The Booze Hounds Inc. Running Team

Run Like a Ninja

2009-11-10T14:15:00.007-05:00

Alternate titles for this post:
"Silent but Deadly," "Light in the Loafers"

There was one piece of advice I kept reading when I dabbled in barefoot running: Don't let your feet slap on the ground. Slapping equals too much impact, equals pain. In other words, Run Quietly.

November weather in Ohio is not conducive to running barefoot, so I have shelved that personal experiment until spring. However, just because I'm back to being a full time shod runner doesn't mean I have to abandon the lessons I've learned.

When I couldn't bear to go barefoot, I tried to make my running form and footfalls in shoes match that of when I ran without shoes. However, I soon learned that was difficult. Most modern running shoes are designed with a high heel, which forces your foot to land differently.

I became consumed with trying to land a certain way, forcing my form so that I felt tense and uncomfortable during my runs. After 10 months of injury-free running, I started to notice pain in my knees and other leg joints. Something was wrong, but I couldn't figure out what. But then I opened my ears.

My feet were clopping louder than a donkey's hooves, I noticed. Have you ever been told to listen to your body? Sometimes that means literally, listen with your ears. I could hear the bad impact of running.

An epiphany: Shut up, feet.

I don't need to land with a particular part of my foot when I run; I just need to land quieter, lighter. That is the true key to injury-free running. Diminished impact equals diminished damage.

Now when I run, I try to be as silent as possible. I try to sneak up on people. I imagine I'm a stealthy ninja gliding into a room to eliminate my opponent with an equally stealthy judo chop. Because you never hear the best ninjas coming. It isn't their strength or martial arts mastery or even the array of weaponry that makes ninjas so lethal. It's their silence that makes them deadly.

But sometimes, it just takes some wicked awesome choreography.

Failure to Suck

2009-11-09T11:36:00.005-05:00

After weeks of weekend ineptitude, I finally got my sorry rump a-running this past weekend. Twice, even. Hip-hip-hooray! I failed to suck at maintaining my mileage. I was even surprisingly fast.

My pace has been somewhere around 8:45-9:15 minutes per mile in the past few weeks. On Saturday afternoon, I set out for a brisk four-miler, attempting to really push it faster. My upper thighs were barking by the third mile. Apparently, they had lost their holiday cheer. I finished with a decent 8:45 pace, but far from the land speed record I was sure I was breaking.

Sunday's eight-miler was a whole other story. This was my first long run in a month. I figured I'd start slow and finish as fast as I could. I expected somewhere around 9:30-10 minutes per mile. I hit my first mile at 9:03 and felt good. Then I kept getting faster.

My thighs were barking again by the fourth mile, but my pace was not suffering. During the seventh mile, I even slowed down to talk to The Enthusiast, who was out for her first five-miler, but I still managed an 8:23 mile (the same speed as my sixth mile). I crushed the eighth mile at 7:51 for an overall time of 1:06:42 (8:20 per mile).

Nothing like a strong long run to get me motivated again. Now let's see if I can keep it up.

Flashback Friday: Good Tidings to You

2009-11-06T13:42:00.003-05:00

I'm in the spirit, and the spirit's in me! November marks the introduction of Great Lakes Christmas Ale for the season. This tasty beer keeps us warm and drunk through the bitter cold season in Northeast Ohio. This one pictured here is my first taste of the season. It also caused me to miss my Thursday night run. My winter--yes, I said, WINTER--maintenance plan need a firm reworking. This just isn't happening.

Back Talk
Wherein failure gets some extra attention.

RazZ was not too happy to see my Failure to Launch was not the one he'd hoped for: "Damnit ... I thought this post was going to be a review of a Matthew McConaughey movie. How disappointing."

Answer: Blame TBS for playing that movie incessantly instead of reruns of Seinfeld and forcing me to other channels. You'll have to get your McConaughey fix elsewhere.

BrianFlash is amazed how simple math can enhance my monthly recap: "Love the precision on the average pace calculation. And this from a Garmin hater!"

Answer: And the cost? Priceless.

Happy Hour is nearly upon us, teammates. Have a finely brewed weekend. Run well and drink well. Cheers!

Fall Back: Goodbye, Daylight

2009-11-03T13:12:00.002-05:00

This past weekend, we in Northeast Ohio (and other compliant states of America) got tired of the long days and stopped saving daylight. We subtracted an hour of daytime from our evenings and put it in the mornings, where people like me won't see much of it. Thus begins the pale season, where Vitamin D deficiency and Seasonal Affectation Disorder reign supreme.

My first run of November was an easy three-miler, but the darkness, fallen leaves, and uneven sidewalks and pavement made the outing more exciting for its prospect for peril. No bloodshed this time.

Failure to Launch

2009-11-02T12:02:00.003-05:00

Everything was going just fine last week for the launch of my winter maintenance plan. Just fine, until the weekend.

My weekend running has taken a major hit since the Akron Marathon. The last time I ran on a Saturday or Sunday was Oct. 10, and that was only four miles. My last run of any distance was Oct. 4, an eight-miler. I guess it's no surprise that October produced my lowest mileage since January.

Here is October's statistical rundown:

Total Miles: 50 miles (13 runs)
Highest Weekly: 12 miles
Average Weekly: 12.5 miles
Average Pace: 9:59.676 per mile
Longest/Fastest Run: 8 miles, 9:03 pace
The Monthly Dif: -87 miles (137 miles in September)

Witness the post-marathon doldrums. Push back that maintenance plan a week and try again.

Ever tried.
Ever failed.
No matter.
Try again.
Fail again.
Fail better.
--Samuel Beckett

In other news, an American won the New York City Marathon. Meb Keflezighi (gesundheit) finished in 2:09:15 to become the first American man to win the race since Alberto Salazar in 1982. If you want a more nuanced breakdown of the race, visit The Science of Sport.

Flashback Friday: Don't Get Tricked

2009-10-30T13:07:00.003-04:00

I'm sitting here, sweating at my desk in my recession chic costume: a disheveled suit, mismatched shoes and a crushed fedora with a sign that reads "Will broker sub-prime loan for bailout."

For Halloween I decided to be one of those dastardly bankers who helped shape our current economy. I dreamt it up this morning because we were allowed to either wear a costume to work or dress up for an office visitor. Make sense of that one.

I'm ready to go home now and drink some pumpkin ale and spiked spiced cider.

Back Talk
Wherein we go back to the future.

Mike suggests the leaf that I slipped on thought I looked like George McFly: "That was the leaf telling you, 'Why don't you make like a tree, and get outta here?'"

Answer: That explains why I almost Biffed it.

Happy Hour is almost upon us, teammates. Have a finely booed weekend and good luck to any racers out there. (Go Ryan!) Run well and drink well.

Tricky, Slicky Leaves

2009-10-29T10:20:00.005-04:00

The ever-present maples, buckeyes and walnut trees are blocking out less of the typically gray (except for today's) skies. Yes, we have autumn around here, and that's a fact. We of the deciduous trees must now contend with the treachery of fallen leaves.

Just last night, as I was trawling through a hilly neighborhood on a new four-mile route, I planted my stump on a bright orange leaf of no discernible origin (if only I were a dendrologist!), causing my foot to slide dangerously back and to the left. I imagined bits of brain and skull scattered about on the brick paving. Those wet leaves could kill.

Octobernightrunfestbratwurst

2009-10-27T14:37:00.004-04:00

A little dillydallying last night and -- p00f! -- my daylight was gone. For the first time in what is soon to be a regularity this season, I had to don my trusty Reflecto-Vest or suffer at the fenders of some oblivious driver. My own lack of vision caused me to adopt as best I could the barefoot running style I have been honing to account for the uneven sidewalks in my neighborhood and those surrounding. This new high-kneed approach should hopefully prevent the kind of faceplant I enjoyed last autumn. Upon my return home, I flung a couple Octoberfest brats (one of four varieties of encased meats from Gibb's Butcher Block) on the stove for dinner, with a spinach salad and a Yuengling Porter to round out my meal. We've officially switched from training runs to don't-get-fat runs.

Flashback Friday: Maintenance Work Ahead

2009-10-23T13:30:00.004-04:00

Coming off consecutive weeks of 10 miles or less per week (i.e., 10 miles, then three miles), it's time to get back into a good routine as winter approaches.

In the cold and snowy months, I typically ran with no plan. This year, however, I need to maintain a solid base mileage so I can be ready to start training for the Cleveland Marathon in late January (the race is in May).

My Akron Marathon training was such a success, that I have extracted first four weeks and repeated them over the course of the next 14 weeks. Instead of track work, I'll run more hills and trails to keep my legs strong. My tempo runs will be my only form of speed work until I resume marathon training next year.

Weekdays

Mondays: 3 miles, recovery pace
Wednesdays: 4 miles, hills/tempo
Thursdays: 3 miles, easy

Weekends (Total Weekly Mileage)

Week 1: 4 miles, 8 miles (22 miles)
Week 2: 5 miles, 10 miles (25 miles)
Week 3: 6 miles, 12 miles (28 miles)
Week 4: 7 miles, 14 miles (31 miles)
Wash, rinse, repeat

If the temperature is above 45 degrees on a Monday or Thursday, I'll attempt a barefoot run. If not, Sun Runner and S both sent me the same link about homemade minimal shoes to help me run barefoot in colder temperatures. I had a similar idea, only using duct tape as the sole material. I'm probably too lazy for either idea.

Balk Talk
Wherein seeing me at your local pub is probably more likely than you seeing me on a treadmill this winter.

Carolina John and I had a ~~near miss~~ full miss encounter while I was quenching my thirst near his new digs: "Very cool! I was just at the Flying Saucer in Raleigh last Thursday night. It was my first time in there, I just freaking moved to Raleigh. Glad you had fun!"

Answer: You should have been there Wednesday night instead.

Spike is a little slow on the uptake when I say I'm going to shut down my barefoot running in the winter: "Does this mean we can look forward to a long winter of barefoot treadmill posts?"

Answer: You can hold your breath while you wait on me to run on a treadmill -- barefoot or not. While you're add it, hold your breath until I buy a Garmin.

Happy Hour is nearly upon us, teammates! Have a finely brewed weekend and good luck to all you racers out there. Run well and drink well. Cheers!

Politically Incorrect Summer

2009-10-22T10:56:00.003-04:00

Today marks the third day in a row of unseasonably warm weather, and according to Dick Goddard that means we're having an Indian Summer here in Northeast Ohio. Yesterday it was 70. A blissful, sunny 70.

But we all know this weather won't last. Mother Nature giveth, and she taketh away. And you know what that makes her, don't you?

You racists.

I took my soles to Sand Run for the first time and ran on pebble-ridden and twig-littered compacted limestone. I was hoping that the high temperature would mean that the ground would feel warm for a barefoot run, but it wasn't really. At all.

I can tell that my barefoot experiment is not long for this year, as the colder weather is making the acclimation process (i.e., foot detenderizing) more miserable by the day.

My form is improving. I'm getting better at landing painlessly and increasing my cadence. However, those chilled surfaces make me tense up, which is a no-no and a sure-fire way to hurt myself. It seems like the cold would numb my feet if the friction of running didn't keep them just warm enough to stay in that extra sensitive range where a stubbed toe would probably kill me.

I will run barefoot weekly as the temperature permits, but I don't see myself going unshod much below 45 degrees. So far, I've already achieved my goal. I found that mixing in barefoot running benefits my legs and adds variety to my running. I may have to shut it down soon, but I will restart the process in the Spring.

The Runs Were Not

2009-10-20T09:51:00.005-04:00

Amid driving east and west, north and south across the Carolinas, from the Piedmont to the mountains, from the forest to the beach, between banjo stores and beer joints, a craft fair and a wedding, I somehow forgot to run. Nope, not a single stride from Tuesday to Sunday last week. The only semblance of exercise were some seriously sweet moves on the dance floor after I delivered a tearjerker of toast.

To make up for my week of sloth, I bundled up last night for a shoeless run through my neighborhood. However, this neighborhood route calls for running a long stretch on sidewalks, which suck sweaty mat-haired balls to run on with bare feet, I learned.

I made it about a mile before I turned tail and ran back home for my T6 Racers. The next three miles were much more comfortable--and about two minutes per mile faster.

Two lessons learned about going barefoot:

My feet still need to toughen up
No more sidewalks

A Powerful Thirst
I'm still debating whether to write up a review of the local watering holes I visited and the regional beverages I drank. But for now, I thought I'd share a quick and mostly complete list of both.

Establishments:
Flying Saucer (Raleigh, N.C.)
Dugan's Pub (Brevard, N.C.)
Village Wayside (Asheville, N.C.)
Blossom Cafe (Charleston, S.C.)
McCrady's (Charleston)
Henry's (Charleston)

Beverages:
Black Forest (draught)
Hell's Belle Belgian Blond (six pack)
Highland Gaelic Ale (draught)
SweetWater 420 (draught)
Biltmore wines (tasting)
Gateway Kolsch (draught)

I appreciate those of you who suggested some places to go on my southern journey. I didn't have much opportunity to check the comments after I left, so I'll have to put those places on a list for next time.

Someone mentioned Jack of the Wood in Asheville, which I have been to but didn't have a chance to revisit. My buddy (the newlywed) and I stumbled in there a couple years ago and caught the now defunct Old-Time band the Forge Mountain Diggers, whose fiddler and guitarist went on to reform the Freight Hoppers.

Flashback Friday: I'm the Best Around

2009-10-16T13:07:00.004-04:00

As you know, I'm somewhere deep in banjo country, drinking beers, touring the Carolinas on the run, and running afoul of the local customs.

In a few short hours, I'll be soaking in the hooch as I prepare to act as best man for my oldest friend's wedding tomorrow. You can imagine something to this effect:

Back Talk
Wherein I ridicule your comments from afar.

Spike is totally jealous of my painfully tight abs: "Were you doing sit-ups while eating cookies, because that would be the second most awesome think you have ever done."

Answer: I did not realize I had done something awesome previously.

Gin, Ms. V and Jess were all duped by my post last Saturday: "ZOMG!!!1! You graced us with your presence on the weekend???!!ZOINKS!?"

Answer: Someone has to think about the nerds who surf the information super highways on their off days. It's called a scheduled post: pre-written and post-dated. Just to clarify, I wrote this post on Monday.

Happy Hour is nearly upon you, teammates. Have a finely brewed weekend and good luck to all you racers out there. Run well and drink well. Cheers!

We the People Don't Measure Up

2009-10-14T13:00:00.000-04:00

It seems I'm always reading about how the United States doesn't measure up well with the rest of the world. We're not smart enough or too fat. And now reader Jerry sends me this piece of news that we can't even drown or mediocre tears in our beers at a high standard. The United States ranks a sorrowful sixth in the world with 4.4 bottles of beer per person per week. Thankfully, my German and Scotch-Irish heritage improves my personal beer quotient.

For Relaxing Times ...

2009-10-13T13:00:00.002-04:00

Exhibit: Simpler Times Lager
Origin: Minhas Craft Brewery, Monroe, Wis.
Stats: 6.2 percent ABV

Simpler Times Lager is brewed by Minhas Craft Brewery for Trader Joe's grocery store. Where I live, a six-pack of cans is $3.99. You might be saying, "Cans? Only piss beer comes in cans!" Not so. There is a little revolution in the craft brewing world where canning is the new black.

The theory goes that modernday cans don't leave the aluminum flavor that your dad's canned beers did, and canning is a much cheaper process than bottling. Some well-respected microbrewers are turning cans to provide their drinkers a cheaper buzz.

I've never tried any other Minhas brews, but the company slogan is "Damn Good Beer!" I like their swagger. However, Simpler Times Lager won't blow your doors off with its damned goodness.

It's still a light-flavored lager, but it's very drinkable. It's the kind of beer that goes well with a pizza pie. The flavor is slightly sweet and, as the label says, very simple. However, it packs a heftier punch than the other swill you might pick up at the same bargain basement price. And we all know I'm a sucker for decent, cheap beer. As one reviewer called it, Simpler Times is "recession chic."

Simpler Times is also available as a pilsner, with around 5 percent ABV, but why bother with such a weak alcohol content? Doesn't seem worth it to me.

The main problem with the beer is its exclusive location. The closest Trader Joe's to me is a good 45-minute drive. I just happened to be in the area shopping for a wedding gift. If you're in the area of a Trader Joe's and you're looking for something cheap to send you on your way to Blackout Island, pick up a couple sixers of Simpler Times Lager.

In Absentia

2009-10-12T11:00:00.003-04:00

Team BHI is going on a field trip. Team officials are headed southbound toward the Carolinas for some much needed R-and-R. The Buzz Bus will make its first stop in the Durham area, a daylong sojourn to Asheville, and then finally down Charleston. There will be plenty of boozing, and there will even be sightseeing on the run. All of which means, I will not be online the rest of the week after today.

But fear not, drunken teammates. I will still entertain you through the miracle of pre-written scheduled posts, like this one. (You thought I'd bother writing on the weekend? Fooled you!) I will return next Monday.

Meanwhile, if you have any suggestions for places to run and drink in those locations -- specifically, Durham, where I'll be spending most of the week -- please let me know.

Enjoy your week. Catch you on the flip side.

Hangover Helper

2009-10-10T08:00:00.003-04:00

I'm still not advocating that you try barefoot running, but if you were so inclined, Southofthecliff provides a couple video tutorials on how to look and sound. At any rate, shod or unshod, a Saturday morning run is a good way to sweat out the damage you did last night at Happy Hour. Then you have all day to get drunk and root for your favorite college football teams. O-H!

Flashback Friday: Barren without the Track

2009-10-09T12:48:00.006-04:00

It was much easier to post on Fridays when I had my track sessions and I could just mail it in. Instead I'm feeling the pressure of a strong followup after I made a big splash earlier this week with posts about going barefoot, my first barefoot run, and then not advocating that you go barefoot -- but also not advocating that you shouldn't go barefoot.

Hello? Did you guys totally ignore the part where I announced my next marathon?

In other developments: My abs hurt, either from doing situps too soon after running a marathon, running barefoot, or eating too many cookies.

Back Talk
Wherein you people get your overpriced synthetic socks in a bunch over someone going barefoot.

Jess shared similar concerns about my going barefoot as many other commenters (including the Al and The Enthusiast, which totally sounds like a sweet band name): "I like not having to worry about stepping on needles or some other crap like that ... shoes all the way."

Answer: I read (and watched) this very helpful posting from the New York Times' Roving Runner, who asked Born to Run author Christopher McDougall the same question. “I’ve got this special equipment I like to use,” McDougall said. “They’re called eyeballs. I see a rock, I just step next to it. There’s a lot less out there than you think.”

X-Country2 is not down with my frugal running habits: "Half the reason I run is because I love shopping for running apparel. I'll save elsewhere in my life."

Answer: And that's totally cool. I choose to save for life's big-ticket items ... like a new banjo.

Happy Hour is nearly upon us, teammates. Have a finely brewed weekend and good luck to all you racers -- especially those running the Towpath Marathon and the Chicago Marathon. Run well and drink well. Cheers!

Not One to Advocate

2009-10-07T12:48:00.008-04:00

Yes, I have tried barefoot running and will try it again soon, but I'm not about to tell you that your shoes are the devil. There are plenty of barefoot acolytes out there already doing that. My caveat for running is do what what works for me.

As I have said before, I started to run because I thought it was the cheapest option for a fitness lifestyle change I made in February 2006. My goals then, as now, were better health and fiscal responsibility. Despite some lapses into expensive technical clothing, I have tried to stay true to my financial motivations behind running.

I search for the lowest prices and I shun those who say I need to spend a fortune on a pair of shorts. I lost a lot of respect for Runner's World when its editors had such a hard time finding a running outfit for less than $100.

Sure, I buy light-weight, moisture wicking apparel, but I buy most of my gear from either Target or Joe's New Balance Outlet, where I can find almost anything for less than $20. I still wear cotton socks (if I wear socks at all), which cost less than $10 ... for six pairs. And they don't chafe because of the super high-tech design: they're seamless.

I made myself sick this summer buying an $18 Nike visor from Dick's Sporting Goods. I balked at the purchase a couple times and left the store empty handed, but after a few visits I finally decided to splurge.

I rail against Garmin not because I think such devices provide superfluous data, but because I think I can collect that data in a much cheaper way. I'm not willing to pay hundreds of dollars for something that tells me where, how far and how fast I ran.

I have used the same $25 Timex for three years. I map my routes with free online mapping programs like MapMyRun.com or trust in sometimes mismarked mile posts. Despite my frugal ways, I bet I'm every bit of a numbers geek as any overly gear-clad runner.

Shoes are the most expensive items I buy, but I try to limit my spending. I have bought only two pairs of running shoes at full price. I have sought discount prices ever since I got properly fitted for my last pair of full-price shoes.

For a while I admit I went a little shoe crazy. I acquired four pairs of shoes from August 2007 to September 2008. Two pairs were purchased and two were free as giveaways from running the Akron Marathon. But this year, I decided enough was enough.

I can't justify spending anywhere from $40 to $100 every 500 miles, as the experts and shoe companies suggest. I need to get more out of my shoes -- especially if I want to continue racing (another $20 to $90, depending on the venue and distance).

First, I ignored the mileage on my shoes. I am currently running on three pairs of shoes that collectively have 1,529 miles and counting between them, and that's after retiring one pair that started to wear through the bottom after 630 miles. With Bill Rodgers as my witness, I like that broken-in feel. These shoes got me through my strongest, fastest and most injury-free marathon training cycle. I no longer believe the hype.

Aside from those well-worn shoes, I now have two fresh pairs of soles I'm now running in. My new Brooks T6 Racers (10 miles), which were on sale at the Akron Marathon expo, and my bare feet (two miles), which were included with my birthday suit.

The minimalist trend in running shoes is something I can support because so far it has worked for me and if it continues to do so, it means I am staying true to my goals of a fit and fiscally healthy lifestyle.

I won't tell you to try barefoot running. But I will say, if you decide to try something new with your running, whatever it is, ease into it and progress with caution. Listen to your body and do what works for you.

Sip the Kool-Aid, but if it tastes funny spit it out.

I Will Not Abide Another Toe

2009-10-06T09:08:00.005-04:00

Did everyone in my neighborhood read my blog yesterday? My barefoot running debut was met with a parade of onlookers -- dog walkers, tubby children playing, yard workers, loiterers, miscreants and vagrants -- all of whom witnessed my first shoeless saunter down the avenue.

The pitter-patter of my size 11s (11.5-12 in shoes) turned many a head on my 20-minute run. One bearded weirdie working in his lawn cocked his head and addressed the other bearded weirdie running by, "How's it going?"

"Not too bad," I said as I chuckled at the curious tone in his voice. I could hear the whispers after I passed.

Oh yes, running barefoot attracts some interesting responses.

Just the mere mention of going shoeless stirred up a cacophony slurs in yesterday's comments. The shod hurled verbal stones at the unshod in hopes of bruising their metaphysical soles. The barefooters -- well, barefooter, actually -- slung mud back at the closed-toed. The encamped runners toe their respective party line. "You're doing it wrong," both groups say.

Tone it down, people. I piss the farthest on this site.

Running barefoot is an odd experience. At first I was tentative. I had to keep telling myself to relax. My feet went, flap-flap-flap-flap. And my mouth went, "Eep! Opp! Orf! Ah-ah!" I kept waiting for my feet to numb, but that never happened.

My first time out, I encountered many obstacles in the road. I skirted around glass and a piece of fender. I danced around twigs and pine cones. But despite my best efforts, I still landed hard with my heal on a pebble. Today, my feet feel like two schnitzels, pounded flat and tender.

Although I only ran for 1.8 miles, my legs felt tired and shaky in places where they don't normally. Little muscles around my knees buzzed with effort. My calves especially feel like they got a workout. I will definitely give barefoot running another try, but next time maybe I'll try something other than asphalt.

In an odd bit of coincidence, my Runner's World arrived yesterday. I flipped it open after my run to find a feature called "How it Feels to ..." about such varied running experiences like breaking a world record, racing in a costume, and of course running barefoot.

The magazine showed Ken Bob Saxton of RunningBarefoot.org, who said when he encounters something sharp like a pebble, "I relax and let my foot mold around the object." Ah-ha! That's what I did wrong. Not enough molding.

The Next Thing

2009-10-05T15:36:00.004-04:00

I'm still hungry.

This year has been a revelation. I have run farther and I have run faster than ever before. But I want more.

So what do I do now?

I am still beyond the four-hour barrier, onward swims my white whale. If it were not for a wedding, I very well might have signed up for the Columbus Marathon. But alas, it was not meant to be. Instead, I will return to Cleveland.

In years past, I ran the Cleveland Half Marathon, but I didn't this year because of financial circumstances. To make up for my absence, I shall run two halves in 2010. And yet again, I will be looking for that sub-four performance.

But what shall I do until then?

Autumn has arrived in Northeast Ohio. The weather has cooled significantly. Excepting today, this week's weather forecast calls for cold rain. That rain will turn to snow in no time. My body feels a bit worn down after an eight-miler on Sunday, and I feel the slight tickle of potential H1N1 in my throat. All of which gives me an idea: let's run barefoot!

I've been consulting with southofthecliff, who just wrote maybe the most brutal race report ever, and he says the best way to get started with shoeless running is to go out on a rest day. Normally, I would have run three recovery miles today. Instead, I'm going to take a lap or two around my block and dirty up my soles.

If this experiment succeeds, I hope to add one day per week of barefoot running to complement my training. I'm not ready to sacrifice my soles to the Shoeless Society quite yet. Besides, I just got a new pair of racing flats. And besides besides, if you think I'm running barefoot when the snowflakes come, you're just dumb.

Flashback Friday: Pre-Race Omen

2009-10-02T09:21:00.005-04:00

Last Friday was the day of the Akron Marathon race expo, where I nabbed some nifty knickknacks. I took a half day off work because that night I was inexplicably going to a high school football game and otherwise would have been strapped for time.

During half time of the game, the visiting team's marching band played a mix of tunes that apparently high schoolers only recognize from something called "Guitar Hero."

The band started strong with a Bon Jovi medley of "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Living on a Prayer." (I'm ignoring the very recognizable, post-Bad Medicine song they mixed in because give me a break that's not Bon Jovi.)

They played some newfangled rock and roll song I didn't recognize. And then they played a certain Journey song, which I took it as a good sign at the time. But looking back, maybe the uneven rendition of the song was an omen to my pacing.

The home team's band was way more entertaining.

Just Asking
Did someone run over Vanilla with a slow-moving vehicle? Seriously, where has that guy been?

Back Talk
Wherein we find joy in anatomy.

Meg Runs, much like everyone else, finds happiness in my blog: "So happy I don't have to worry about shrinking scrotums."

Answer: Expanding scrotums can be just as bad. You could trip!

Happy Hour is almost upon us, teammates. Have a finely brewed weekend and good luck to those of you with races. Run well and drink well. Cheers!

Getting the Cold Running Clothes Out of Mothballs

2009-10-01T08:53:00.007-04:00

September receded into the scrotum-shrinking breeze with a brisk three-miler last night. Northeast Ohio offered its first frost warning of the new season, which meant I had to bundle up for my run with a long-sleeve technical shirt, my ultra-light windbreaker, and shorts.

Here is September's statistical rundown:

Total Miles: 137 miles (20 runs)
Highest Weekly: 43 miles
Average Weekly: 32 miles
Average Pace: 9:16.57 per mile
Longest/Fastest Run: 26.2 miles, 9:21 pace
The Monthly Dif: -29 miles (166 miles in August)

This month featured two races, the Buckeye Half Marathon and the Akron Marathon, which you may have already heard about. September was a good month, but now it is over. Welcome October, ye of no planned races and holiday of mass consumption. I like you already. Cheers!

Marathon Recover PR

2009-09-30T15:21:00.003-04:00

This training cycle, I completely bought into the recovery run. The day after every long run, I ran three easy miles followed by two rest days. So, sticking to the pattern, I went out for a run the day after the Akron Marathon in my new shoes and took Monday and Tuesday off. My legs were sore Monday. My legs were sore yesterday. Today, there is not a trace of soreness in my legs.

This is the fastest I have healed from a marathon. I can't wait to run tonight.

Thoughts are percolating. Coming soon, I'll fill you in on what's brewing for Team BHI in the coming months. Cheers!

I Ran the Akron Marathon and All I Got Was This Stupid 18-Minute PR

2009-09-29T09:17:00.011-04:00

The Akron Marathon is over. Now, let's look at all the swag and whatnot I raked in this weekend.

First, of course, is the medal.

I was actually a bit surprised to see the medal at the finish. Someone told me that they weren't giving away medals this year, but hats instead. This 2009 medal will probably replace the 2008 medal as my rearview mirror fob.

But we did indeed get hats.

The hats I believe actually replaced the long sleeve technical shirts that I've gotten the last two years. It says "Finisher 26.2" on the back. It's an OK hat. I don't know if it'll replace my other running hat. Maybe on really hot days.

And check out this sweet jacket.

I have lamented that Brooks was not giving away shoes this year, but I do like the jacket. In fact, I'm wearing it right now.

Speaking of shoes ...

Behold! the Brooks T6 Racer. I spied these at the expo, and I couldn't pass up the price. I've been thinking about getting minimal shoes for a while now. I took them for a spin at recovery pace on Sunday, and they feel pretty darn nice. They're as light as Champagne bubbles. Now, I just need to find another race ...

In addition to the above, my subscription to Running Times will be renewed for another year. Or until Rodale folds it into Runner's World.

All in all a pretty good haul. Cheers!

Race Report: Some Will Win, Some Will Lose

2009-09-28T09:41:00.006-04:00

Ten seconds per mile. That's all I needed.

My negative split plan went all weird after the fourth mile of the Akron Marathon. I told myself to stay patient, don't panic. But I hit the 10-mile mark too fast. My 20-mile split was right on target, and I stayed confident. I told myself to hold on. However, as the final 10-K went uphill, my performance went down hill.

First 10 miles: The plan was to start off with 9:21-9:26 mile pace and hit the 10-mile mark between 1:33:30 and 1:34:20. I knew my first mile or two would probably be slow because of the crowd. I lined up about 30 feet behind the four-hour pacer and planned to stick close to him until things settled. My first two miles were 9:30 and 9:35, but I didn't panic. I just kept close to the pacer and hoped he would help me make up time.

Mile three was 9:59, and I was starting to get antsy. The pacer walked through the next water stop, and I passed him. I heard him say he was 18 seconds behind pace. I tried to keep my pace even and waited for the pacer to retake me, which he did about five minutes later. My fourth mile shocked me: 7:42. I still don't think I was running that fast, and I wonder if the course was a little mismeasured here. Regardless, I tried to back off.

My next mile was 9:18, closer to my goal, but that's as close as I got even though I had let the pace group open a significant gap. I hit the 10-mile mark at 1:31:38, right at my marathon goal pace. Don't panic. I calmed myself by thinking of all your comments, that I was so ready that I wouldn't have to log too many 9:20-ish miles. The clock was almost right at my goal time, so I thought maybe I'd beat four hours gun time. That would be cool, right?

Second 10 miles: The plan was to pick up the pace to 9-9:10 per mile and hit the 20-mile split between 3:03:30 and 3:06:00. Mile 11 contains the demonic Howard Street Hill. I've tried every which way, including loose, to approach to this hill. I don't have an answer for what works. That mile was 9:01, so I backed off and ran the next mile at 9:22. I repeated this pattern -- 9-ish mile, 9:20-ish mile -- for most of the next eight miles.

I made it through the lonely stretches of the Towpath and the difficult uphills of Sand Run (where my legs seized on me last year). I knew I was struggling a bit, but I was relieved to see the clock read 3:03:52 at 20 miles. I was still on target with 9:12 per mile, despite the positive split. Hold on to that feeling.

Final 10-K: The plan was to run all out to finish in less than four hours, which meant 57:07 or less. I didn't get off to a good start, logging the 21st mile at 9:23. It only got worse as I trudged up the Bastard Garman Hill. By the top of it, I had logged my first mile over 10 minutes. I recovered slightly for a 9:25 mile, but then fell off again for a 10:29. A new pattern. An unfortunate pattern.

I already knew I wouldn't make it. I would have had to cover the next 2.2 miles of rolling hills in less than 15 minutes. I grit my teeth and pushed on. By this point, I was audibly talking to myself between grunts: "Come on! ... Go legs! ... Don't stop!" I had no gears left to kick in. I covered the final 10-K in 1:00:55.

The clock read 4:06:xx when I crossed the finish line. My chip time was 4:04:xx. A very significant PR by 18 minutes, but a frustrating 10 seconds per mile too slow for my ultimate goal. Again, I succumbed to Start Too Fast Goblin.

I didn't achieve THE goal, but it's not the end of the world. That was my post-race beverage, along with a couple Duvels and some Sierra Nevada Torpedo.

Thanks Supporters
Thanks to all you imaginary friends in my computerwebs for cheering me on, reading my ramblings, and giving good and bad advice throughout my training. But most of all, thank you to those who were there in person.

I had great race day cheering sections, including my usual group of friends at the 23rd mile marker, my folks and other folks near the finish just before the turn into the stadium, and my biker companion who dropped Martini and I off at the start, cheered me on throughout the whole race, and had my post-race beverage on hand at the finish. It doesn't get better than that.