11.59 mi :: 03:16 hours :: 16:54 minute pace
Yesterday was not just my longest barefoot run but my longest run ever. It was tough, but I learned a lot.
Although my soles got beat up pretty good, I ran steady and solid. I was worried my feet would give out before my will, but actually my limiting factor was tightness in the lateral sides of both knees (esp. the left). I mentioned this to Barefoot Ken Bob who said to relax the knees! He suggested I move my hips forward so my feet fall below me, run as if following a line (not straddling it), and bend the knees more. As I adjusted my form the lateral tightness diminished. He ultimately said I needed to “fall” forward and let my knees acts as springs. As I trusted the process I felt myself surge forward as I let gravity do its work. A very Zen experience.
Unfortunately, I learned this lesson after I had put several miles of stress on the knees, so once I reached the Observatory (~8.7 miles) my knees were stiff. The descent down the trail was painful as I had difficultly bending my legs. Barefoot Ken Bob offered to pick me up from the Observatory after returned to his car. I got his phone number and said I'd try to hobble back but would call him if I couldn't go on.
After the excruciatingly slow descent, I walked the wonderful grassy medians all the way to Los Feliz Blvd, and then down the nice grassy easement down to Riverside Dr./Crystal Spring Dr. At this point I had enough and Barefoot Ken Bob helped me back to my car.
I didn't intend on going that far, but it was a real victory as I broke a psychological barrier. Had I known we were running to the Observatory from the Zoo side I would have declined.
The car ride home gave my knee time to cool off and really stiffen up. Probably too much, too soon, but I'm glad I did it.
http://www.dailymile.com/people/UnshodRod/entries/1451069
Yesterday was not just my longest barefoot run but my longest run ever. It was tough, but I learned a lot.
Although my soles got beat up pretty good, I ran steady and solid. I was worried my feet would give out before my will, but actually my limiting factor was tightness in the lateral sides of both knees (esp. the left). I mentioned this to Barefoot Ken Bob who said to relax the knees! He suggested I move my hips forward so my feet fall below me, run as if following a line (not straddling it), and bend the knees more. As I adjusted my form the lateral tightness diminished. He ultimately said I needed to “fall” forward and let my knees acts as springs. As I trusted the process I felt myself surge forward as I let gravity do its work. A very Zen experience.
Unfortunately, I learned this lesson after I had put several miles of stress on the knees, so once I reached the Observatory (~8.7 miles) my knees were stiff. The descent down the trail was painful as I had difficultly bending my legs. Barefoot Ken Bob offered to pick me up from the Observatory after returned to his car. I got his phone number and said I'd try to hobble back but would call him if I couldn't go on.
After the excruciatingly slow descent, I walked the wonderful grassy medians all the way to Los Feliz Blvd, and then down the nice grassy easement down to Riverside Dr./Crystal Spring Dr. At this point I had enough and Barefoot Ken Bob helped me back to my car.
I didn't intend on going that far, but it was a real victory as I broke a psychological barrier. Had I known we were running to the Observatory from the Zoo side I would have declined.
The car ride home gave my knee time to cool off and really stiffen up. Probably too much, too soon, but I'm glad I did it.
http://www.dailymile.com/people/UnshodRod/entries/1451069