beach run, bare feet and blisters

2012-12-29T21:03:00.000-06:00

Thursday's run may go down in history as the greatest run ever.

Or it will at least make it into the (imaginary) book of Sharon's Greatest Running Moments. ;)

I think it has something to do with THIS...

Leaving the land of humidity, rain and cloudiness and getting to enjoy this? Oh yeah!! Yep, I'm that girl who could live on the beach for the rest of forever. The beach is pretty much my ultimate favorite. And really, running in my favorite spot ever + breaking a record = one ridiculously happy girl.

After 2 unplanned days of rest, we were pretty much full of boundless energy. Ok that is a slight exaggeration, but we WERE ready for a hard, fast run! As you may have noticed in the latest poll around here, I've looked into minimalist/barefoot running, because I do feel quite a bit faster and lighter without shoes and my stride feels much more natural. I love being barefoot anyway and it's basically impossible for me to wear shoes on the beach when I can be feeling the sand and the water, so it was a natural decision for me to do the four miles sans running shoes.

I knew right away that it was going to be a good run. We were keeping up a pretty fast pace and I was feeling amazing. I ran right along the water and loved being able to feel the sand and surf under my feet, but around mile one I was starting to feel some serious calf burn. Then I remembered what I had read about running shoe-free...something about your muscles not being used to having to adjust to the new (shorter, faster) stride plus having to do all the work of the stability and everything all by themselves! Needless to say, I was probably doing too much too soon, but I was enjoying every minute of it.

At mile 1.5 neither of us wanted to turn around (though by then every step was hurting me pretty bad!) so we decided to go for 4 miles.

Mile 3 clocked in at...

32:23. With 4 minutes of walking (30 sec. every 0.3 miles), as always. That's a whopping 1:33 faster than my PR as of last post. My time was 36:01 about 4 weeks ago!!!

I was feeling pretty tired there at the end of the 3 miles, but as soon as I started walking I recovered pretty fast. That's when I realized that walking was an agony. I had gotten used to feeling the soreness in my calves while I ran, but walking made it hurt WAY more. And I'm pretty used to sore muscles. But this was crazy!

Still, believe it or not, running was easier than walking. After an easy mile to end up at 4...(two months ago there was no such thing as an easy mile, believe it or not)...I was feeling pretty incredible.

I ended up with a blood blister to show off from my barefoot run, and I've been walking something like this for the past two days, but I do not regret it ONE BIT! It was incredible run and I'm crazy shocked that I've shaved 3 and a half minutes off my 3 mile time in less than a month!! Woohooo!!!

Of course, it helps when you have some yummy post-run fuel, too... Though I am really looking forward to seeing how our running improves when we start eating clean after the holidays have officially blown over!

I hope to be able to get in a few more wonderful beach runs in the next few days! Prepare to hear about more records being broken!

-----
Have you ever gone for a run on the beach?!! :D

What is your opinion of barefoot/minimalist-shoe running? Who else has tried it?

And for fellow runners -do you have any tips on trying to function and maybe go for a run when your calves are so stiff you can hardly walk??
-- I've been stretching more than usual, and trying to walk a good bit even though it kills me. Any other ideas?

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!!!

and I thought last time was fast...

2012-12-20T22:13:00.000-06:00

I am absolutely LOVING this, y'all. Two and a half weeks ago my 3 mile PR was 34:56...

Today?

33:56.

Yeah, that's a full minute faster! There were about 5 minutes of walk breaks in there, but I am SO thrilled to be keeping a good 9:30-10:30 minute-mile running pace!

Different course than last time, with a couple killer hills which was tough, but it made it fun to race down the other side at a 6:00-7:00 and below pace! The faster I am running the more awesome I love it!!!! :) I think I'm getting hooked...

I hope you guys have a beautiful Merry Christmas!!! :)

------

How has your running been?
Who else has gotten a PR lately??? :)

Run With Your Heart ♥

2012-12-13T13:52:00.004-06:00

(download full-size?)

This helped me get through a really, really tough "I'm-dying" run. I love it. ♥

Run For Your Life: one girl's take on fitness, faith & family

beach run, bare feet and blisters

and I thought last time was fast...

Run With Your Heart ♥