Barefoot Running OR How Not to Injure Yourself

About 10 days before I ran the marathon in Vegas in December of 2009, I went for a 16km mid-week taper run with a friend.  During this run I had a nagging pain in my right ankle that got progressively worse and continued to plague me during my last training runs before the race.
You would think that if one has pain in their ankle that is not resolving, that one should stop running.
At this point in my training, discontinuing training was NOT an option.
So, instead, I employed anyone - including chiropractors, physiotherapists and a psychic (not really, but I did consult my magic 8 ball...) to 'fix' me so that I COULD run 42.2 km.
Smart, right?
But short of physically dying or a broken leg, I was going to cross the finish line.
Unfortunately, this injury was not a minor one and the act of running the marathon actually gave me a rather severe stress fracture.
During the race I was doped up on 10 ultra-mega-just-about-enough-to-kill-you pain killers, and even that wasn't enough to mask the pain so that I could utilize my buggered ankle to run the f*&$ing race.
I found a package of Advil on the ground during the race and proceeded to take the wonderful caplets of relief at around mile 20, or in Canadian distance, 30km.
This is a true story.
I promise you this, as I had two witnesses to this act.
You may be thinking to yourself, "why would someone take unknown drugs off the road in a place like Las Vegas?".
Let me tell you why.
Because your ankle is SCREAMING and BEGGING and CRYING for you to stop because it's broken.
Yep.
Not sprained, or strained or uncomfortable, but broken.  As in, a little piece of my bone was obliterated.  And that bone happened to be an anchor for a rather important ligament.
Ahhhhhhhh, so THAT'S why it took months and months to heal!!!
MRI's, X-ray's and bone scans would eventually bring me to an orthopedic surgeon who would tell me that I'm anatomically not built to run.
Well, DUH?!?!?!  Tell me something I DON'T know and then fix me so I may continue to run...
What eventually came from this catastrophe (at least, for a runner it was a catastrophe), was that my physiotherapist introduced me to barefoot running.
She did a gait analysis for me, and explained to me that a heel strike is a runner's nemesis and the reason for many running injuries.
Try running on your toes, she said.
So I did.  And I can tell you that after my first run, my calves were on FIRE!
BUT, to this day I continue to run this way and have run injury free.  I run lighter and easier than I used to in my heavily padded shoes and with a heel strike.
I've included two resources including some videos about how to run barefoot, which is also known as natural running or Chi running.
They're very similar in that they allow your body to be in a relaxed and natural position so that running is not strenuous or hard on your bones and joints.

I won't pretend to be an expert on barefoot running, however I myself AM a barefoot runner and so I can tell you that thus far, I have not incurred another injury.
I've watched the videos and read about barefoot running and from the second resource, there are 5 principles of Chi running.
Number two is my favorite and is actually quite similar to the way I live my entire life!
EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT!  So the same principles applied to different people will produce different results and that's just fine!
DISCLAIMER: I don't actually run in my bare feet.  It's a technique I use while wearing minimalist shoes.  There are, however, people who run in bare feet.

I'm including a really great quote that I know all runners will relate to.
And also a picture of lil E.
I sure hope my girls love running the way their Mama does!  ;)

I believe this whole-heartedly.

http://naturalrunningcenter.com/2012/03/06/video-the-principles-natural-running/

             http://www.active.com/women/Articles/5-Elements-of-Chi-Running.htm

Here's Vitamin E tucked in at 3:50am.
I love her to bits even then!

Sooooo, you wanna be a runner...

A good friend of mine recently asked me for some advice about running.  I don't consider myself an expert, by any means, but I guess 15 years of running and countless races have given me a bit of experience and I definitely know what works for me!

The first thing to consider is gear.  I've never been much of a shopper, so I tend to wear out my clothes before I purchase more!  I've posted a photo of what I wear for 10km or less.  The only thing missing is socks, and my faves are double layer from the Running Room.
My go-to store for running attire is called One Tooth.  There is a store in West Edmonton and one in St Albert.  Their clothing is LuLu-ish, but not as price-y and lasts forever!  (Probably why I like it...less shopping!).  I also tend to wear shirts I've earned from the races I've run.  They're something of a badge of honor, and it's really bad luck to wear a shirt from a race you didn't run...or so they say...
I invest my money in two places.  My running bras and my running shoes.  Both can make or break your running experience.  I've worn the same shoes for years - Mizuno Wave Rider, but have had to switch to Saucony Kinvara as a less padded shoe.  I'll try to elaborate on minimalist running another time - but I'm very new to barefoot running and I should do a little research!
Shoes are very personal and the best way to find your shoes is to go to a store - Running Room, United Cycle and Track & Trail employ runners and can help you into a pair of shoes that you will race home to put on and run in.  At least, that's what I always do! ;)
If you're a gal, then a running bra is important too.  Especially if you are gifted in the chest department, as I am.  Don't be jealous, we all have special attributes!
Running bras have come a LONG way in the years that I've been a runner.  I used to be a double bra uni kinda girl, but no one needs to run with a boob-tube anymore!  One of my first experiences trying on running bras included me, in a changing room, with a bra that was so tight that my right arm was virtually glued to the side of my head and my body was twisted and tangled into a Cirque du Soleil contortionist pose.  I nearly yelled for help and a pair of scissors.  I know if you've been running for any amount of time, you've had the same experience.  Sweaty-too-tight-bra-trying-on is just one of the trials that binds runners together!
You might also notice in the picture a rather large watch.  Yes.  That's a friggin watch.  And as you might be asking yourself, my left arm is much larger and stronger than my right because of it.  It's a Garmin GPS watch and it's something of a relic, as there have been many newer, smaller models released.  If you're reading this, Garmin people, I could use a new one!
A GPS watch will log your run.  It will tell you how far you've run, how much incline you've gained/lost and how many calories you've burned.  I'm sure it does much more than that, but those are my favorite applications.  It will also track your run/walk times.  This is actually why I wear it.  I'm a 10:1 runner.  I run for 10 minutes and walk for 1.
I also listen to music. I know.  It's dangerous.  Whatever.  Ke$ha and Brit keep my pace up.

Pile of sweaty running gear - missing socks...whoops!

After you've got your gear figured out, you are ready to head out!
The hardest thing about being a runner is getting your butt out the door. Once you're out there, it's actually quite easy. One step in front of the other! That's all there is to it!
As for run/walking, I really do believe in the Running Room and Jeff Galloway running programs, which both employ run/walking.
When I am easing back into running, say, after having a baby or a serious injury, I tend to run/walk for equivalent times. 1 minute:1 minute. Then I add a minute of running every week until I'm up to 10 and 1.
If you're not familiar with run/walking, then you might think that during a race this technique will cause you to have a slower time.
Not true at all.
You do not saunter during your walk breaks! You hustle! But this break allows you to have a little bit more pep in your step when you are up and running again and also decreases injury. There are studies about this, but I don't have the energy to dig them up...sorry. Just trust me on this one.
Once you've become totally addicted to running and haven't quite grasped how you lived so long without doing it (wha? that's just me? oh...), you will want to register for a race.
There is NO better motivator than an investment in a race. Especially if this investment includes plane tickets and a hotel room for a night or four. If you register for a half marathon six months from now, be damned if you won't complete it because your name will appear on the registration list for all to see!
And finally, if you've registered and trained for a race, then just get yourself to the start line. You might as well consider yourself a racer at that point because you WILL finish the race. Standing in the herd of runners, often huddling in scanty clothing at 6 or 7 on a chilly morning, you will feel like part of an exclusive club. And you are. You are a bonified runner.
NOT a jogger. What an insult! We are not leisurely bounding around, we are RUNning, and with purpose. NOT. F-ING. JOGGING.
That is all.

I thought I should include a picture of my super cute babes while they took a nap today. I knew you'd wanna see 'em.

www.runningroom.com
www.onetoothyoga.com
www.garmin.com
www.jeffgalloway.com
www.unitedcycle.com
www.trackntrail.ca

Just givin' props...

Puttin' it Out There

The girls and I have been away for the past three weeks vacationing with my Mom and Dad.  We've travelled together in their motorhome and miraculously, we've managed to stay friends!
Even more than that, we've created memories for the girls and I that will last a lifetime.
We visited family in Saskatchewan and attempted to enjoy the sunshine, however, we were only able to take in a handful of sunny days as the torrential downpour and storm warnings rain seemed to follow us everywhere.
Fortunately, with all the help I had to take care of my munchkins, I was able to do ALOT of exercising.  I ran, biked and did makeshift bootcamp workouts.  I even had my Dad do a couple of bootcamp workouts with me.  He did.............ok. Love ya Dad!
One of my runs was an 8.4km trek across the great plain of Saskatchewan.  Although I know that it's flat, (I mean really flat.  I mean there were several times I could see far, far ahead of me into the distance.  Like, really, really flat.) I still get nervous to do a distance that is further than I have run recently.  I couldn't help but think that only 1.5 years ago I would have turned around and run 8.4km 4 more times!  That is a crazy thought.  And also my ultimate goal.
I aspire to run another marathon.  But this time I would like to be lighter.  And, hopefully faster.
I would like to be kinder to my body.  This body that has never let me down, although I have asked it to run, bike, swim, burpee, jack squat, lunge, pushup etc. deserves more from me.
My girls and husband deserve more from me.  I deserve more.
During our beach days, I couldn't help but notice body types.  And I've come to appreciate the truly fit bods, as I will be on my own journey for the next year to become an envied body on the beach.  I want to be the "Wow, I can't believe she has two kids!" gal.  ;)
To get fit is only one step.  To maintain fitness is forever.
I've exercised my whole life and although I've never been slim (which is NOT my goal), I've also never been at a healthy weight for any lengthy amount of time.

Here are my girls.
Having girls will force one to consider what kind of role model one wants to be.
They are so young and beautiful and are not yet tainted by the ridiculous expectations of the cruel, vain world.
I know it's naive to believe that they will never diet or try to change the way they look, but I want them to always know that their Mom & Dad love them always.  No matter how they look.
I think that for me, it will be important to demonstrate how to live a healthy, active lifestyle.  To show them that nothing in life worth having is easy.  That taking care of our bodies is far more important that how they look.

These girls deserve the best me that I can give them, and that means that I must take care of me.

Aren't they fantastic??