new technology, new invention; there is always criticism until the right people, or just simply enough people are out there to share their first hand experiences. I'm willing to take that risk if it means a chance to run almost injury free for the rest of my life. It's also about awareness of one's body and the freedom of knowing how and why our own bodies do what they do. It's also a celebration of our potential to always push further and become better human beings. So, I'll try to keep y'all posted on how this goes.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
A New Perspective on "Healthy"
Let's see, where did I leave off?...
Oh, waaay back in the fall, I was taking time off of running and then easing back into it, including more cross training, etc. So far so good as of October...
Until I was blessed with the swine flu. There went an entire extra month without any exercise at all. Nothing. In fact, walking into the kitchen from the living room and trying to do dishes or fix a snack was exhausting enough. Amazing what a little microscopic pest can do! 10 straight days with a fever over 100, seven pounds lighter, two dozen cans of chicken noodle soup, probably 50 cups of tea, four doctors visits and one to the E.R. so they wouldn't feel left out. Also, almost 3 weeks of missed work, missed the most important music performance of the year (veteran's day), and a house that looked like it was occupied by the Tasmanian devil. Swine flu, I hate you.
Needless to say, December and January were spent regaining my stamina. It took a while, but it came back 100% plus. By February, I was back into a steady running routine, which included 2-3 days per week of cross training. It's worked pretty well as I am now up to 18 miles for my long runs. Thank goodness, for recovery, as being sick when your husband is deployed seriously sucks.
What I've learned from this year and these experiences:
Embrace and cherish every day that you feel healthy and active. Never miss the opportunity to do some thing healthy for yourself. There's something about being so ill for so long that teaches you an awareness of your body that you've never had before. Since having recovered from injury and illness, I've become aware of how great I feel when I eat well, rest well, and keep my social ties active. It's no longer a challenge to do this because I no longer crave late nights and crappy food. I don't really know how this happened, but I'm not complaining.
Oh, waaay back in the fall, I was taking time off of running and then easing back into it, including more cross training, etc. So far so good as of October...
Until I was blessed with the swine flu. There went an entire extra month without any exercise at all. Nothing. In fact, walking into the kitchen from the living room and trying to do dishes or fix a snack was exhausting enough. Amazing what a little microscopic pest can do! 10 straight days with a fever over 100, seven pounds lighter, two dozen cans of chicken noodle soup, probably 50 cups of tea, four doctors visits and one to the E.R. so they wouldn't feel left out. Also, almost 3 weeks of missed work, missed the most important music performance of the year (veteran's day), and a house that looked like it was occupied by the Tasmanian devil. Swine flu, I hate you.
Needless to say, December and January were spent regaining my stamina. It took a while, but it came back 100% plus. By February, I was back into a steady running routine, which included 2-3 days per week of cross training. It's worked pretty well as I am now up to 18 miles for my long runs. Thank goodness, for recovery, as being sick when your husband is deployed seriously sucks.
What I've learned from this year and these experiences:
Embrace and cherish every day that you feel healthy and active. Never miss the opportunity to do some thing healthy for yourself. There's something about being so ill for so long that teaches you an awareness of your body that you've never had before. Since having recovered from injury and illness, I've become aware of how great I feel when I eat well, rest well, and keep my social ties active. It's no longer a challenge to do this because I no longer crave late nights and crappy food. I don't really know how this happened, but I'm not complaining.
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