ME!!!!
I got tapped to run the Lady of the Lake 18mile relay race by the McKinney Running Club this coming Saturday. Not knowing which leg I'll be running or what the time/ temp will be when I start my leg, since it's projected to be yet another tripple digit temp day, I thought I'd do a little experiment at work, yesterday.
Purpose of my experiment: Cure my hot day barefoot running ignorance. I didn't know what I didn't know...but I found out!
I've only run when it was 90 out once, but it's supposed to be around 102 on Sat at White Rock Lake, where the race will be held. The area around my work offers a lot of different pavement options to choose from. I thought I'd try them all. Just in case, I thought maybe I'd bring my Invisible Shoes to the race with me, incase my leg starts closer to noon and the surface gets too hot. I didn't want the race to be the first time I'd run in them.
I started my run at about 11:45am. Temp - 98' +/-. Total distance 2.5 miles.
I ran the first mile barefoot, trying out all the different sidewalk mixtures, pavement, running on the lines, etc. Then I put on the Huaraches and finished the run in them. I walked for about half a mile in the middle of the huarache portion of the run and then figured the fastest way out of the heat was to run the rest. My form really came together after the walk/rest/evaluation!
What I learned:
1) I am not used to running in the heat, but the heat was not my problem from the ankles up...only the soled of my feet. I'm sure this would not have been the case on a longer run.
2) Depending on the amount of dark rocks in the cement mix, the color of the pavement, the amount of tire rubber present and the amount of breeze, the temp of the pavement ranges from pleasant at a quick pace to "@$^%$@^#%^" that's hot!!
3) Heat makes my feet "quiet"... numb. The sidewalk had some camber to it and I found I was running too high in my stance and pushing off with my left foot and toes, but didn't realize it until my feet were screaming at me. I put my huaraches on then, but it was too late.
4) I will never walk across a bed of coals!! EVER!!!
5) The Chia Seeds rock! I tried only 2 teaspoons with enough water/ Crystal light to need to pee before I ran. Half of my water bottle wend on my head and down my back, I sipped about 6oz maybe and used the rest to just rinse out my mouth. When I got back to my desk, I still wasn't thirsdy.
6) I should have worn a hat and wet it and my shirt before I ran. I think that would help. (Use to wear a wet shirt under my leather suit when I raced sport bikes...helped a ton in 100+ deg weather.)
7) I should have eaten before I ran. It was too close to lunch time and the heat seemed to suck the energy right out of me.
Maybe "Stupid" is too harsh a word. "Rash" may be more apropo. Still, there is nothing like a good set of blisters to make you straighten up your form, quick-fast-in a hurry!!! Because of the camber of the sidewalk, I ended up with blisters, almost exclusively on my left foot. A long one on the blade and big ones on all but my pinky toe. No problems with the heal and the thick skin on the ball of both foot had only a minute amount of fluid under it and there was also a blister on my right big toe. I guess I didn't really "Burn" my feet, so to speak. When they felt hot, I would pick up my cadence or dodge into the grass for a bit.
I drained my blisters right after the run, sat at my desk shoeless, iced and redrained when I got home, took some advil and lotioned them up twice before bed. Today, there is only one toe, I can even "feel" there is a blister on, but tomorrow morning will be the test. It's a flat course, so I should be fine.
Putting my new education to use:
My plan for Saturday:
Try and get the 1st or 2nd leg of the race, so the pavement won't be too hot.
Warm up my form in the grass before running and get a little stretch.
Don't try and be a hero, bring the Huaraches and put them on BEFORE my feet go numb if the pavement is too hot.
Pay even more attention to my form, because heat + bad form means more blisters faster! Vigilance!
Chia and Gaitoraid 30min before.
Saturday I'll wear my white "Fiyah - I run naked" shirt(I gotta order a BFR.org shirt) and my sweat band starter cap, both soaked with water. (Don't forget the bandaids!!!)
Sunscreen and sun glasses.
Anything I'm missing, guys??
-Jonny
I got tapped to run the Lady of the Lake 18mile relay race by the McKinney Running Club this coming Saturday. Not knowing which leg I'll be running or what the time/ temp will be when I start my leg, since it's projected to be yet another tripple digit temp day, I thought I'd do a little experiment at work, yesterday.
Purpose of my experiment: Cure my hot day barefoot running ignorance. I didn't know what I didn't know...but I found out!
I've only run when it was 90 out once, but it's supposed to be around 102 on Sat at White Rock Lake, where the race will be held. The area around my work offers a lot of different pavement options to choose from. I thought I'd try them all. Just in case, I thought maybe I'd bring my Invisible Shoes to the race with me, incase my leg starts closer to noon and the surface gets too hot. I didn't want the race to be the first time I'd run in them.
I started my run at about 11:45am. Temp - 98' +/-. Total distance 2.5 miles.
I ran the first mile barefoot, trying out all the different sidewalk mixtures, pavement, running on the lines, etc. Then I put on the Huaraches and finished the run in them. I walked for about half a mile in the middle of the huarache portion of the run and then figured the fastest way out of the heat was to run the rest. My form really came together after the walk/rest/evaluation!
What I learned:
1) I am not used to running in the heat, but the heat was not my problem from the ankles up...only the soled of my feet. I'm sure this would not have been the case on a longer run.
2) Depending on the amount of dark rocks in the cement mix, the color of the pavement, the amount of tire rubber present and the amount of breeze, the temp of the pavement ranges from pleasant at a quick pace to "@$^%$@^#%^" that's hot!!
3) Heat makes my feet "quiet"... numb. The sidewalk had some camber to it and I found I was running too high in my stance and pushing off with my left foot and toes, but didn't realize it until my feet were screaming at me. I put my huaraches on then, but it was too late.
4) I will never walk across a bed of coals!! EVER!!!
5) The Chia Seeds rock! I tried only 2 teaspoons with enough water/ Crystal light to need to pee before I ran. Half of my water bottle wend on my head and down my back, I sipped about 6oz maybe and used the rest to just rinse out my mouth. When I got back to my desk, I still wasn't thirsdy.
6) I should have worn a hat and wet it and my shirt before I ran. I think that would help. (Use to wear a wet shirt under my leather suit when I raced sport bikes...helped a ton in 100+ deg weather.)
7) I should have eaten before I ran. It was too close to lunch time and the heat seemed to suck the energy right out of me.
Maybe "Stupid" is too harsh a word. "Rash" may be more apropo. Still, there is nothing like a good set of blisters to make you straighten up your form, quick-fast-in a hurry!!! Because of the camber of the sidewalk, I ended up with blisters, almost exclusively on my left foot. A long one on the blade and big ones on all but my pinky toe. No problems with the heal and the thick skin on the ball of both foot had only a minute amount of fluid under it and there was also a blister on my right big toe. I guess I didn't really "Burn" my feet, so to speak. When they felt hot, I would pick up my cadence or dodge into the grass for a bit.
I drained my blisters right after the run, sat at my desk shoeless, iced and redrained when I got home, took some advil and lotioned them up twice before bed. Today, there is only one toe, I can even "feel" there is a blister on, but tomorrow morning will be the test. It's a flat course, so I should be fine.
Putting my new education to use:
My plan for Saturday:
Try and get the 1st or 2nd leg of the race, so the pavement won't be too hot.
Warm up my form in the grass before running and get a little stretch.
Don't try and be a hero, bring the Huaraches and put them on BEFORE my feet go numb if the pavement is too hot.
Pay even more attention to my form, because heat + bad form means more blisters faster! Vigilance!
Chia and Gaitoraid 30min before.
Saturday I'll wear my white "Fiyah - I run naked" shirt(I gotta order a BFR.org shirt) and my sweat band starter cap, both soaked with water. (Don't forget the bandaids!!!)
Sunscreen and sun glasses.
Anything I'm missing, guys??
-Jonny
