For anyone who missed it...

A great read.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/longdistance-walking-iron-in-the-soles-1805596.html

Okay, it's not running but a great account of what it's like to walk 100 miles in one go.

Great balls of fire!

After the excesses of the weekend I've been suffering from burning balls. No more than I deserve no doubt after attempting 20 miles in my Vibram FFs. Ever since the balls of my feet have been decidedly tender and burning gently.
I really should have changed my shoes after 10 miles or so as 6 miles was my previous longest run in the shoes but I've never been good at knowing when enough is enough. Still, it was great to be out enjoying a 20 mile run on the River Ayr Way with friends in benign running weather. Better still, I've had no back pain for 3 days now!

First pain-free run

...and I felt like cr*p!

I guess it shouldn't have come as a surprise to me that I'm not the runner I once was but after all these enjoyable (if painful) runs recently, I really didn't expect my LSD today to be so tough.

There was just no "zip" in my legs and I plodded along on an out & back run to the harbour. In fact, it was so dispiriting that I altered my return route to cut out nearly 2 miles making it about 9 miles overall. I suppose trying a 11 mile run after such a long lay-off was perhaps a little overambitious but I really thought that I'd be able to trot along fairly easily.

Anyhow, I've got a run planned for tomorrow with Muriel and I'll be running in my VFFs again so hopefully that'll be a bit more fun

Getting better all the time...

Since my last post I've had a couple of runs in my Vibram Five Fingers. The first was a trail run (about 5.5 miles) around the route of the Culzean fun run at Culzean Castle. It was great to be out running on trails in them. Whilst you certainly know about the more painful rocks (& beech mast at this time of year), it's a whole lot easier than going fully barefoot. I did (and still do) miss the full barefoot experience but I think I have to acknowledge that there are going to be many surfaces that I will probably never get used to running on barefoot. Anyhow, my wife and I trotted round in about an hour just enjoying the experience and look forward to doing it many times again in the future.

After that run I tried a bit of road running in the VFFs, this time a hillyish 7.2 mile route. This time though I didn't feel that my calf muscles had quite recovered from my trail run as they were a bit tight during and after the run. On one part of the route with particularly good tarmac I took off my shoes and ran barefoot until I reached a stony section. During this time thought I was reminded just how cold wet tarmac can be! It fair sucks the heat out of your feet and I suspect I won't be doing much more full barefoot running on tarmac this year.

Today's run was back in my old cat pee shoes around Auchincruive and I was pleased to take another 3 minutes off my time. Of course I know I shouldn't be clock watching, particularly when I should be taking it easy but it's gratifying to see how quickly I'm getting back into form.

I've been reading other folks accounts of the Ultra Tour du Mont Blanc, an epic 103 mile race around Chamonix and it's a race I'd love to do. I think however I'm going to be sensible and not try and do it as well next year.

I think Susan Donelly has written up a particularly good report of the race that's well worth reading.

Running smells of...

...cat pee. At least it does in my porch at the moment.

Whilst not the nicest smell in the world it's a welcome indication of my return to running. The cat pee smell comes from my ancient Asics Gel Trabuccos that I've somehow never got around to throwing out and still enjoy using. For some reason, every time they get at all damp they smell of cat pee.

I was running in them yesterday around Auchincruive up to Annbank and back along the River Ayr Way. Last week it took me a lamentable 74 minutes to hobble around the 6.2 miles but yesterday, despite being almost as slow for the first three miles (that's how long it takes for my back to ease off) I finished much more strongly and completed it in 66 minutes. Still way slower than I used to but this time I actually found myself daydreaming whilst running and NOT thinking about my back which was a huge relief.

In fact, so huge was my relief I decided to have a crack at the Triple Crown next year. (For those not in the know that's completing the three races on the West Highland Way in one year). I've 7th on the reserve list for the Devil O' the Highlands race so that's reasonably promising and my Fling entry is already in. That just leaves the WHW entry to get in so fingers crossed I'll get a place in that one too.

Regarding my back, it's looking like the big mistake I made was thinking that my back would recover in its own good time if I just rested it by not running. Backs just don't mend like that and with hindsight, it should have been obvious as when my back was bad around January last year, I did manage to train enough to do the Fling. It was only when I stopped running (as I had pulled out of the WHW race) that it got worse again. For anyone with back trouble I'd heartily recommend "Treat your own back" by world renowned physiotherapist Robin McKenzie.