5 Miles on the Treadmill

I was able to run a full 5 miles without any pain today so I hope my sore ankle and foot have healed.  I sure gave them plenty of rest for about 2 weeks.  But I didn't want to take any chances when I have a long list of marathons on my running agenda for 2014.  It looks like I can get back to normal training runs now.  I will be home again in a few days and then can run outdoors or at least in the Sports Center instead of the treadmill.  It just doesn't feel the same to run on the treadmill.  I am really looking forward to daily runs on the beach in Hawaii in a couple of weeks too. That thought is especially attractive considering that it is currently 20 below zero Fahrenheit here in Deadhorse at the moment.  I could use a little bit of warm for a few days.

I'm holding off on the barefoot running until I can give it a try at the Sports Center. I'm using my Blue Hokas until then. They are quite comfy.

5 Miles on the Treadmill

Back on the Treadmill

I fell on the slick wet floor about a week ago and have been having fairly serious pain in my right ankle and foot ever since.  I've been resting it ever since.  But took a chance on a short 3 mile treadmill run today.  It did hurt while I was running but doesn't seem any worse after the run.  So I will probably continue to gradually work up to speed and distance unless the pain increases.  There is a point where it is time to start exercising a sore muscle again, and I think that time is finally here. It's really hard to get excited about running on the treadmill.  But I am glad I was at least able to run.

Daydreaming on the Treadmill

It's -17 outside and no matter what I do I can't seem to get warm.  So did my 6 mile treadmill run dreaming of warmer places like Greece. My Nike+ iPhone app was certainly doing weird things today.  It decided after one mile it was time to end the run!  So I started it again and set it for 4 miles, since my original plan was to run 5 miles.  But after a while I checked to see where I was because it had stopped telling me.  It was almost at 5 so when it hit 5 I stopped it myself.  I guess it was going to allow me to run until the battery died without telling me my miles. That's probably what I needed actually!

I was wishing I was here:

Where I wish I was today!

A Short Run Today

I'm feeling kind of achy and sluggish today.  It's turned cold again outside, -15 right now.  It is freezing all over my hotel and I just want to curl up under a blanket.  So I go down to the exercise room and run on the treadmill.  Wouldn't you know it, the only room in the whole place that is hot, is that room.  I burned out after 3 miles.  But maybe that was all I really needed today.  It's been a slow workout week for me.  I did run with my Hokas because my feet feel kind of tired from running barefoot.  But once my running sandals arrive I am going to enjoy trying them out.  The treadmill is finally not slippery anymore, so that was a plus.  I felt pretty good in spite of being too hot and feeling kind of lazy. I'm dreaming of places with warm sunshine today.

Treadmill 4 Miles

This morning I spent a significant amount of time with the assistance of two big men and two gigantic graders along with me and my shovel, trying to get our company car out of a snowdrift in the middle of a blizzard.  We finally got it out and I left it in front of the hotel.  When I woke up it couldn't be found anywhere.  I know I can't be lucky enough to have had it stolen, but it would sure be good to replace it with a vehicle that is able to function in snow. During the dig out episode I got really cold and it took hours to finally warm up enough to get some sleep. I had intended to run 10 miles but was totally exhausted so called it quits at 4 miles. I ran without shoes again.  I was feeling a little strain also so it was a good time to stop.

I'm In a 5 Mile Rut!

I ran another 5 miles on the treadmill.  I really did have time to run more but just stopped at 5 again.  I'm still experimenting with the barefoot running method and a little afraid to push it too far early on.  I got my new Nike shoes that I ordered when I thought it was my other shoes causing the slipping and sliding on the treadmill.  I really like them, but found that after 2 miles, I just had the urge to kick them off and go back to running shoeless.  The treadmill is still slippery but has improved a bit.  I would like to find some good running sandals because they seem like a better option for me than running completely barefoot across rocks and broken glass and other things that can show up along roads, trails, and bike trails.  But for now with only the treadmill as an option, just running in my socks seems really great.  I want to try for a barefoot marathon when I run the Eco Slow Marathon in Japan in April. It will be warm there and they give you 9 hours if you are inclined to poke along, which I will probably be without shoes.  By then I hope to find the running sandals of my dreams. 

I'm liking barefoot running.  But my new shoes are kind of cute and quite colorful.

My New Nikes

5 On The Treadmill Again

My legs have been so sore since my 5 mile barefoot run on Sunday that I waited until today to run again.  On Monday I was incredibly sore and yesterday was having some leg cramps too.  But today I just had that pleasantly stiff feeling. So I decided to try another 5 mile run.  I found out that the reason my new running shoes were slipping all over the treadmill was not because there was a problem with the shoes.  The new housekeeping gal here at the Prudhoe Bay Hotel had decided to clean the treadmill belts!  Whoops, it turns out that everyone using the treadmills found they had the same problem as I was having.  It gave me a really good laugh because I was so concerned that I bought some new running shoes and have been waiting for them to show up!  They are due to arrive tomorrow now.

I ran the first mile with my shoes on, but found I kind of missed the feel of running without them.  So I ran the other 4 miles in my socks.  It felt great!  I think the little error by the housekeeping gal has changed my running style forever.  I want to become a minimalist runner now.  From my heavily padded Hokas to bare feet in a single 5 mile run!  I'm not ready to run barefoot outside in the snow or even outside on gravel roads right now, but I plan to work on it.  When I get home I will try my Vibram 5 Fingers shoes and run barefoot on my treadmill and in my socks at the sports center.  The pain I had in my calves was just the result of changing running styles to one that strengthens my weakened leg muscles.  I'm looking forward to seeing how my running changes as I transition into at least a more minimalist running style.  I'm not sure I see a barefoot marathon in my near future, but perhaps one day that will happen.

The Future!

Barefoot on the Treadmill

I have these great new running shoes, Hoka Bondi B's.  I love them and have been running at the Wasilla Sports Complex with them.  But today, they caught me by surprise when I had to run on the treadmill up here in Deadhorse today.  They have very smooth tread and they have almost no traction on the treadmill.  I had to give up and take them off and run in my socks for 5 miles.  It actually felt really good.  It is kind of a free feeling to run in your bare feet.  I can't imagine doing it in the snow or on a rough surface covered with rocks, or on a marathon like some people do. But on the treadmill it felt really nice.  I'm not sure if I will have a friend send me up my other running shoes or just keep running barefoot.

I just pretended I was a Tarahumara Indian of Mexico's Copper Canyon and that I was running freely through the Canyon floor unencumbered by white man's shoes. They are the ultimate of barefoot runners.