Zero Drop

     I have walked all of last year in my Altra zero drop shoes.  I covered about 200 miles of just walking in my zero drop shoes.  I spent all day at work on my feet in them.  In the summer I received a pair of Saucony zero drop shoes and probably ran about 50 miles in those.
     When I first started running I was told I needed support shoes.  I ran in a pair of Asics 2160's and Brooks Adrenaline.  These shoes were big and clunky.  The offset from heel to toe was 12mm.  Now after running for a few years I find those shoes offer too much support to my feet. So last year I ran in shoes with 10mm heel to toe drop.  I also mixed in the zero drops for walking and some speed work.
     I feel like this is the year for zero.  Zero drop that is.  With keeping my races to half marathons this is a perfect year to work on my form and speed.  Runners World has an article for those thinking about the transition.   Runners World has an article for those thinking about the transition.  Altra shoes also has a great guide on how to transition. 
     From now until April 5th my running journey will be attempting to complete a half marathon in zero drop shoes.  I want to get back to racing weight by dropping 10+ pounds. April till July 12th will be hills and speedwork.  July to August I will focus on tempo runs, attempting to set a half marathon PR at the Badgerland Strider Half.
     Join me on this journey to running and eating natural.

Till next run...

What to do in 2014

What happens on the days you run 13.1 miles but feel like you could keep going.  What if you set out to run 50k, just didn't have it and stop at 16.  After searching what to do for my running year the picture is finally becoming more clear.  Due to circumstances outside of my control I now have a better vision for 2014.  This year I want to give back to the running community.  I desire to keep running simple and primitive.
There is a certain thrill that is only found on race day.  It is injected in our veins and makes us run too fast at the sound of the gun and sign up for another race even though we swear to never do it again, EVER!
I love race day, but after reflecting on it.  I don't get it.  Why should I pay 65$ to run 13.1 miles in the woods.  I could run on the same trails any other day for free.  If I were to take that 65$ I could buy my own tech shirt, a case of beer, and a few boxes of cliff bars.  I would still have money left over.  Some say it is the lure of giving back to charity to enter a race.  I can donate 50$ to the charity of my choice and run my butt off 20 times around the block.  What about the shared experiences?  How many runners you know blog about it? Write about it on Dailymile or Facebook?  We are all connected via technology in greater ways than ever before.  There is something to say about personal contact with other humans from time to time, even the apes need it.  So the next time I am out for a run it may be a race.  If you are the guy in front of me I just may race you, yes on what you perceive as a "training" run.  However, it's my race day baby!  I don't want to be "that" guy that makes every thing a male ego competition.  I just do not get paying lots of money for an experience that I can make better myself.  Now there are some races that allow you to run on city streets that are normally closed to foot traffic.  I get that.  Signing up for a race can give us something to focus on and train for.  Races are great for that.
This year I am going to focus on being a pacer for two half marathons.  It is one way I can give back to others.  I will also be volunteering at the Ice Age 50.  The last two years I've sat at a road crossing, and I will be back at my post again this year.  In August the Triathlon Nationals will be in Milwaukee and once again I will help out with that.
I made a pact with my running buddy to not run any event over 13.1 miles.  Personally I want to run South Shore Half, and maybe the BLS half in August.  I may also add the Dances with Dirt in Devils Lake.  It is 49$ and a few hours drive.  I have not fully justified the total cost yet.  I know that for 51$ I can get a pair of trail shoes and run all summer long.  Until then I will run for what it is.  Moving my feet!

New Years Resolutions?

Every year when people wake up tired and hungover on this day hopes and aspirations of a better self awake too.
This year I do not have any concrete goals.  They are more approximations and guidelines.  As humans we all want to improve and better ourselves.  So in the spirit of improvement I desire to better myself.

Physically I would love to drop some weight.  Last year at this time I set a goal to get below 160 pounds and I did it for a few weeks.  As I sit and write this I am almost 20 pounds heavier.  I don't know how much I want to lose, but I know in peak form 165-168 pounds is a great racing weight.  I will not be in peak form till May or June, so I have some time.  Around Christmas time I let my self go and begin to eat like junk and run less.  This year the damage is about 15 pounds worth.  Last year I took a weekend in January to reset my body.  I ate juice for breakfast and lunch and a vegetarian meal for dinner.  I plan on doing it again this weekend.  I need to limit my intake of sugar and fatty foods.  I let myself get out of control over the holidays. This post is more of an awaking and confession of bad habits that need to get back in line.

Mentally, I suppose reading more would increase my mental fortitude.  Less television in 2014 would help.  There is too much on TV lately that is crap and awful to subject my children to.

Spiritually, I want to love more.  I wish to be an open and accepting person.  I want to help love people who need it.

All these are good things for the new year, but they are hard to measure.  That is why I feel like they are my guidelines for 2014.  I could say I will only watch 10 hours of TV per week.  What if I watch 11?  Will I be a failure?  I am not setting strict limitations because of a fear of failure, but because I become too legalistic.  I would log my hours spent and think about and plan my life around what I want to watch because I can only watch so much.  If I aim to lose 5 pounds by the end of the month I will weigh my self everyday and count calories like Scrooge.  These actions, all though good for myself, will be a living nightmare for my family.  I desire to live life connect to God and others in freedom.  I want my life to be marked with improvement and maturity.  But not at the cost of others.

Here is to a better 2014!

Obligatory end of year recap

As the end of 2013 draws near I look back on the running year.  Honestly I feel like my running year ended over a month ago.  But as I sit and think I found out, and soon you will too, they are two and the same.  My running year and 2013 as the same.  I know that may sound very logical, but the point I am making is running is my life and my life is running.  What happens in life effects running and my running sheds light into my life situations.  Some hard things happened in 2013.  Running helped me stay calm at times.  Other times I realized that running was labored because of the hardness of life.  But I was okay with this new found ideology, or so I now admit.  This month I have covered 14 miles.  I found that running helps you connect to yourself.  And if you want to call that selfish go ahead.  I would like to argue that getting to know myself better I have become a better person.  In 2013 I learned that not all will go the way you want it to, and that is okay.  I learned to cherish that what you do have.  I learned to love every mile, one day you may not be able to run even one mile.
Looking back there are some major things that got accomplished.  None of them were done on my own.  God was my help in time of trouble.  Many times I thought if I just worked harder a result would appear.  At times the results did appear.  But who was it that allowed it, God.  This is my view as a religious man.  Not all would believe this, I get that.  If you do, you understand that all is to God's glory.
I was able to run 50 miles.  Let me say that again because I still cant believe that.  I ran 50 miles.
in 2013 I was able to pace a half marathons.  I love the feeling of helping others.  And in the selfish sport where so much time is spent alone working on our bodies I was able to give back to the running community.  I also gave back by volunteering at the Ice Age races and the USA Triathlon Nationals.
Personally I officially set a PR in the marathon, half marathon, and 5k.  I was able to cover more than 1300 miles this year.  Most ever.  2013 was a good year for what I accomplished in running.  However life is more than running.  Running will enhance your life.  It will help you see life and appreciate it more.
I have no idea what 2014 will hold.  And I am okay with it.  No lie!

Winter Running.

It is that time of year once again.  And no I am not talking about Christmas and yule logs.  It is winter running time.  The roads are icy and the sidewalks snowy.  What is one addicted runner going to do?  If you are training for a spring marathon you need to keep the intensity up through the winter months.  Than means 15-20 mile runs in the snow.  Some people head indoors for three months and use the treadmill.  By March everyone is calling it the dreadmill.  I prefer to run on trails and occasionally at an indoor track.  Personally I cannot run on a treadmill I give those who can credit.
What I do to battle the snow and ice is screws in my shoes.  Some people use a product called yak tracks that attach over a shoe to give them added grip.  I prefer the grip screws give me.  Go to a local hardware store and ask for sheet metal screws.  I use #10 hex bolt that are 1/2 inch long.  If they are longer they may poke through the bottom of the shoe.  If they are shorter they may not grab in the shoe.  Use a screw driver or ratchet to tap them into the foam.  Where do you place the screws is a question I get.  I like to look where your current tread is worn down and place a screw there.  If the tread is worn on the bottom that is a frequent place your foot makes contact with the ground and would be a best place for added traction.  Divide the sole of the shoe into three sections that run from toe to heal.  Inner, Middle, and Outer edge.  Place two screws in each zone.  One towards the toe and the other towards the heal.  You can see form the picture below how I have placed the six screws.  If you have a forefoot strike place more of your screws under the forefoot where you will be landing most of the time when you run.  You will find that you can still take a fall even when running in screw shoes.  But I believe you will have better footing with screws.
Another way to deal with winter running is to not run at all.  But then what kind of running addict would you be?  Get out there in winter and run.  Bundle up you will be amazed at the places your feet can take you!