2009 Maine Marathon

Finished in 4:42:25 gun time. No chip time, must have worn it too high on my ankle.
So glad I got to finish a marathon again finally. I'll take it considering there was a time when I questioned whether I would be able to run a 5K again. The course was nice. Very rural, mostly chipseal pavement, a little new smooth pavement, a short stretch of dirt - gravel road, and about 3 miles of grass (yes). Overall I would rate it as slightly on the barefoot unfriendly side but close to neutral. Left foot didn't bother me much so I think I am finally coming out of the woods there. I did feel like doing some walking between 18-22 miles because my muscles felt overstretched. Can't wait for the next one already, the choosing/planning process is the best part for me.

Do heeled shoes impair proprioception?

Proprioception. It is the sense that allows us to know the relative position of neighbouring parts of the body. With it you can run, throw a ball, open the refrigerator, turn off the alarm clock in the morning, and play the piano with a blindfold on. Well, at least a few of those things hopefully.

I was talking to a classmate of mine today about his preferred foowear of choice while he works out. After reflecting on our conversation I came across a thought that needs to be explored further. Does a heeled shoe impair our propriorception? We can impair our other senses in a number of ways right?

My classmate was relaying a previous disscussion he had with a podiatrist about the possibility of vibram five fingers limiting proprioception. His hypothosis (the podiatrist) - that because your toes are indiviually covered and can not feel each other that it would impair you. So he went on to recommend wearing shoes instead. His first thought about the vibrams could be accurrate but I don't see how it could support the second.

Since taking up barefoot running I recognize that there is a difference when running in a heeless shoe when compared to a normal running shoe. I also recognize a difference in a heeless shoe and running with nothing on your feet at all. With a heel your body knows its location by the feel of gravity and tries to compensete for your unnatural body position. Could this be the cause of so many chronic physical ills that plague us in modern society today. Knee problems, Calf problems, hips, back, and neck. The list is a mile long and the problems seem to be getting to us younger and younger.

I wish I had a staff and some money in which to research (oh yeah and some credentials) this notion. For know I guess I will feel fortunate to be a barefooter and know through experience (also called opinion) what I can not prove.

Time to Donate

Here is the link to my fundraising page for my barefoot attempt at the Maine Marathon this Sunday (Oct 4th).

http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1226&AID=703&PID=89790

What is happening to me?

During the 100 mile relay race I participated in (Aug 15th), my left foot reset itself after years of being clubbed. Since that happened the left side of my body has been able to move with greater flexibility and dexterity. Unfortunately that means more growing pains for me. A whole new world of possibilities is opening up before my eyes. As the left grows stronger and more flexible, the right is able to relax more. The ultimate goal that I have been striving for, symmetry, is close and getting closer daily. I can only hope that most of the growing pains are over by Sept 18th during the Reach the Beach Relay and later during the Maine Marathon. When symmetry is attained I will finally be able to start training again. I can only pray it is soon.
Barefoot Ben

100 on 100 relay

Tellman, Tim, and I embarked on an incredible journey beginning early Saturday morning in Stowe Vermont. The three of us each learned an important lesson and found the outer limits to our current capabilities. I can honestly say it was one of the funnest days of my life and I for one can't wait until next year. Unfortunately we felt compelled to stop at mile 82 for several reasons but this only stoked the fires for next year's competition. Tellman and I both ran father barefoot in one day than ever before at 27 and 23 respectively. Tim was close at 33 (he has done 35). I was forced to stop during my 5th leg due to a problem with my left foot that I was actually happy about. This left Tellman and Tim to not only finish their own legs but also try to split up my last leg. Once we realized that we had fallen behind the time cut off and were to be moved ahead, we decided to call it quits.

The problem with my left foot has been a long time coming. In 2005 I believe I broke my foot and never had it checked out as I didn't have health insurance. After hobbling around for weeks my body compensated by healing improperly. My left toe ended up being tied to my second toe and that was probably the least of my problems. Anyways, during the 3rd leg of the relay my foot popped and my two toes were separated. What felt great at first turned into a nightmare over the next two legs as eventually I was unable to even walk without pain. I assume that once my foot loosened up into it's proper position the tendons were not used to the stretching motion of running. Wow, it became painful and I was so happy that this finally occurred as I could feel it needed to happen for months now as my form was changing from barefooting.

In the coming days I will be posting some video of the race which is absolutely awesome!

Two Fundraisers

In the next two months i will be participating in two fundraiser runs. Both are pretty challenging. The first is the 100 on 100 in Vermont. This is a relay race travelling route 100 in Vermont from Stowe to Ludlow. I will be relaying in the ultra category with my two friends, Tellman Knudsen and Tim Bourrassa. All three of us will be barefoot trading off running duties on August 15th starting at 6 in the morning. This will benefit Tellman's cause @ RunTellmanRun.com .
The second fundraiser will be a barefoot marathon at the Maine Marathon on Oct. 4th. It will be my first attempt at a barefoot marathon and I am excited. I will be running and fundraising for The Center for Grieving Children. The link is:
http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1226&AID=703&PID=89790
I will be blogging about each experience soon.
Barefoot Ben

Screw V.S. Hinge

I never thought much about how your body is supposed to function until mine wasn't functioning right. You see I thought I was a born pronator. It never occurred to me that I made myself that way. All those tight muscles in my legs and back. Those weak ankles, crooked collar bones, and twisted hips. Yep, all my fault. I just figured that was my lot in life.
That is until I took off my shoes. At that moment I knew that you don't have to pronate. Those fancy shoes and orthotics. All that money spent on x-rays, mri's, physical therapy, and opinions. All for nothing. The secret is I was the problem and the answer all the time. I just had to listen to my body tell me what i was doing wrong.
When you take off the shoes and begin to run you quickly find out that pronation is not your friend. It is what is called a self correcting error. run barefoot enough days in a row and you body will untwist itself allowing your feet to land straight without pronation. When you pronate your feet, ankles, lower leg muscles, upper leg muscles, and hips twist to compensate. This also puts a tremendous strain on your back. Over time these muscles become so tight from trying to protect the joints that people wear out their cartilage or get arthritis. So tight that blood flow is severely restricted in these areas. No wonder we can't repair ankles, knees, and hips without seeking medical help. Our legs are not designed to work like screws. They are designed to work as hinges. The only way too accomplish this is to stop pronating and loosen up your muscles. I did it by taking off my shoes and letting my feet reprogram my mind. You can too!

New Barefoot 5K PR...just barely

Ran the Redhook 5K in Portsmouth NH this morning with my fiance' Erin. Final result was a minimal improvement in my barefoot 5K time. Ended up 20:23. I'll take it since I have been running a fever for about 24 hours and it felt so humid out there today.

I met a nice gentleman named Preston Curtis today. He came to the race for race day registration but the race was closed. It seems we have just barely been missing each other at events and even run in similar locations in Portsmouth sometimes. It was great talking to someone who has some real experience going barefoot and can relate. Looking forward to running with him at some point.

Erin's race number was 2009. We both thought it was a unique sign perhaps because we are getting married this year. She often has good luck and strange things happen to her. I often joke that she will lose her luck when she marries me.

Next up is a 5k on June 7th in Newmarket.

Barefoot Ben

2nd Barefoot Half Marathon

My second attempt at running a half marathon went well despite the two "dead legs" I ran with. I should have taken it easier this week in preparation for the half but didn't want my weekly mileage to drop that much. So within the first mile I had decided that it probably wasn't going to get much better and though I would make a long/tempo run out of the race. Got to talk with lots of great people along the way and finished without any problems with my body.

Someone asked me if I was Tom Bourassa's brother which I thought was funny. Another lady had run by me (in my hometown) the other day and we conversed about shoes and injuries. The time passed quickly and before you know it I was in my car heading home.

The course I ran, which was the Big Lake Half Marathon, began and ended at the head of Lake Winnipesaukee in Alton, New Hampshire. What a tough course! Well, maybe I have turned into a sissy living on the seacoast but it was hard for me anyways. All long rolling hills. I finished up in 1:47:41 which is a 9 minute barefoot PR for me. Today (next day) I feel great except my calves feel overstretched. My form is greatly improved allowing me to run faster with minimum impact on my feet but until my calves undo all the tension from past shoe use I will continue to suffer after faster efforts.

Up next, another 5K on May 23. RedHook Brewery race in Portsmouth NH.

Margaritas 5K

Just finished my first attempt at running a fast race barefoot. The result was 20:26. Can't be happier with that. What a nice day to race. This was the first time they have put this race on and I think it went well. Located at the Margaritas in Exeter NH the course was fairly easy, small rolling hills. It was not certified though and seemed a bit long to me but I guess you never know.

My left leg seems to finally be in alignment so my speed is getting better but the muscles have not lengthened out yet. I think when the muscles elongate it will allow me to swing that leg to the rear further thus I will be able to move more efficiently.

A side note, I need to lose weight. I am about 20lbs heavier than the last time I was able to race (in 2006). Next up is the Redhook Brewery 5K in Portsmouth NH.

I have been averaging around 30 miles per week barefoot. Not able to wear anything while running anymore. Hoping for a real breakthrough soon and be able to run 40-50 mpw in preparation for a fall marathon.

Thank God I am running pain free!
Barefoot Ben

FIRST BAREFOOT HALF

My first barefoot half was in february and it went well. I averaged just under 9mpm. Tried to be very conservative because it was 35 degrees and I didn't know how the cold would affect my feet over that extended period of time. The race was along the seacoast in Hampton NH and it was great. I really enjoyed the course and the temp didn't end up bothering me at all. Ended up having no ill effects from the race and am looking forward to my next half in April. Planning on taking off the gloves and seeing what my body can do. Hoping to at least run 8mpm.

Everyone was very supportive at the race and there was lots of questions and cheers. It was actually very fun for me. Leading up to and since the race I have been averaging 30miles per week and all the miles have been either barefoot or with vibram five fingers. I can't wait for the weather to be over 40 degrees all the time because I can barely stand to even wear the five fingers at this point.

UPDATE

The last four months has been very eye opening for me. I didn't realize how bad my form was when I ran with shoes on. My hips and lower back had become so tight that they were almost deformed. Very slowly they have come loose as I have stayed away from shoes and my form has improved. My feet have gotten stronger and my body looser which has allowed me to begin to run better barefoot.

Much of my mileage has come in vibram five fingers this winter. I have had a hard time running in sub 30 degree weather barefoot. Others in the community claim that this will come with time. I have however made sure I got in some barefoot every week and at this point I am running all my other miles exclusively in vibrams.

Strangely I have noticed that I have not gotten sick since I began barefooting in August. I will keep track of this since it is unusual for me to go a winter (especially running outdoors) without getting sick.

I am looking forward to the weather turning to spring so I can transition to being barefoot 100% and compete in a few races. Right now I can run comfortably barefoot for 7-8 miles at around 8 mpm. That is slower when I am shod and not as far but I feel much looser when I am done and recover way faster.

There is a half marathon on sunday locally and I may try it barefoot if the temp is around 40.