Well I have slacked off in my running over the past few weeks, subsequently slacking off on my writing in turn. It is strange how those things intermix: I run, I want to write about it, and when I don’t run somehow the urge to write also fades. But hopefully I have a one-time excuse: I finished grad school!
And it wasn’t just wrapping up a couple classes or an exam or two. No, that would be too easy! The program I am in, a masters program in Systems Engineering, had a ‘capstone week’. That is, we all went for a week, Monday through Friday, and got into teams of 8 for a project. We had no class, but deadlines and deliverables due every day. We spent all of our time with our groups, and saw others in the program very little. With days starting at 8 and ending at around 4AM, finding time for a run was a little tough. But I did get in two quick runs with friends in the program on Monday and Tuesday.
The Tuesday run was most interesting: consisting of two ego-ridden runners and another casual jogger! You’ve heard of interval training, right? Well if you’re in a group, here’s a kicker that will be hilarious and fun, while also kicking towards the teeth a bit! It’s simple: at every incline, step on it! And don’t just sprint, go all-out until the top of the hill/incline until your partner or others give up. Or maybe you’ll have to concede that hill. You’ll collectively have to take a breather at that point almost by design, at which point you can jog slow for others to catch up [and you to regain your own breath!].
I’ve historically been wary of going all out considering the obvious increased risk of injury. Add onto that my dedication to barefoot running and the ensuing training runs that result are kind of boring: slow, or medium steady plodding along.
But the the sprints, or intervals, or uphill insanity, however you wish to refer it, were fun! I think a pretty basic base of a few miles every couple of days prepares your legs for such rigor, at least in small doses. The next day my quads were a little taut, but overall I felt ready to go out for an easy run. It really surprised me to have not worn out my feet during the sprinting! Whatever way you look at it, you’re putting your body, and your feet, through greater stress when doing high intensity workouts like that. And you might argue that that’s the reason to wear shoes! But to counter, consider the alternative: all that extra force being skipped by your feet and transferred up to your knees and beyond! I consider it a recipe for runner’s knee, tendonitis, and a whole host of other calamities to the joint. More on this later, but you get the idea.
Following that aside, let me lay out a couple of upcoming posts and sections that I’m preparing, meant to aid the budding barefoot runner, the inquisitive, or the seasoned runner looking for some tips!
- A beginner’s section, outlining the first steps and considerations one should keep in mind when starting off.
- An injuries section, describing common injuries, my injuries, how to deal, and how to avoid
- A form section. Let’s talk about running form, barefoot and otherwise.
- My plan. A general outline of my running goals, along with a weekly plan of what I hope to accomplish.
- Races. There are a ton of races out there, and I plan to post some that I find particularly interesting, whether or not I’m partaking in the fun!
- Shorter, quicker posts focused on particular aspects and considerations for running that I or you find pertinent and ask about!
- Maybe a Q&A section?
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