A blog by a guy named Chris who writes about running. Usually trail running--often at the ultramarathon distance. See you on the trails.
"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go." -T.S. Eliot
"Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional." -Dalai Lama
"The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art." -Leonardo da Vinci
Friday, October 30, 2009
Clinton Lake Ultra Over 80% Full
You are already viewing the world-famous race blog. Here is the race web site. And the link to currently registered runners. Feel free to skip all that mumbo-jumbo and go to the online registration page directly. I do encourage you to eventually read all the race web site information--lot's of good stuff there and a few warnings and pieces of advice.
Wish me well at McNaughton Park tomorrow morning. It's going to be wet and muddy! How's that different than any other race on that damn course? Good luck to Mike Siltman as the race director of this new fall "McNotAgain" race. Hope it goes well and people enjoy the day. I'm taking it easy. Hope to get in 20 miles of easy walking and running followed by a 10-mile speed loop. I'll report my heart rate splits after the race and compare them to my Farmdale race splits. I am shooting for another negative split (pretty easy to do when your first half is really slow).
Monday, October 26, 2009
New Balance 790 vs 100
I already ordered another pair of the 790s on sale. They are a GREAT trail racing flat. One feature that did seem like a great improvement in the newer shoe was the tread. The 100 has much better traction/tread than the older 790. If New Balance made that one change to the 790 it would be a "perfect" shoe!
Both shoes are lightweight, low-to-the-ground, and have minimal cushioning & support. They are also very breathable and allow water to drain out quickly. Anyone looking for a "minimalist" trail shoe should give the new MT100 a try...or maybe go with the original 790 available at closeout sales across the internet. You can always buy the new model when it eventually goes on sale.
NOTE: I had a size 13 in both models. Maybe a size 14 (there is no 13.5) in the new MT100 would have helped in terms of foot narrowness. Not sure. Still, I would have had the issue of rigidity to deal with in the new shoe. Buy the new 100 from a local shoe store where you can try it on before purchasing...or from an online vendor that allows free returns.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Running Barefoot Means No Shoes
Running in footwear is NOT Running “Barefoot”
by Ken Bob Saxton
I don’t mind people running in whatever kind of footwear they like, but it is deceptively misleading – to call running in minimalist shoes, “Barefoot” - it is, sadly, leading many people to injury.
I suppose some of you are getting tired of hearing me talk about how running in minimalist footwear is NOT running “Bare” foot! But, I’ve been sick and tired of hearing people call running in minimalist footwear, running “Bare” foot!
First of all, running with footwear is NOT running “bare” foot. Secondly, it is deceptivly misleading. And sadly, this deception is leading people to seriously hurt themselves!
So, you should be thankful that I don’t post articles like this EVERY time I find a blog (like the barefoot running post at TentLife.net), or advertisement, claiming that running in minimalist footwear IS “BARE” foot running!
If you really want to learn how to run “Barefoot”, take off the footwear!
The problem is, with these “crutches”, people are not getting one of the most important benefits of running barefoot – the feedback from the multitude of nerve endings in our bare soles. yes, I know it hurts to go barefoot at first – that IS the point! It is these very pains that teach us to stand, walk, and run, differently than we learned in foot-numbing footwear, in ways that don’t create the pain in the first place.
Yes, running barefoot will strengthen the feet, in time. But, it isn’t just about strengthening the feet to endure running badly. It is about being able to feel when we are running badly, so we can learn to run better, more gracefully, without causing pain. Then our feet will grow tough enough, to run gently. More toughness than that is not necessary.
Without the feedback from our senstive bare soles, people are, running longer, and landing harder, than their feet, body, and minds are ready for, on their begining barefoot outings (and they don’t have the support of their old stiff running shoes to protect their feet from this abuse).
A friend of mine, and a running coach, recently called me, and said he has been seeing this same phenomenon for a couple of years, about the time Vibram started marketing their Five Finger shoes (yes, they are shoes!) as a “Barefoot” running shoe… and people are getting hurt, without the benefit of their sensitive bare soles, they still don’t feel how badly they are running, or when they have run too much.
I know I’m repeating myself, even within this post - but I will continue to repeat myself as long as people are getting hurt, from wearing footwear, which is deceiving them into believing they have learned to run just fine.
I can understand the desire to start out, running barefoot, gradually, carefully, with baby steps. And you certainly should start out gradually, carefully, with baby steps - but no infant I have ever met, was born with tough feet, or shoes!
In bare soles, we are like infants, with the benefit of sensitive feet, that, like an infant’s bare soles, have rarely touched the earth, TEACHING us HOW to interact with the earth, naturally, gently, effieciently, and gracefully.
First, learn to run, with the full benefit of precise feedback from your BARE soles, and allow them to teach you HOW to run gently.
Second, if you want to run on extreme surfaces, wear the minimalist footwear. But, if you have truely mastered running barefoot, you’ll find that protection is completely unnecessary, and actually gets in the way of your actually running barefoot.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Andy is Insane!
Good luck to you Andy. You're one hell of a race director.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Clinton Lake 2010 Race Now 50% Full
Another thing to watch out for when you run the Clinton Lake trail this time of year is deer hunting. This is the season to wear brighter colors and keep an eye on the few gun days (archery season is already open, but doesn't seem as scary or dangerous for the runners). Here are the firearm dates:
November 20-22
December 3-6
(Muzzleloader only is Dec. 11-13)
December 31-January 3
January 15-17
Personally, I would avoid the dates that have firearms going off on the trail! Some of these dates have restrictions on trail use too.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
11 Slammers Start, 11 Finish
I'll have a race report later, but it was a wonderful day for running. The trail was soft, but not muddy. The weather was almost perfect...nice and cool, partly sunny, and only a hint of a breeze. Many runners started with light jackets, gloves, and hats, but most tossed those aside after the first 8-mile loop. One crazy guy even got rid of his hat, gloves, shirt, vest, shoes, and socks...just so he'd have a "cool" finish line photo as he sprinted barefoot to the finish! I was that crazy fella, so I couldn't take any photos of that mad dash...looked like a couple folks at the finish area captured the moment. I'm sure I'll be blackmailed to keep them off the internet.
UPDATE: The Farmdale results are posted and I have updated the final Grand Slam standings.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
2009 Grand Slam Finishing Up
Best of luck to all 11 Grand Slam contenders. Hope you have an injury-free and pleasant run at Farmdale. After rain much of this week, the weekend weather looks to be cool and clear.
A special thanks to Adam Zimmerman for organizing the Grand Slam prizes this year. And everyone should be appreciative of the four race directors that make this possible: Andy (McNaughton Park), Larry (Rock Cut Hobo), Dave (Farmdale), and Chris from Clinton Lake (that's me!).
Friday, October 9, 2009
Barefoot Division for Clinton Race?
I posted to the Google minimalist runner group and received a lot of support and comments regarding having a barefoot division for a race. I don't know of any trail ultra that has such a division. I think there are a couple road races that have such a division. I would need to check with the race insurance company to verify that no rules are being broken. Policies often have restrictions like no dogs, no headphones, no strollers, but I've never seen a restriction on "type of shoes" or requirement for shoes. Hmmm...
I've been running a lot more in my Vibram Five Finger shoes and I love them. Occasionally I also go completely barefoot. The new gravel and rocks on my local trail make the barefoot running a lot harder than before, but it's still possible. I can tell my feet are stronger than they were just 3 months ago. My running has been fairly slow and easy, but I'm feeling good. Once I add a few more long runs and a little speed to my workouts, I'll be set for the fall racing season. I hope to complete a full trail ultra in my Five Finger shoes next year. Maybe a local 5K road race too.
So, think it would be cool to add a barefoot/sandal/five finger division to the Clinton Lake ultra?
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Clinton Lake Race 30% Full
Don't forget, if you miss the Clinton Lake race, you'll have no chance to do the Illinois Trail Ultra Grand Slam. Don't be left out of the Slam!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
2010 Clinton Lake Registration is Open
Earlier this year (on this blog) I elaborated on various changes I proposed for the 2010 event. Most of those are already set to go, but I'm still working on a couple. Please note that there is no early start option this year. The entire group goes off at 7:30am (instead of 8am) and everyone must finish by 4:30pm (instead of 4pm). That essentially gives EVERYONE a full 9 hours and an earlier starting time.
Looks like we'll still have an Illinois Trail Ultra Grand Slam...with the new "original" McNaughton Park trail race taking the spot of Andy's race. Same course, new director. Farmdale will also be under new directorship, but will remain in the Grand Slam. And Hobo 50K will keep Larry as RD and continue in the Slam. Don't forget that this blog has web links to the Grand Slam and all four individual races on the left sidebar.
PS: If your name is Christine Crawford or Logan Martin, you are not allowed to register online for the race...you'll get a paper form/waiver to sign and your full entry is free. You are the current race champions! It's a nice race perk for the male and female winners. Who will get into the 2011 race for free? It could be you!