The Transition from Traditional to Original Running

To the left is a picture of the normal heal landing associated with traditional sneakers.

Below is a picture of the midfoot landing common to barefoot running, and shoes that copy barefeet.

As promised in my last post, I'll share the process I went through to transition from the traditional style of running to barefoot running. When I bought my fivefingers, the lady gave me specific instructions that I not go out and run 5 miles or anything crazy like that. I have to admit that doing that had crossed my mind, so I quickly tossed it out. She suggested I take it slow, walking around in them first, and then slowly building up my running capacity. I walked around the house briefly after buying them, but did not have much time to walk in them until our usual Tuesday night at Adam's parents. Gail and I have a regular tradition in the spring to take an evening walk on Tuesday's, which is usually around 3 or 4 miles. So that was my first experience with the komodo sport. I was amazed by the way my feet could actually feel what was under me. This might sound silly, but most people don't notice the stones under their feet on a dirt road with regular sneakers on. By the time I got back, I was excited and anxious at the same time to try them out running. Despite the advice to take about a week of walking first, I started running the next day. I only went a little ways, trying to figure out if I was supposed to change my form to midfoot landing, or if the shoe did that for me on its own. The first couple of days I wasn't sure. It was a combination, I think.

The one thing I was sure of after those first couple days was that my calves were killing me! Looking back, that just tells me that the process was in swing. Try standing on your tiptoes. Can you feel your calf muscles? Try running like that. Yeah. I'm not going to lie, it was strange at first. I went from a long stride to a shorter one, and to a completely different foot landing. It took several weeks before I felt really comfortable with the way I was running and how it felt. Part of it was training my brain as much as my feet. I will say that if you're running on a dirt road, you are going to feel the rocks. In general, its not bad. Right after they grade the road, not so much fun. The good part about this whole aspect, though, is that it teaches runners to be more aware of their environment and surroundings. If there's a big stone in the road, I either mentally prepare to land on it, or go around it. Either way, I'm not going to land on it unknowingly and sprain my ankle.

Its been a process. Its been a challenge. The verdict: I am extremely happy with my new running form, increased awareness, and tightened muscles! Yes, you do use different muscles when running this way. The effects are awesome :D

The Beginning of Freedom

Ending school and starting back up my blogging hobby required a change of scenery, and background. Some would accuse me, especially after considering my background choice, as being a shopping addict. That would be a relatively correct accusation. Paying my way through school the last 3 years has put quite a damper on that particular hobby. This is not to say that we weren't financially cared for. Adam's job does a good job of that. It just meant that those extra $$s that I used to have freedom to spend were sent in a different direction. So on and off, ok more on than off, I've been making a mental list of things that I'd really like to get once I finished school and had a little extra cash. As you can imagine, the list got longer and longer. It included new hiking shoes, possibly a new pair of Keens, or other shoes of choice, a new coach bag, and few other things. For those out there who make a hobby of looking for faults in others, you might call this a possession obsession, or love of money. I'm not gonna lie, I like to shop, and I like to buy things, but this particular buildup I justify as a reward for all of those months, days, hours, and minutes spent frying my brain on the computer. 

My recent freedom, or soon to be complete freedom from Kaplan's finance department has led to a rather giddy couple of shopping trips. The first was to invest in a new pair of running shoes. Those who followed my blog before the last interlude remember that I took up running a few months ago. The shoes I was using I've literally had since I was 14. They still have paint stains on them from my academy Guatemala trip, senior year. Needless to say, they are a little old and in need of replacement. Add to this the fact that my knee has been bothering me since I started running, I was quite ready to look for a new pair of shoes. 

My search started at one of the local stores in town. After trying on several pairs, and observing their limited selection, I went across the street to a different shoe store. There I found a wider selection. An add in a sports magazine opened my eyes to the concept of "barefoot" running. This concept seeks to go back to the way we were intended to run: without shoes. I'm usually game to try something new, so I asked to try a pair of Merrell Barefoot shoes on. I found that they were really comfortable. The lady then showed me another line of barefoot footwear, called fivefingers, by vibram. They are those funny shoes with cutouts for all of the toes. I was a little skeptical, but I tried a pair on. I was surprised by how comfortable they felt. I tried on a different pair and fell in love. This is what they look like. 

Yes, I know. They're funny looking. I get that. But I don't want to hear it until you try a pair on. It wasn't just the comfort I was sold on, though. The concept of barefoot running was also intriguing. These shoes get runners to land on their midfoot instead of the heal. This process strengthens the the foot muscles to be able to absorb the shock, so the heal and knee joints don't have to. This post has already become rather lengthy, so I'll save my experience with these shoes for later. :) 

As for my other shopping trips, I recently acquired the Merrell Barefoots that I originally tried on, more for walking than running, and a small coach purse, which was very reasonably on sale. :) With the shopping dragon fueled, I'm ready to enjoy our upcoming vacation. :) 

Enjoying the Freedom

Ending school and starting back up my blogging hobby required a change of scenery, and background. Some would accuse me, especially after considering my background choice, as being a shopping addict. That would be a relatively correct accusation. Paying my way through school the last 3 years has put quite a damper on that particular hobby. This is not to say that we weren't financially cared for. Adam's job does a good job of that. It just meant that those extra $$s that I used to have freedom to spend were sent in a different direction. So on and off, ok more on than off, I've been making a mental list of things that I'd really like to get once I finished school and had a little extra superfluous cash. As you can imagine, the list got longer and longer. It included new hiking shoes, possibly a new pair of Keens, or other shoes of choice, a new coach bag, and few other things. For those out there who make a hobby of looking for faults in others, you might call this a possession obsession, or love of money. I'm not gonna lie, I like to shop, and I like to buy things, but this particular buildup I justify as a reward for all of those months, days, hours, and minutes spent frying my brain on the computer.

My recent freedom, or soon to be complete freedom from Kaplan's finance department has led to a rather giddy couple of shopping trips. The first was to invest in a new pair of running shoes. Those who followed my blog before the last interlude remember that I took up running a few months ago. The shoes I was using I've literally had since I was 14. They still have paint stains on them from my academy Guatemala trip, senior year. Needless to say, they are a little old and in need of replacement. Add to this the fact that my knee has been bothering me since I started running, I was quite ready to look for a new pair of shoes.

My search started at one of the local stores in town. After trying on several pairs, and observing their limited selection, I went across the street to a different shoe store. There I found a wider selection. An add in a sports magazine opened my eyes to the concept of "barefoot" running. This concept seeks to go back to the way we were intended to run: without shoes. I'm usually game to try something new, so I asked to try a pair of Merrell barefoot shoes on. I found that they were really comfortable. The lady then showed me another line of barefoot footwear, called fivefingers, by vibram. They are those funny shoes with cutouts for all of the toes. I was a little skeptical, but I tried a pair on. I was surprised by how comfortable they felt. I tried on a different pair and fell in love. This is what they look like.

Yes, I know. They're funny looking. I get that. But I don't want to hear it until you try a pair on. It wasn't just the comfort I was sold on, though. The concept of barefoot running was also intriguing. These shoes get runners to land on their midfoot instead of the heal. 

End of One Chapter, Beginning of Another

Some people may not realize that I have been on a considerable absence from blogging for the past couple months, as I have not the foggiest idea how many people actually read my rambles. But for those of you interested in the events of my life, I just hit a mile stone: finishing college! That is not to say that there isn't more schooling in my future, but my first degree, a Bachelor's in Health Science - Nutrition, is complete. With the exception of a few discussion posts this weekend, I am a free women. I can hardly describe how liberating it feels. I spent my first couple of hours of freedom last night sitting on the couch watching a movie, something I have not had the leisure to do during the week in the a long time. I can now fully look forward to the rewards I have in store, a much needed vacation, and my long desired iPad. :D

This will be Adam and I's first real vacation since our honeymoon, so we are pretty thrilled about that. Even more exciting is the fact that we get to spend time with my family, something I absolutely love. Combine that with relaxation, hot weather, Disney, and outstanding food = an awesome vaca! Well worth the wait after a mind boggling last term of school.

I know I have a great deal more to say about things that have happened in the last couple of months, but for now, I'll leave it at being thrilled to be done, and ecstatic about getting away for a little while.....um, yeah, I guess I didn't really need to summarize, but its hard to get writing out of my head after spending a term writing several papers a week. ;)

Lesssons From the Snow

Last year I could totally relate to Jacki's sentiments about growing up and losing the child's sense of the term "snow day." Working for my Dad full time, I fully expected him to graciously allow me to escape the weather and stay home whenever we got a significant amount of snow. After the first few calls for "Take is slow, watch out for the crazy drivers," I began to realize I was a big girl now, and needed to get used to driving in bad weather. College at Southern my first year certainly didn't allow me to practice my winter driving. Last year I learned.

This year, with dismal hopes and the awareness that I really was in the "work world," I mentally prepared to face the blizzards in my little volkswagon bug. To my great surprise last week, I was told I better stay put, since we didn't have too much going on that day anyway. What wonderful news! It was all the more wonderful because I didn't expect it. I got oodles of fun things done I wasn't planning on having time to do. Figuring it was a one time deal, I savored it and moved on. Then today, with forecasts of snow, turning to freezing rain and ice, I got another call. Another unexpected "hurray!" I got some extra school work done, lovingly tended to my piano, and am taking a little break on here.

I think what I am learning from all of this is that is that I really am growing up. You'd think that at 21, married, and in my last year of college I'd have figured that out. Oh well, I don't catch on so quick. Even amidst this realization, God and my Dad gave me a few unexpected blessings. The real beauty is appreciating them for all their worth when they come.

New Side Job

Here's another one of those things I never though I'd find myself doing: being paid to be a church pianist. No, not in the Adventist church, clearly. Playing for our own dear church was something I never pictured doing as a kid either, but here I am doing that, and now I'll be playing for an Episcopal church as well. I'm not quite sure how it originally got started, but I have played for Episcopal church and Federated Church in Arlington as a sub when their organist couldn't be there. News travels quickly in a small town, and it soon led to me playing for the Arlington Elementary and High School, for their music concerts (A much greater pay I might add). It had been about a year since I had been asked to play for any of these place, though, when I got an email asking me to sub for the Episcopal church in Bennington, for their Christmas pageant. Another little side note about small towns: you see people you know everywhere. Sitting in the front row of that church during the pageant was my gynecologist! I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised, because she is our neighbor as well, just 2 houses down.

After playing for the pageant, I discovered that the church had been without an organist for months. This seemed quite strange, as most churches try to get subs whenever they are to be without music. Due to this interesting fact, the members were overwhelmed with gratitude after being without music for so long. The arrangements have thus been proceeding for me to be a regular pianist there 2-3 Sundays a month. This surprised me, as most churches prefer the organ. Be that as it may, they wanted me to do it, and I am delighted to oblige. A few more $s every month lessens the financial crunch my schooling creates. God is good. :)

The Beginning of the End

With the beginning of the new year begins my 2nd to last term with Kaplan. More than a little ecstatic about that! Not only will I have more free time when I am done, but my bank account can actually do some prolonged growing without monthly depletion! More than these things, however, I have begun to truly fall in love my degree. Too many terms were spent on courses all supplementing my core nutrition classes, and now that they are finally here, everything has come together. All of the interest and excitement I had during my first nutrition class at Southern and now intensified, as I learn continually more, and approach the time when I can put it all into practice. As to what I will actually end up doing when it is all said and done, only God knows. But as I strongly feel He led me into this profession, I also believe He will lead me to the right job when I am done. Until more news....