Janathon #28

Another rainy grey morning. On the agenda today was a short barefoot run. I'd planned to go early but the weather was against me...it absolutely chucked it down as I got changed so I thought I'd let the shower pass (it didn't), then I decided to bake some flapjack and chocolate brownie....then I had to wait for a delivery. So my early run ended up being a lunch time run! Moral of the story....just get up and go.

I also needed to collect something from town so I decided to head that way with a rucksack and multitask on the run.With the item collected I had the choice of returning home the same way, making the total run just over 3km, or heading up the main road and adding a bit on. I chose the latter. The run was 3.8km completed in my fivefinger barefoot shoes. That makes it my longest barefoot run, albeit with a short pause in town.

Janathon #26

After yesterday's long run on the fells today was a delightfully short 3.3km barefoot run in my fivefingers. I'm feeling stronger in them, not needing to rest/walk at all now on these runs. I could quite happily have stayed indoors today; the weather was fowl but having checked the weather forecast I knew it was going to dry out this afternoon.....luckily it did and my run was in the dry, with sunshine even.

Just 5 days of Janathon left. The plan is a short run tomorrow, another barefoot run Tuesday, retest on the treadmill for the research project on Wednesday, a fell run on Thursday morning and Friday.....I'll think of a suitable way to celebrate completing the challenge.

Do. Done. Doing.

A good day today, and it's only 4.15pm. I write 4.15pm at the start so I can see how long it takes me to draft this blog.

As I've just been doing my strength and conditioning session for today I was pondering exactly where my time has gone today. Is that the right way to think about it? For time goes by anyway. What I actually mean is, What Have I Done? What have I accomplished? and, am I satisfied that I have used my time to it's full?

All this thought has been provoked by a short book I read yesterday. My good friend Matt gave me a link to that book in his comment on my post Procrastination and Words just yesterday. It was an enthralling read, taking me about a 'mug of coffee time' to work my way down the text. Head over to my other blog if you're remotely curious.

Anyway, what have I done today. As I trained I considered my time, and this is where I have spent it (rough timings as I wasn't really clock watching as I got on with stuff):

up at 5.20am
coffee
5.50am running on the Dawn Patrol til just before 7am
7-8am breakfast, shower, chatting to Tim, made a tray of flapjack
8-9am study/work
9-10am barefoot exercises, including a 20minute barefoot walk and plyometrics
10-11am study/work
11-1130am snack, tea, house stuff
1130-1pm study
1-2pm lunch, getting ready for work,afternoon tea & flapjack
2-2.30pm chatting to Tim, house stuff
2.30-3.15pm study/work
3.15pm-4.15pm strength & conditioning
4.15pm onwards....writing this blog. (its now 4.22pm)

That includes four or so quality hours of study/work during which time I've completed 3 worksheets each containing 15-20 questions on physiology, health, nutrition and training - lots of reading and research needed for those too. I've had a fairly packed 11 hours already, and yet I still have a quality 5.5hrs before I go to bed.

I'm happy my day has been packed and busy. By the time I've had a short mental break (I'll knit, so I'm actually still achieving something) it will be about 5.30pm. There's then dinner to make, more work to do, and I need to fit in my hour of quality reading (see pic below) which I would normally have done first thing but today was Dawn Patrol day.

Right then. No time to fritter away here.......onwards I go...

ps. blog finished/posted by 4.32pm - setting a timer to get things done with focus helps!

Barefoot Running Research: week 2 summary

Well that week went fast. The end of week 2 brought good news...I have a pair of fivefingers so I can now fully take part in the research project, fabulous.

This week has seen a continuation of the stretching, balance and proprioception exercises, daily 20 minute barefoot walks plus plyometric exercises on alternate days to strengthen feet and leg muscles. I've really made an effort to focus on forefoot strike during my walks and exercises and it already feels like I'm gaining strength.

The other noticeable thing is when walking on what feels like tippy-toes I sometimes just want to break into a run...so far I've restrained. I have however read the instructions for the intervention exercises again (more closely) and from week 3 (this week) I can start on short runs twice a week. So perhaps today will be the day of my first barefoot run.

Here's a summary of week 1 in case you missed it.

Barefoot

Fabulous news....the fivefingers arrived in the post today.....I'm so excited. Now I can take part in the research project, which is a great as I've already started the intervention exercises. Look how lovely they look....