Why We Run

There are many reasons to run.  Some people even claim it's part of our DNA...we were designed to run and need to run to remain human.  To some degree, I believe that we were "born to run."  I'm thinking about the individual reasons why we run.  Any of these ring true for you?

Social Runner.  This person runs to meet fellow runners.  They want to chat, eat, and drink with others.  In general, they aren't trying to run the fastest, or the slowest, just enough to hang with friends...and make a few more friends.  They'll seek out group and club runs each week.  Solo runs aren't their forte.  Drinking beer might be.

Competitive Runner. They want to be fast...or at least faster than you!  And faster than they were last week or at their last race.  Personal records are important.  They track their PRs and try to lower them whenever they can.  They'll be on training programs to improve their racing times.  They'll hop on the track to run intervals.  They'll run with a group...to push the pace.  They'll run alone to test themselves.

Healthy Runner.  This person wants to be "fit."  They run to stay in shape, keep the weight off, keep the cholesterol levels in check.  They run to reduce stress.  Maybe they are running to be healthy and fit for another sport.  They might race a few times, but running is not their life.  If you are running to be healthy, you probably aren't running long distances or fast paces.  Moderation is the key.

Weight Loss Runner.  This person wants to lose weight and keep it off.  Running burns a ton of calories and can pump up our metabolism.  These people will likely run at a slow to moderate "fat burning" pace.  Weight lose can be a social thing too so these folks may find others wishing to lose weight and run together. 

Barefoot Runner.  Do people actually run barefoot?  Yep.  They think mankind was born to run this way.  We evolved to run...with our own bare feet!  While I'm heading in this direction, I'm not "one of them" yet. When I've met them (or read about them), they are pretty "down to earth" and friendly folks. Sometimes a bit too spiritual for me, but really nice.

Ultrarunner.  Do I need to cover this freak?  I'm one.  Enough said. Barefoot ultrarunner?  Come on, that's impossible!  Right???

Of course, you can be more than one kind of runner.  In some sense, I'm all of the above.  We all have different needs and running can satisfy many of them.  The main reason I'm posting this is to remind you, and me, that we run for various reasons and we should keep those reasons in mind.  You'll be happier, and a more successful runner, if you think about WHY you run and then try to arrange your runs to meet those needs.

If you enjoy the social side of running, then make sure you connect with other runners every single week.  Join a runnign club, do their fun runs, find a low-key 5K and race it...then meet new runners at the start and finish line.  Hang out and socialize.  You'll be happier.

If you are competitive, then dedicate yourself to an improvement plan.  Pick a race and train for it.  You'll be fitter and faster and happier if you are training and running faster. 

If you want to lose weight, then run easy every day.  Keep yourself in the aerobic fat-burning zone.  Add a few minutes to your runs so you burn more calories.

Running...it's all good...but some running is better than others...because it makes you happier.  Find your niche. So, why do you run?  Are you one of them ultrarunners?

June Races?

May is here and I have one major race: the CRUD 8-Hour Run on May 21.  They have a 24-hour event too, that's not for me this year!  I did the CRUD race last year and it was a blast.  Eight hours running through mud and water at Jubilee State Park outside of Peoria, IL.  Figured I should do it again.  Normally I do the Gnaw Bone 50K race which is one week before CRUD--it was tough to do both races last year so I cut Gnaw Bone and am concentrating solely on the 8-hour CRUD run.  Hope it goes well.  It's my only race in May...which brings me to the blog post title...what races should I do in June?

I already have the Kennekuk 5-Hour "fun run" on June 25, but I need a race too.  Looks like June 11 is a good race date with three races to select from:  Lake Mingo 7.1 Mile Trail Run (Danville, IL), Run Under the Stars 10-Hour race (Paducah, KY), and the inaugural Carmel Marathon in Carmel, IN (just north of Indianapolis).  When I planned my races for the year, the Run Under the Stars 10-hour event was on my schedule.  Seemed like a good training run for Howl at the Moon in August.  Now I'm thinking about the local Lake Mingo trail run. Short, close by, and cheap.  It'll encourage me to work on my speed the next few weeks...and the CRUD race will have developed my endurance.  Then there's that new Carmel Marathon--just a 2 hour drive to be part of the inaugural race.  Marathons can be good tests of speed and endurance.  So many choices, so little time!  If you were me, which race would you do?

My 5-Mile Barefoot Run

Today, May 1, is the first annual International Barefoot Running Day.  So I went for a 5-mile barefoot run.  Actually, it turned out to be a 5.25 mile run--5 miles barefoot on the trails and 1/4 mile walking barefoot on the paved bike path. It was one of my best runs ever.  Yes, best ever.  The day was perfect--58 degrees, sunny, with a slight breeze.  The trails were in good shape--still slightly muddy and wet, but generally soft and luxurious.  My feet craved the feel of the ground.  Some parts were soft and squishy, others hard-packed and rough. A few areas had gravel and were difficult to run across without a bit of pain...but still enjoyable.  Once I had a dandelion flower stuck between my toes...that won't happen with shoes! I had a smile on my face for the entire 5 miles.

One of the differences between running barefoot and shod is the relationship you have to the environment.  When I run barefoot on the trails, I am running in nature...not through it like I would with shoes.  I am part of the environment, not treading over it.  You feel "one with nature" as you trod lightly on the ground.  You notice the ever-changing terrain--mud, rock, sand, dirt, sticks, and clover.  You feel the warmth of the sun on the top of your feet and on the ground itself.  You immediately notice when you have entered shaded terrain...the cool ground wakes up the soles of your feet.  Upon emerging into sunlight again, your feet immediately feel the warm dirt.  Your body and mind are intimately connected to the landscape.  With shoes, unfortunately, all of these subtle cues are lost.  Shoes force us to run through nature, rather than within it. Deer jump off the trail in front of us well before we arrive...with bare feet, I get within 10 feet of many animals.  They sense I'm just part of the landscape. 

I'm currently lying on my couch typing this blog post with my feet up.  My toes are tingling.  My feet feel alive.  I'm still smiling.  Today was a great run.  One of my best.  Hope you can experience barefoot running too.  It may change your life.  If not, it should still put a smile on your face as you feel like a care-free 5-year old kid romping around the neighborhood.  When did you last feel like that?

If you want to learn more about barefoot running, check out one of these recent books.  I've own all three and they are very good.

Barefoot Running Step by Step (Barefoot Ken Bob and Roy Wallack)
Barefoot Running (Michael Sandler and Jessica Lee)
The Barefoot Running Book, 2nd edition (Jason Robillard)

I also own this book, but haven't read it yet:
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Barefoot Running (Craig Richards and Thomas Hollowell)

PS:  Running in "minimalist" shoes is not the same as running with bare feet.  Not even close.  I have several pairs of minimalist shoes, including 3 models of the Vibram FiveFingers, and I like them all.  Still, they are not the same as going bare.  Don't even get me started on the Nike Free line...they aren't even minimalist--way too much cushioning, not light enough, high heels, and restrictive toe box. If you cut off the heels like this guy did, it may become an OK shoe when zero-dropped.