Sunday, October 16, 2011

A little bit different than most

It's funny that a year ago I didn't want to ever run a marathon. I enjoyed running but cycling was the only activity I would ever engage for more than 3 consecutive hours. Running hurt too much. No matter how expensive the shoe, running for me always lead to chronic injuries which wouldn't subside until I laid off the running for several days. Then I could run again; I could do 3 or 4 miles and be ok. But push 6 or 7 miles, and the pain would come back. So, I thought maybe I just wasn't built to be a runner. I was content to at least be a great cyclist. I could pass almost anyone cycling up hill. But deep down I wished I could run with the best of them.

Then I met an old wise man while climbing a mountain on my bike. We climbed along and got to talking and it turned out he was a newspaper writer and marathon runner and he told me I should read the book: Born to Run. He described it and I told him I thought I had heard of it, but I was mistaken (I was thinking about Way of the Peaceful Warrior which another friend had suggested. This turned out to be another very good book). This book changed everything. The promise of injury free running no matter how much you run. Really it's crazy. Really, it's true.

You should read and enjoy Born to Run yourself. It's a page turner and presents a new theory about humans and running. Central to the point is the idea of barefoot running, or at the very least, running in shoes, but with the same kind of motion you would use if you were barefoot. Therein had been my problem all along. My whole life, lacking a teacher to show me better, I was running in cushioned shoes and reaching my foot out in front of me as I propelled myself forward and landed on my heel. As I turned the pages of Born to Run it all began to make sense and before even my first barefoot run I was already certain that I would learn to run this way, and I would run a marathon and I would run injury free from now on.


I still sometimes like to run in shoes. They let me run down stairs and jump over stuff with a cushioned landing, but my style has changed. Now there are different pieces of technology I strap onto my feet for different occasions. If it's nice out, I'm putting on my Luna Sandals, the minimalist running sandals from Barefoot Ted, fashioned in Tarahumara style. If there is rain, or if it is cold, or if I will be running through mud, I'll put on my Vibram Fivefingers. And to make sure I'm running in with the best form that I can, every once in a while I'll carry the footwear in hand and give my bare feet some pure freedom.

I don't know about you, but there's nothing better for my own disposition than to keep an open mind, enjoy healthy food, and run every chance you get. Be a happy monkey and give it a try.


Saturday, October 15, 2011

Start

Well, this commences my foray into blogging, which I have put off for years. Though the thought occured to me to do it, I always shrugged it off as a waste of time. I've finally decided to chronicle my adventures because if nothing else I hope to inspire others to live their lives more openly and experience the love for life that I have found. Admitedly I have a self-serving reason for it. I have set some very difficult goals for myself and I don't really know if I can achieve them, and my hope is that by writing about it and sharing with others I will sort of meditate in a way, honing my determination to follow through and do what it takes. I know writing has a very special power and since finishing school, I have neglected it for too long. It's time to bring it back and this is a new beginning.

There is a very real and suprising fear that comes with the thought of doing what I am trying to do. It's a sort of internal war of self doubt, like these little demons are inside my head telling me I can't do it, or even if I can, it's too costly in every way and it isn't worth it. It's a self-defeating and disappointing feeling to accept that thought, and that's the kind of thinking which, if I had listened, I never would have done any of the things that have meant the most to me so far in my life. So I am not going to listen and I am going to do everything I can, including writing this blog, to defeat those internal "I can't" demons... I am going to POUND THEM INTO THE GROUND.

I regret not doing this sooner. There are so many things I have already learned on this journey that are worth sharing, but I will backtrack for bits and pieces along the way, since everything worth learning is always used again.

Let it be known that henceforth I am committed to these goals:

1) Qualify for and compete in the Boston marathon
2) Qualify for and compete in Kona IronMan World Championship
3) Complete the Western States Endurance Trail Run: 100 miles, 24 hours

And if I can do that, well then I have some even better ideas.