Here are a few of my...running...things

I had no idea running barefoot on the beach could feel so natural.  I haven't run barefoot since I was a kid tearing it up around my Grandparent's home in Kingston.  Yes non-believers, I ran as a kid...mostly bugging my cousins and sisters. 

Since I started running barefoot on the beach that shear joy of running has returned.  After all these years of running...and the last 4 months off...I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to re-start.  The beach did the job.  I'm only up to running once a week and for really short distances so far but I  love it.

I shot this video last weekend because it captured 3 of my favorite things:  Beach, Puma's and Reggae Marathon.



Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Running clears the head

Forget drugs.  Running is the best thing to clear the head and rejuvenate the spirit.  And running on the beach early morning takes it to a whole new level.

Saturday morning was heavily overcast but I was determined to go for a run on Wasaga Beach.  Working back from the foot injury has been going well and I was eager to get out and do some barefoot running along the hard-packed white sandy beach just minutes from our house.

After slipping on the Puma Faas 500's and running down to the beach, I stopped for a few minutes to savor the absolutely fresh early morning air.  Stress...what stress?  Minutes later I was happily running barefoot with absolutely no pain.  I felt like a kid again.



I know I thought about lots of things but by the end of my run my head was absolutely clear.  With the Puma's back on the run back home was even more light and effortless.  I can hardly wait until next weekend.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Running: I complain about it but 'I CAN'T STOP!'

John Mazerolle in a recent article in Metro Toronto summed up the love/hate relationship most runners have about their running obsession: "I complain about it but I CAN'T STOP!" Metro - Don't do what Dippy did

I've been hobbled with a running injury for months now. Sally has completely tuned out my complaining. Every time I come back from a run she watches carefully for my hobbling. I can't complain, but I can't stop.

Recently I've began running barefoot. Here at Wasaga Beach we are blessed with miles of hard-packed flat sand. I run down to the beach in my Puma Faas 500's which are really comfortable and support the natural running style of forefoot running. Once on the beach though it's shoes off and full-on barefoot running.

The experience has been 'interesting'. No pain! Huh? How can that be? With regular running shoes the pain is unbearable...running in the Puma's and barefoot, no pain. If you know the science behind this, I'm listening...

I haven't pressed my luck however. I've only been out a few times and never back-to-back days. So far so good.  Sally likes that I've started running again...she especially loves 'no complaints!'

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

Can I really give up my running shoes?

One of my favorite books is Christopher McDougall's 'Born to Run'.  He details the running story of the Tarahumara Indians of the Copper Canyons in Mexico and how they seem born to run...without sophisticated footware.  But the best part of his book is how he postulates that human evolution in the early years was driven by our ability to out-run other animals.  We're not the fastest but we have the longest endurance.  Now, can I really give up my running shoes?



Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy