Be careful of the deal you make...

Yesterday, I made a deal with myself...if I can run 6 miles on pavement, and not get any blisters, I'll sign up and run a 9K road race on Oct. 30. Next time Imake a deal with myself, I think I need to be a little "less" specific.

This particular route starts out in an older neighborhood, then after about 3/4 mile, it crosses a bike/running paved path that continues on to the main trail system near the RiverParks. It's about 3 miles one way, or 6 mile round trip. I've run this route a couple of times, once in VFFs (that came off for the final two miles), and once where I turned around @ mile 2.

So I throw the leash on Zookie (my semi-faithful running companion) and off we go. And it feels GOOD! I'm thinkin', this is what bfr is supposed to be like! Sure it's taken me 6 months (and multiple blisters) to get here, but I'm runnin'! This obvious lasted for, oh, let's say from the end of mile one until about mile 2.5. Then I hit a 1/2 mile stretch of really rough asphalt. I don't know where the big steel rolling machine was when they were paving this part of the trail, but it wasn't on the freakin' trail!

I'm running/hobbling/jogging along thinking that this isn't much fun at all, when a guy passes me, going the other way, on a recumbent bike. I didn't move much to the right, and he didn't either, and I was so focused on my feet that I didn't remember that Zookie was on my left (and usually a little behind). Anyway, at the last second she jumps to her right, and in doing so knocks my left foot behind my right leg, I didn't trip, but I kicked my achilles tendon so hard that I cut the skin in two places (didnt' notice this until later though). I felt like I had two broken toes...dang, they hurt. Dog (Zookie) is looking up at me like "what the hell did you expect me to do? the bugger on the bike was about to run me down!"

Realizing that toes aren't probably broken, but the asphalt is still painfully rough, but just about 1/4 mile left 'til trail juncture. I was thinking "I can't believe my feet have gotten this tender in just a couple of weeks", 'cause Idon't remember them hurting this much last time I ran this stretch. Then it dawns on me that I haven't actually run this part of the trail barefoot before! My feet are feeling like they have been tenderized long enough.

Oh look, there is a grassy strip on the right, just before the trails join up. OH MY GOD!!!! MY FEET LOOK LIKE PINCUSHIONS!! I have goadhead sandburrs in/on both feet. And I'm not talking one or two. I'm talking 20ish in each foot. Felt more like hundreds in each foot, but Irealize that may be a knee jerk #, so I'll tone it down some.

To make matters worse, I'm now in full view of all other runners on the main trail, which is pretty busy on a Sunday afternoon. But I find myself with the age old bfr quandry, "How do I extricate myself from this situation, WITHOUT letting on how much pain I am in?" 'Cause we know we can't let the "shod set" see us having a barefoot issue!

Fortunately, that year of dog class finally paid off and I had Zookie do a "stand-stay" while I leaned on her to remove aforementioned "thorns-o-plenty". Finally get them out, run the last 1/8 mile to my turnaround, then have to go back through this whole mess.

I did remember not to step off the path in the grass (I may be a slow learner, but I'm not stupid!) and I was just hoping none of the goatheads had blown onto the path in my removal frenzy. Got past them, "gingerly" worked my way through the "textured ??" asphalt until it smoothed out.

Finished the run without any more "fun stuff". So, run is over, back of right leg is bleeding, bottoms of both feet have small blood spots from the stickers and bottoms are also "very" tender from meat tenderizing experience.

But NO blisters. Not one. Feet are tender as hell today. But no blisters. See, I said I needed to be less "specific" about my deals with myself. :) Well, 19 days to go before the 9K run. Wonder if I have time to get any "gravel bucket" training in?...

Comments

The things we do to keep people from confirming tha we are indeed idiots, or at least not right in the head. :p You'll do fine in the race though, I'm sure. You've already done more than the full distance after all.
 
Well...let's see. Ummm, thing is, when I go over 20, I have to start over (gotta say bfr has really helped with my counting skills), but when the smoke cleared, I was on 6. ;) So it would have probably been 6, 26 or 46. I'm reasonably sure it wasn't more than 46...but, I suppose...could be. :)
 
https://secure.leasticoulddo.com/store/product.php?productid=16197&cat=244&page=1 Maybe this could help.
 
see, that's what I like about the BRS...it is such an information resource! ;)
 

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