13 June 2011

The Report

Lets start with the basics. The data:
  1. Weather conditions. High of 93 degrees with a high humidity of 87%.
  2. Start Time: 10:45
  3. End Time: 6:30
  4. FiveFingers worn 80% of the run
  5. 120 - 160 oz of water consumed
  6. 12 shot blocks and 2 pieces of bread eaten
So, what happened??? Well, it got hot. Really really really hot. Incredibly hot. This caused two huge problems. First and foremost was the ground was too hot to run on barefoot. There is simply no way to toughen feet for hot ground without having . . . hot ground! Second, it was really really hot. How do you train to run in severe humidity and heat with little to no wind with out having heat, humidity, and a lack of breeze? So I guess what it all comes down to is that there is no way I could train for that kind of weather without previously having that kind of weather. The only way I could have was to run in place in a sauna or run with a sweatshirt. Both are possible, but I guess I never would have fathomed that my run would take place on the hottest day of 2011.

But, then again, I kind of did. In fact I expected no less. I have an old friend that would often laugh at the things that would happen to me. Not necessarily tragic, but just completely odd situations that you could not have made up. At first it drove me crazy, then I just figured it was the universe testing my conviction and moral fortitude. And then, I was thankful for it. What doesn't kill you right?

So, here is the run summary.

The Morning

Antsy. Very antsy. Ready to go and tired of waiting. Just ready to have all of this over with. The training, the blogging, the carb loading, the talking. I drink lots of water and try to go to the bathroom as much as possible. I get together my pack at the last minute.

Miles 1 - 6 into Hartford

HOT. SO FREAKING HOT. Sip on some water and then take multiple breaks to make sure I am not going out too fast. As I check the time at Mile 5, I realize I am behind schedule. I have already had to put my fingers on to protect my feet from the heat. I run in to an amazing crowd waiting for me. I instantly realize how much I needed a pick me up, immediately followed by a sense of dread that I feel that way so early. A quick bathroom break and then to fill up my water. I am way behind. I thought I had about 30 oz gone and I have only had 12. In this heat, that is not good.

Miles 7 - 10, the Charter Oak Bridge Loop

With tons of people around, I am stoked, but also hot. Very hot. I am trying to keep up with the group, but I need to slow down. It feels like I am breathing through a sandbag and I can't get my breathing under control or find my stride, both things that I usually excel at. I try to keep track of everyone, but eventually some people get too far ahead and some get too far behind. I recognize I need to find my pace and stick with it. I get back to the TCC and relish in the AC. Try to go to the bathroom but I can't, serious problem. My pack is close to empty, which is good.

Miles 10 - 17, Elizabeth Park Loop

Another fun crowd to cheer me on, with one special guest, Mama Q! Luckily I had the TCC Intern Neal K to help keep track of her, which was amazing and so hopeful. Thanks again Neal. I try to keep up with everyone but fall way behind quick. I can not get any air, my legs are starting to ache, and then all the sudden I realize I am starving, which is not good. Its not good because, while I am hungry, I am not craving anything and the thought of eating is actually nauseating. A very weird feeling. I have officially Bonked. I should have been taking in fluid nutrients in huge quantities by now. I also realize I forgot to put salt in my water, which I quickly fix, but the damage is done. Things get really dark and I am trying to keep moving but can really walk at best. I call Kasi for supplies at mile 13, but with the timing of shuttling people around, we don't meet up until mile 16. I have no idea where my runners are save Dan G and Peter D who keep me company. Thanks guys. I get my supplies near the pigs eye, fall to the ground, and drink gatorade and try to eat some chips and fruit. Neither go down well. I crawl up and head back to the TCC. This time the AC is giving me chills. I shove my head under the sink and try to get some clarity. From the looks I am getting from people, I don't think I am doing too good. People won't let me leave alone. Mama Q volunteers to go with me and I pack up, refill, and head out. I don't even bother trying to go to the bathroom. I talk to Neal about what to eat and he recommends bread, which I dont have.

Miles 18 - 25, Hartford to Bloomfield

The pleasantries of the river and my mother are left quickly as I start to such it up and move it out. I get a few moments alone, which I have actually been craving. I behind to wonder why the hell I am doing this and what a crazy idea this was. Then I start to think about what would happen if I just quit. Beyond feeling stupid, I imagine all the naysayers. Particularly the runners that meet every day and give me funny looks and make sarcastic remarks about my barefooting. I move on, but now I am realizing now how terrible the roads are. There is glass and gravel everywhere. I have never experienced anything like this before. Heat aside, my feet would need to be way tougher for this. On top of the roads, my nose is burning from being rubbed raw, I am drinking water constantly but it seems to have no effect, I can't eat, my hips are screaming (which lets me know at least I am running with form), and I can do no better than run 30 feet and then walk for at least a minute to catch me breath. Jon D shows up on his bike with an amazing surprise. Two bottles of ice water for the sole purpose of cooling me off. Its heavenly. At about the same time Kasi shows up with more fluids and some bread, which goes down quick and easily. 10 minutes later I am beginning to come to life again. Then Jon tells me to put the water down my pants, which was the greatest idea ever. Brought my temp way down, which at this point in the race is undoubtedly higher than it should be. The chills at my last stop felt very much like the chills of a fever, which means my core temperature is getting dangerously high. I know I am dehydrated but I would basically have to drink water constantly to at least break even at this point. My entire lower body begins to scream and ache. I finally get out of Hartford and enter Bloomfield, which means I finally have some shade. The sun is losing its angle and the intensity of the heat is going down, but it makes little difference. I am dehydrated and basically walking the whole time.

Mile 25 - 30ish, Back Home

Jon D switches out for Kim C, which is great because I know Jon needs to get home. I still have the clarity of mind to give him some good directions to get back, which gives me hope. I am not sure where I really was in the run, but I thought I was much further behind when it happened. I knew that it was well past 5 and I thought I was nowhere close. I speak words that I had been thinking about since Mile 10. "Kim, I think I am going to quit. I am going to run as far as I can until 5:30. Can you call Kasi to tell her?" I am kind of disappointed, but at the same time, kind of okay with it. I have people waiting for me at my house by this point and I would like to see them. Isn't your birthday supposed to be a celebration?? What the hell am I doing out here?? Its hot, I am almost crippled and the point of all of this was RUN 30 miles, not walk 30 miles. What am I proving here?

So we keep plugging on and I just need to stop and sit. Shortly before this, we reach Wintonbury Road, which I know heads straight back into Windsor, which means we are further along than I thought, but I am mostly walking now. Ands its not the heat, its my muscles. I have been fighting my inner thighs from cramping up since Mile 20ish and I can only run about 20 - 30 yards before feeling like they are going to cramp so hard that I need simply wont be able to move. I ask Kim to check to see how far we are from home. She smiles. 2.7 miles. "Oh, screw that, I am finishing this!" We continue on and I see Kasi pull up ahead waiting to drive me home but am victorious in telling her that I am going to finish. I lean over and look at my calves. At first I think I am seeing heat waves and then realize that they are moving on their own. A weird pulsating movement, as if there was some baby creature in there squirming around. I show Kim and Kasi, who both have no idea what it means, but I can tell they don't think its a good thing.

Some more bread, some more Shot Bloks, some fluids, and a new pair of Fingers and I am off. I previously had my Sprints and then Classics on. I now have the Treks with have a whopping 2mm more of rubber (for a total of 4 mm vs the 2 mm on the others) but it feels amazing. My feet are raw from gravel and moisture not only from the copious amounts of sweat, but the half gallon of water I poured on myself earlier. I try to go barefoot for all of 10 feet before realizing its a terrible idea at this point. Run a little, walk a lot. We start picking points in the immediate distance to run to, but ultimately my thighs dictate the distance. I go as far as I can and stop before I cramp. Then I walk until the cramping threat goes away.

At this point there are all sorts of thoughts bursting into clarity. I almost break out into tears a few times just thinking about actually finishing all of this and seeing how proud and amazed everyone would be at the finish line. I smiled and laughed at different songs, memories and the thought that I was going to be able to hold my word to Brian. I dream about a shower and sitting on a couch. I fear the next few days and what they will mean for my muscles. There are a lot of thoughts and I am sure I could write them down, but I won't. They are for me and I like it that way.

I get to the top of the hill leading down to my house and run it out. I tell the thighs to shutup and go the full 300 yards to the finish line. People are clapping and cheering. Kasi is beaming and my mom is smiling, I think mostly because I am alive. Kasi starts asking me questions for the video she is obviously shooting. I mumble something and say hi to everyone there. I want to hug them but they are pretty and I smell. I immediately go inside to see a feast, but all I want is the shower. I am nervous about the stairs but I make it up them easily.

The After Party

Despite what most people think, I was able to run for 8 hours and still play host. I shower, change, and head downstairs to eat some amazing dish that Tina M made. I can't remember there name, but I will just call them Delicious Rolls of Fried Nirvana with Super Dope Jelly Sauce. I say high to everyone again and we all eat. I am amazed at the showing. I mean, its Wednesday?? And I am also amazed at the diversity of people. Friends, clients, family members of clients, younger, older, but all happy to see me and all getting along wonderfully. I plop around the party feeling stoned and generally mellow. I don't have a care in the world. I get my gift. A ridiculous grill AND a smoker. I can't believe it. (Kasi later told me the story of the gift, but more on that in my next post). People stay later than I would have thought, which is awesome considering no one else has the day off tomorrow. I manage to be the last one to bed in the whole house. I get to sleep around midnight, which is my usual bed time.

Reflections to come . . . I have a video, but I need to figure out how to make it smaller!

07 June 2011

The Playlist

Ran out of time to go through all my tunes, but here is the 30 on 30 Playlist. Submit anything I missed if you wish!!

Them Shoes Patrick Sweany
Helter Skelter The Beatles
Rite Of Spring Angels & Airwaves/Angels & Airwaves
Yoga Means Union Ambulance LTD
Sad Sad City Ghostland Observatory
Monkey Man The Rolling Stones
Ever So Shy General Fiasco
Soil To The Sun Cage The Elephant
Jane Says Jane's Addiction
Fans Kings Of Leon
Thunderstruck AC/DC
Rock n' Roll Ain't Noise Pollution AC/DC
Because I Got High Afroman
Does This Mean You're Moving On The Airborne Toxic Event
Sometime around midnight The Airborne Toxic Event
Over And Out Alkaline Trio
The Feel Good Drag Anberlin
Foreign Language Anberlin
Drifting Andy McKee/Andy McKee
Chain Of Fools Aretha Franklin
A Millie Asher Roth
I Love College (Remix) (Dirty) Asher Roth ft Jim Jones
Pick Up The Pieces Average White Band
Rock Lobster The B-52's
Body Movin' Beastie Boys
Intergalatic Beastie Boys
Sure Shot Beastie Boys
Get It Together Beastie Boys
Gimme Shelter The Rolling Stones
You Can't Always Get What You Want Rolling Stones
Watch Out Now Beatnuts
E-Pro Beck
Burn One Down Ben Harper
Paris Sunset #7 Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
Lifeline Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
Rosealia Better Than Ezra
King of New Orleans Better Than Ezra
Juicy Better Than Ezra
Kryptonite (official remix) Big Boi F. Lil’ Wayne, Killer Mike and Bubba Sparxxx
Tangerine Big Head Todd & The Monsters
Still Not A Player (Unedited) Big Punisher feat. Joe -
use me bill withers
Title Song The Black Crowes
Twice As Hard The Black Crowes
Midnight From The Inside Out The Black Crowes
Lickin' The Black Crowes
Soul Singing The Black Crowes
10 A.M. Automatic The Black Keys
Whoa! Black Rob
Iron Man Black Sabbath
No Rain Blind Melon
Feeling This Blink 182
Stay Together For The Kids Blink-182
Rollercoaster Blink-182
Run-Around Blues Traveler
Song 2 Blur
It's Alright Bob Marley
Drinking In L.A. Bran Van 3000
Lit Up Buckcherry
Fire It Up Busta Rhymes
Rhymes Galore Busta Rhymes
We Could Take It Outside Busta Rhymes
There's Not A Problem My Squad Can't Fix Busta Rhymes
Get High Tonight Busta Rhymes
Dangerous Busta Rhymes
Arab Money Busta Rhymes
Woo Ha Busta Rhymes
Make It Clap Busta Rhymes
The Distance Cake
Moving in Stereo The Cars
Ridin' (Radio Edit) Chamillionaire Featuring Krayzie Bone
pictures of you chevelle
Send The Pain Below Chevelle
The Red Chevelle
Johnny B. Goode Chuck Berry
Viva la Vida Coldplay
Strawberry Swing Coldplay
Overkill Colin James Hay
Waiting for My Real Life to Be Colin James Hay
Boys Better The Dandy Warhols
Bizzy Box Danger Doom
Vindicated Dashboard Confessional/Dashboard Confessional
Space Oddity David Bowie
Ziggy Stardust David Bowie
Fighting Man DJ Pone & Drixxxe
What's The Difference Dr. Dre
Forgot About Dre - (featuring Eminem) Dr. Dre
Bang Bang Dr. Dre
Keep Their Heads Ringin' Dr. Dre
I Get Around Dragonette
Straight To Hell Drivin' N' Cryin'
Novocaine For The Soul Eels
Pump It Up Elvis Costello
Kryptonite Emanuel
Drug Ballad Eminem
My Name Is Eminem
At Last Etta James
High Feeder
Hey Man Nice Shot [Nickel Bag] Filter
Take A Picture Filter
Rise Flobots
Handlebars Flobots
Got You (Where I Want You) Flys
My Hero Foo Fighters
Monkey Wrench Foo Fighters
The Pretender Foo Fighters
Let It Die Foo Fighters
Stranger Things Have Happened Foo Fighters
Home Foo Fighters
Resolve Foo Fighters
Gimme Stitches Foo Fighters
Lollipop Framing Hanley
Friends In Low Places Garth Brooks
One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer George Thorogood
See The World Gomez
Shot Shot Gomez
DARE Gorillaz
19-2000 Gorillaz
War Pigs Gov't Mule
Welcome To Paradise Green Day
Brain Stew Green Day
Three Little Pigs Green Jelly
No Sugar Tonight Guess Who
Lust For Life Iggy Pop
It's Your Thing The Isley Brothers
Mercedes Benz Janis Joplin
Squeeze 1st Jay Z
Parking Lot Pimpin' Jay Z
Blood In Blood Out Jedi Mind Tricks
Foxey Lady Jimi Hendrix
Catfish Blues Jimi Hendrix
Quality Control JuraSsic 5
Champion Kanye West
Monster Kanye West & Jay-Z (ft. Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj & Bon Iver)
Get Em High (feat. Talib Kweli Kanye West
All These Things That I've Done The Killers
The Killers - Mr Brightside The killers
Coming Undone Korn
Thé à la Menthe (The Lazer Dance Version) La Caution
Player La Caution

Calm before the storm

06/05 - 06/07 - Carb loading. At first I thought it would be awesome. Then I realized I have no idea how to eat like that anymore. So after I totally reversed all of the nutritional advice I dole out on an almost daily basis, I started to eat lots. Plain old pasta, cereal, just basically processed junk. Tony recommended 600g of carbohydrates per day for this entire loading period. This is insane. I have maybe been able to get 300 - 400 grams per day and I feel partially stoned, insanely sleepy, and generally low functioning. I also feel jumpy and ready to just get this all over with. There are certainly a lot of emotions running through me and it is hard to balance it out while have carbs coursing through my veins

I am far from prepared and, as I would expect, its going to be hotter than hell. I have a lot of thoughts about what I should have done different, but I will wait until I actually do the race to say anything. I am mostly worried about the heat of the ground and burning my feet. I guess I am worried about a lot, but just ready to do something I said I would do. I have not had a test like this in a long time.

06/04 - 06/05 - Boston Beerfest. Saturday was full of crazy eating and a complete excess of awesome beer. Despite this, Kasi and I attempted to run ahead of the group to a restaurant to reserve a table. Both of us barefoot and turning a lot of heads. I would say it was about 1.5 miles, but the good news is that I was FAST! Kasi could barely keep up, but thats not to say she was slow, I just found my stride and it felt very good and very easy. It was definitely not a pace I could keep for 30 miles but gave my hope that my training really has worked to some degree.

06/03 - Another full day of training clients. Able to stretch and sit in a cool hot tub, but no real work done at all.
06/02 - Trained by the new TCC intern Neal K. A great experience. Certainly out of my realm of training norm and still left me with plenty of juice the rest of the week. I can really tell that my running has changed my strengths. Whether I am right or wrong about how you are supposed to run, as this is now my 3rd revision since starting barefooting, I can certainly say that once I put my mind to training a muscle during running, it flat out works.

05/28 - 05/31 - Off to the Land of 10,000 Lakes to visit some old friends and check out a school. Far from a restful vacation, but certainly restorative. Kasi and I helped our friends Jill and Stu build a patio for two days. Then on the third we were able to do some light hiking, I did a few Overhead squats with Kasi while holding at the bottom for a picture, and copious amounts of handstands. Training? Not even close, but far from sedentary.

05/27 - A busy day of training clients. It is blatantly clear that a full day of training leaves me totally wiped out to work out. This is good to know for future planning. I seem to have a tendency for choosing careers that require you to donate much of your own energy to other people.

26 May 2011

Why Everyone Needs to Squat

5/26 - The hot tub and Stick did absolutely nothing. Stairs are challenging and I demonstrated a squat for a client and nearly ripped my inner thigh in half. Another lost day at a critical time.

5/25 – Horrendously sore. So out of practice. Hot Tub and using TheStick!

5/24 – For a large part of my training I have been more active in my recovery, which includes rest, foam rolling, and some stretching. I would have thought that this kept me loose and that I would hopefully increase my flexibility as a result. I was dead wrong. Brian A posted a challenge on facebook to squat 15,000 pounds in one week. I thought this was a lot, until I talked to Tony. Tony helped me realized, that at my level, this was not an inordinate task. So, I decided I could just do it all in one day. My first squat felt like I was ripping my quadriceps down an imaginary seem running from my knee to my hip. I am not even sure I got all the way down for my first few simply because my muscles were not loose enough to do so. I have NEVER had this kind of tightness before. Needless to say, I continued on and got looser as I kept squatting. But this goes to show that running is not enough. Well, to be more fair to running and runners screaming in anger, running on flat roads is not enough. Running on a continually flat surface (and a little hill is still a flat surface) limits the range of motion that the legs cover, simply out of necessity. Even running at a very fast pace does bring the knee much past the hip or decrease the angle of the knee to less than 90 degrees. The Boston Marathon has the famous Heartbreak Hill. In the world trail running and ultraendurance racing, the change in elevation of Heartbreak Hill does not even cause a blip on the screen. Running up some craggly hill with rock and trees makes the legs function in a much more dynamic way. It also creates a fair amount of lateral movement not needed or used in most peoples day to day running. So for those of you that trail run (and a well paved trail through the woods does NOT count), keep doing it. For those of you that love the roads, add some squats in to make sure you stay flexible. If you need to learn how to squat look of Squats and Mark Rippetoe. Taking advice from anyone else is usually a far cry from what a real squat should be. Oh, and using those stupid little smith squat racks doesn’t count either. I see a lot of people doing squats on those these days. Get a pair, but a barbell on your back, and move up and down!

Squat 15000 lbs.

Mostly sets of 10 @ 105.

Rain Rain, Go Away

5/23 - Basically back to normal and the weather seems to be opening up. Take another rest day.

5/22 – Raining again. Both myself and the dogs are getting cabin fever. I know that there are runner’s out there that run regardless of weather, but, here is the thing. I am not a runner. I run for clarity and I run for postural balance and I run because everyone needs to be able to run. I do not wake up at 4:30 and pound out the miles. I do not measure my week by the amount of miles I have ran. What I really like to do is “pick things up and put them down.” But, to that effect, running is wonderfully honest. You can’t cheat running like you can cheat other forms of fitness. I can get a great workout done in 20 minutes or less that increases my cardiovascular endurance, my strength, and my flexibility, but if you are going to run farther, you need time. So in that, running is very humbling. If you run some decent times at a marathon, you HAD to have put in hours of training.

5/21 – Worked today, which was super. Very tired when I go home, which sucked because it was the only sunny day in a long streak of rain. Take a nap. By the time I get up, its raining again. I am seeing now that opportunities in life need to be taken as soon as they happen. Don’t wait for anyone or anything.

Back at is, Sort of

5/20 – Another off day. Spend some time stretching in and out of the hot tub. I did not know this, but I love hot tubs. If any one reading this is wondering was to get me for my birthday, get me a hot tub!

5/19 – Still not feeling great, but have a cameo from Greg S at the TCC. In honor of his presence, we run what I think was 4 miles. Actually felt pretty good but I was amazingly stiff from being so sedentary. I also think we ran part of the 30 on 30 course, the part that runs from my house into Hartford. If this is the case, I may need to wear fingers in. Glass was EVERYWHERE. I am usually not freaked out about glass because it is usually sparse. Between the glass and massive construction, the route was downright dangerous.

Run 4 miles. About 40 minutes.

Down for the count

5/18 – Back at work, but still out of it. Very tired, but finish out a longer day (for me at least). Exercise is absolutely out of the question.

5/17 – Truth be told, I am the biggest sissy when I am sick. I will workout until I bleed when I am healthy, but ask me to get the remote when I am sick and you may as sign my death sentence. Sleeping, all day. This could not have come at a worse time.