After two and a half weeks off allowing my calf injury to recover, I am finally back on the road! In that time the weather has gone from pretty chilly to pretty warm and my first three mile trot found me overheating and longing for shorts and a vest. But I am not complaining, I love the spring, it is my absolute favorite season - so full of hope and happiness.
However it is also the season of pasty white legs and serious kit confusion. What to wear during this trans-seasonal time?
This weekend on my first six miler since the Bath Half Marathon I think I got it sussed! I have this great top by Gore Running Wear that was part of a travel set they launched a couple of seasons ago.
It is a short sleeve zip neck technical tee with removable arms - it is genius and I don’t quite know why there are not more of them around. It’s very much in the style of cyclists tops and many of you will be aware that cyclists often wear armwarmers - this goes one better because both arms are joined together with a panel across the shoulders - which means when you get too hot you can tie it around your waist!
I realise this sounds a bit odd, but honestly it’s brilliant and so well engineered that you barely notice it’s a separate item until you remove it. I spotted that you can buy a similar mini bolero as a separate item and several varieties of arm warmers on women’s bike website Minx-girl - worth a check I reckon.
Also from Gore (apologies for the Gore Running Wear love-in) is this summer’s hottest trend…see that fashion background just sneaks in sometimes! It’s the running skirt, which I also adore. Basically it’s a skort, exactly the same as you would wear for tennis or in my case badminton, but with a couple of little running details like a mini pocket and eyelet details for your MP3 player.
Personally I think theses skirts are really flattering and should appeal to a broad range of women, but specifically anyone who wants to cover up their rear end! Below is a nice picture of a Brooks version, which I am not sure is available here - but it gives the gist and we really like Brooks gear anyway! Go check them out - Sugoi, Pearl Izumi and Ronhill do versions too.
So never mind the kit, how did the runs go, I hear you ask! Well - not bad, I can still feel the calf a bit when I set off, but as I warm into the run and relax it seems to disappear. I am concentrating on technique and also running where possible on grass or grassy verges, just to minimise the impact as I get fit again. I am now three runs in and all is fine so I am hopeful - my main challenge is not to get carried away and do to much too soon.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Recent posts:
Wow – check out these latest barefoot running shoes!
Two weeks off, race at the weekend + Vibram Fivefinger review
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Spring cleaning
To celebrate the start of spring I thought I would also do a spot of spring cleaning and clear the mud from my shoes. Rather handily a nifty little device has arrived called the Stuffitts Shoe Saver. Stuffitts are designed to eliminate odour and get your shoes dry quickly - you clean them (or not) then stuff the stuffitts into each shoe and the hang them (this I like - very handy) to dry. The magic ingredient is the natural red cedar insert which absorbs moisture.
Good news is they work well, check out my stylish shot of shoes hanging in my front garden. They seem a little pricey at £25.99 but I bet they will get used for ever and pretty soon you will wonder how you ever managed with newspaper stuffing and the radiator! http://stuffitts.co.uk
Got a question, comment or just fancy a chat? Email me at [email protected]
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Resources:
www.primalifestyle.com
www.treatfeet.me
www.newtonrunning.co.uk
www.vivobarefoot.com
www.terraplana.com
About this blog: This blog is all about my experiences as I embark on converting to Barefoot running – I will investigate the market, sort facts from fiction (maybe) test the footwear and attempt to run the Bath Half Marathon in March wearing my Barefoot shoe of choice.
What is Barefoot running? Barefoot running is not actually Barefoot in most cases, but a new style of minimal shoe and a more natural way of running.
Why Barefoot running? Many people believe that the technological advances in running shoes over the last 20-30 years are unnecessary and could be responsible for many injuries. Barefoot devotees say simpler footwear allows the foot to build up it’s own strength and protects against injury better than any shoe can.
Who am I? I am a 45 year old woman, mother of two, twice a week runner and co-founder of Sportsister. I was in my younger days a pretty decent canoeist and sportswoman, now I am pretty average middle aged woman.
Where did it all begin? For me it all began with the now cult book Born To Run by Chris McDougall. Chris embarks on research into his own running related injuries and refusing to believe he will not ever be able to run again goes in search of the Tarrahumara Tribe in South America to see how they can run hundreds of miles a week barefoot well into old age and yet we cannot.
I love this book, I love the slightly anti-establishment element that challenges and questions, I love the renegade characters featured In the Ultra marathon world and I love the fact that Chris has founded a whole movement. Plus now he can run and even attempt ultra marathons.
What do I hope to achieve? I am hoping this adventure will re-invigorate my interest in running, help me stay injury free and lead to me running more! Ultimately I would like to find the time to train for a marathon and I even fantasise about going further – maybe 30-40-50 miles. Towards the end of my time as a canoeist I found myself persuaded to enter a 125 canoe race (non stop) I could not believe it was possible - but it is and I went on to complete it two more times. I would like to see if I can run a long way too…
