Huaraches

Over the holidays, I read Christopher McDougal's book, "Born to Run." where he exposed me to the Tarahumara Indians of the Copper Canyons of Mexico. These dudes run incomprehensible distances in brightly colored knit skits and sandals if anything on there feet. I have been interested in minimallist footwear and this was another avenue worth exploring. I did some research and they are constructing these sandals, called "huaraches," out of old tires with leather straps. A couple hours later I had my own pair.

I cut the paper thin soles off some Sperry Topsider house shoes and glued on some vegetable tanned leather cut to the exact shape of my foot. Then, It was laced with 1/4 Latigo strap leather. After a few modification and one complete rebuild, I was able to run a mile in them.

I've had them for 2 weeks and am up to 7 miles. So far, each time I run, I have to "Goldilock's" the strap tightness for the first 1/10th of a mile then, there is no rubbing at all. The strap does wear lightly in between my toes. This is the only setback keeping me from doing some real distance in these. I believe that gradual use will eventual callous the skin in between there and thus this will be possible.

Shoes for Swamp Stomper?

Next week, Some friends and I are running the Swamp Stomper on the trails of Shelby Forest in Millington, TN. As, I mentioned in my very first post, this race was the on that inspired me to try my hand at some ultra distances. This year, a handful of us are going to challenge the hills, the water, the mud, and the cold for 2 - 16 mile laps to complete the entire 50k. The question is, Do I wear shoes or try the long haul in my Vibrams. The facts are this, My feet are going to be devastatingly painful in shoes by mile 16-20. The entire second lap is going to hurt. If I run in the Vibrams, I expect my feet to experience the same, end-all pain by about mile 12 at the latest. Beyond it being somewhat scary to contemplate, logically there is not much difference. If the trails are not standing water, I think I am going to try the Vibrams. If after the first lap, I am at risk for DNF, I will switch into shoes.

Sometimes, My feet bleed.

I finished 12.2 miles yesterday in the Vibrams at Tour de Wolf. I ran hard the entire time at just under 9 minute miles. This is encouraging but the Shelby Forest trails are infinitely more hilly. We will see. Until then.

50 miles...Achieved

Its been a few weeks since I ran the Nashville Ultra. I have since healed, began running again, and now that the post race buzz has worn off, I feel I should talk about it.

The gun fired at 7 am on a chilly Saturday morning. The first 8 miles were cool but breeze-less. When the sun started to peak over the horizon exceptional amount of fog was created. It was beautiful. We were running east so the sun illuminated billions of tumultuous water droplets that swirled behind the competitors in front of me. The street signs and mile markers steamed as they absorbed the rays.

I passed by my crew (Jessica, Liam, Mom, Blaize, Jenny, and Izzy) at 5 miles who had neglected to get any of my race food prepped. "They have food in that tent!" I was told. They didn't quite understand that you can't just switch diets from what your used to on race day. I have no idea what going from pretzels to doritoes would to to my performance but I wasn't going to risk it.

At 8 miles, we turned around. With the sun at my back I cruised back to the start line. T run was beautiful so far. All green ways, parts suspended along a rivers edge cliff.

At mile 16, I snacked on some PB and J, applied copious amounts of vasseline around parts that rub. and was off again. There was an incredible walking bridge over the Cumberland that ended in a significant decline. As I crossed it, I couldn't stop myself from pondering what it was going to feel like to run back up this at mile 49. Chilling.

The next aid station was at mile 22 (my arches were starting to hurt). A really nice park that was quite busy. Baseball players, family reuinions (with awesome smelling BBQ) and trails I have ran before. We exited the park on the same trail as in the Tom King Classic. I headed through some industrial areas on my way downtown.

At mile 28, Blaize joined me on a bicycle for the rest of the race. It started with another steep pedestrian bridge and we were downtown, searching diligently for the white painte the said, "NU" with an arrow telling us our next move. Downtown, although big, doesn't last long when trying to cover 50 miles. Sooner than I could have imagined we were back in another industrial area (still on a green way), beside train tracks complete with a train  following us at the same speed as us blowing its horn incessantly.

Soon enough we were back on a green way along the river.

In making a long story short. I ran a long time. 10:28.