Bare Feet or Nike's?

I like to run.

The more fit you are the more fun it is.

Unless...the dreaded injury occurs. I've had an ongoing niggle for a while now, so I decided to do some research to help remedy the problem.

Research tells me that most runners will experience some form of running injury during their running career. And that most injuries are due to doing to much, too fast. Check...that's me right there.

Lots would argue that you have incorrect shoes and you need to splash out on the latest $200 + Nike's to wrap your precious feet in a protective air cushion that will have you bouncing along to your hearts content.

Others would argue that you should run au naturale - barefoot just like you were born.

Now there is much debate and little concrete evidence either way so rather than bore you with links to articles and blogs, I think giving both a fair crack is the way to go.

I've run in well cushioned shoes for ages, but now have switched to barefoot running in the park across the road - and so far it's awesome !

Basically in modern running shoes you land on your heel, and with bare-feet you land more on the ball of you foot. Landing on the ball is supposed to engage all the anatomical stabilisers and shock-absorbers that the heel just doesn't do.

However...the jury is still out but just for fun check out some of these pics below:

Someone who has never run in shoes!

Note the wide splayed toes. Try fitting those puppies into a pair of trainers - NAH! Mind you, check out the pic below of a chap who has always shod his feet in 'comfy' shoes.

Feet forever confined in shoes.

Note the toes all squashed together, and the formation of hammer toe - Ewww!

I think my feet are a happy medium. I must admit I like to roam barefoot and even tried to board a plane to Fiji with naked feet. Alas I was turned away and had to borrow my wife's Uncles aqua-socks as all my shoes were stowed away - shame :)

I do know of two people who are hardcore barefoot nuts and their feet are pretty much like the top photo.

Hmmm, well what about road running or rocky terrain? You feet will get cut up.

Introducing the Vibram Five Finger shoe - MEAN!

Nike - who basically invented the raised heel cushioned soul are even hedging their bets with the Nike Free range.

To be honest those shoes above remind me of ape's feet, but I would like to try a pair out. Alas they are also $200 +

So whether you run in flash trainers, old sand-shoes, bare-feet or ape-feet...

RUN FOREST RUN!

and stay injury free.

From Winning to Survival to Stokedness!

I feel like the man who ran behind the car felt...exhausted!

My first official Triathlon is over. Kai Iwi lakes put on a stunner for the Carters Kumara Tri 2011.

My event was the Adult Short Course - Super Sprint distance (350m swim, 10km bike and 3.8km run)

I am sure the people who designed the course were trying to see how many hills they could fit into one course - it was crazy.

I'd been nursing two sore knees and a sore back after my training regime (Bull-at-a-gate Training). I was nervous and a bit scared that I may not be able to finish. In the above picture I think I was a bit worried (pre-race). My attitude had quickly moved from:

"I'm going to have a crack and win this thing" to "I just want to finish this thing in one peice"

The evening before the race my Dad and I checked out the course. Those hills were steep and long!

I must thank my Dad and Mum for treating us to a lodge only minutes away from the starting point of the triathlon - spoilt eh? Oh, and the bacon and egg brekkie - mmm, fuel for the tank.

0930 hrs - Race briefing and 5 minutes later - the Start.

I was envisaging us emerging from the cold Kai Iwi lakes blue lipped and numb. It was however, a beautiful day and the water - surprisingly warm! Still I think I would have preferred being towed behind a boat on a wake-board - Glass!

The hooter went and I took the plunge, sprinting into the depths. Lead from the front is what the triathlon books I'd been devouring had told me!
You can't win the race in the swim, but you can lose it there.

P.S Highly recommend:

Can't Swim, Can't Ride, Can't Run : From Common Man to Ironman by Andy Holgate

Emerging from the water - I can't believe it - I'm first! YeHa! All those lunchtime laps of the hospital pool had paid off.

There aren't any pictures of me on the bike leg. It was tough. Going up some hills I was quoting scripture:

'When I am weak - you are strong!'

I did this to a cadence that kept me going when all I wanted to do was stop and walk.

WARNING - GROSS PART - After slogging up and down these hills my mouth was so dry that my spit had no moisture. Instead of flying gracefully to the side of the road - the highly viscous blobs coated my cheeks despite my best efforts to propel it further! Eww.

Exiting T2 (after the bike) much to my surprise I was still winning. A fact my awesome wife pointed out at the top of her lungs. Thanks my love.

Alas I was in for more hills, the clay beast below being but the first of many.

Still in the lead, one of the race officials directed me the wrong way costing me about 1 minute of precious time and 1 place. I was now in second place and really just stoked to be still going strong. Lesson learned - Don't believe the 'race official', trust the race briefing and directions given then.

I finished!

(see results here)

My attitude had gone from Winning to Survival to Stokedness!

Thank you Lord.
Thanks Jackie.
Thanks Mum and Dad.
Thanks to my encouraging sister for her hard earned Julia Creek Tri singlet!
(all the best for your upcoming one Jul)
Thanks to everyone who prayed for my knees!