The glamorous runner

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Oh how work can get in the way of life and running. I have been so busy of late I have only managed about one run a week, which is a tragedy given the lovely weather. However this Sunday I made up for it with fantastic run out and up the hills to the countryside beyond.

Not only did I manage a run, but I also managed to look Über cool as they say. Ages ago in the depths of winter I was sent a pair of adidas running glasses to test. But in the snow and winter nights they seemed a bit out of place and became buried in the drawer and forgotten about.

In fact they are a little too glam for me really and if the truth be known, I did think I would look frankly ridiculous in the winter in a pair of gold mirror goggle glasses. But this weekend with the sun blazing down I decided to brave it.

Fortunately it was quite early when I set off, so no one really noticed me and pretty soon I forgot I was wearing them. As it happened they were really, really comfortable and so light I hardly noticed them. They were an instant hit and I am not sure I will be able to run in bright sunlight again without them. I now understand that people do not run in them to look cool (well, some do) they wear them because they work!

I have quite sensitive eyes, so flying insects and intense sun can be really uncomfortable and cause my eyes to stream and itch. I had none of these problems on Sunday. It was also lovely to run without a squint and both eyes open, and I am sure they will help prevent facial lines!

The only downside is that they are not very friendly, as in, I think I look a bit intimidating. This is borne out because fewer people waved and smiled as we passed on the towpath. And I am sure some people probably thought I looked a bit of a prat.

If they were a little less glam, a little less Posh spice, I would probably wear them more often, and I may check out the range to see if there is a slightly more low-key pair because I am a convert and would definitely recommend them!

Happy Easter one and all, I do hope you have fun in the great outdoors – barefoot or not!

Got a question, comment or just fancy a chat? Email me at [email protected]

Where to buy barefoot running shoes

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The good news is, my injury seems to be recovering nicely. I can still feel a slight ache from time to time, especially if there is a camber in the road or I am trotting up a steep hill. But on the whole, all is good and I have enjoyed a couple of scenic six mile runs in the lovely mild spring weather.

I have also on occasion, had the pleasure of the company of a few friends, whose run up the canal has coincided with mine. Usually I am a solitary runner – I rather like this, as I like to think, I like the quiet and I like to listen to the birds.

But sometimes it’s nice to chat too, even if that means my 180 beat goes to pot (don’t you find that you tend to fall into the same stride as your companion?) Invariably the chat turns to barefoot running, mainly about how it’s going, but also where to buy the shoes. This is I realise is a problem.

There is one shop in Bath that sells Vibram Five Fingers (although I understand it rarely has many in stock), but other than that unless you fancy a trip to London where you can find several options if you know where to look, it’s over to the internet. One of my favourite sites is Lovethoseshoes.com, they always have a lot of choices and very cleverly they put ‘coming soon’ styles up too, just to whet your appetite. So I thought I would have a chat with them and see if they had any interesting insights in the the barefoot world.

lovethoseshoes.com stocks a range of trainers, minimal shoes and sandals all aimed at the barefoot runner. They started stocking Vibram Fivefingers back in 2009, when the concept was still very new, but as Sarah Scully (Head Buyer & Merchandiser) says,

“There was something very intriguing about Fivefingers. We believed they’d do great but at the very least we knew they would create debate! “

After positive sales of Fivefingers, lovethoseshoes.com started to import brands from the US which again became very popular straight away. The sales continue to build steadily each season and as more brands come into the market then awareness grows. Currently the male market is bigger, but the women’s market is growing too as brands like Vivo Barefoot begin to develop and offer styles specifically for women.

The best seller this season proves this growth in the women’s market since it is a women’s shoe – in fact from my favourite range of the season - it is the Merrell Womens Pure Glove. According to Sarah it has really dominated sales this season. “It’s a great style because it’s good for running and for casual wear too. It’s the first season for Merrell Barefoot and it’s nice to see a newcomer do so well,” she comments.

Clearly lovethoseshoes.com are well ahead of the market in barefooting trends, so I asked Sarah if she could give us a sneak preview of an exciting developments coming up – so here it is: Merrell’s new barefooting iphone app. Which I must confess I didn’t know anything about (must be losing my touch!), so I have just installed it and will let you know how it goes!

So if you fancy getting some new shoes or want to give barefooting a go, it’s definitely worth checking out lovethoseshoes.com I just counted and there are over 50 pairs on offer, plus they offer free delivery and returns too which is always nice!

Got a question, comment or just fancy a chat? Email me at [email protected]

Back on the road with hope and happiness!

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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.

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]

Wow – check out these latest barefoot running shoes!

Filed under Danielle's barefoot running blog

So here I am resting my injury and feeling a little impatient to get back running. The trouble is the longer you rest the harder it is to get going again and alas, that naughty sofa who often invites her friends tea and chocolate is also becoming a a rather addictive habit and I can see the old muffin top swelling by the day.

Aaah the joys of a big squashy sofa and a good book – I fear I may never recover from my injury. So to help me go cold turkey I have decided to take a look at what’s new and exciting in the world of barefoot running – there’s nothing like some swishy new kit to motivate a girl (ok, a middle aged woman).

Zem Gear

First up is Zem Gear, less of a shoe more of a sock. Now I haven’t actually seen a pair yet since they are currently only available in the US, but I thought they were definitely worth a mention for all you extreme minimalists out there.

In essence (as far as I can work out) they are like a snug fitting lightweight neoprene bootie, so if you are into watersports they will look familiar. The upper is made of a stretchy fabric that fits to your shape of your foot, underfoot is a grippy rubber outsole and then the eye-catching and most critical feature is the thick stretchy rubber bands that wrap around the foot and hold everything in place.

I like the idea of these for general outdoorsy activities – camping, playing on the beach and the like, and they have several versions aimed at different activities. But as yet I am not entirely sure about pounding pavements in them – we shall see – I am hoping to try a pair this spring so I will keep you posted! www.zemgear.com

Vivo Barefoot

Next up are the latest offerings from Vivo Barefoot, one of the pioneers of barefoot running shoes. This season the shoes are designed in conjunction with Lee Saxby who I totally respect and like (Click here to see my earlier post about my lesson with Lee) so I am hopeful for good things.

These first two are essentially upgrades on previous styles. Below left is the Evo (£95), which is now available in new colourways including this girly, yet rather stylish, white and raspberry colourway.

Below right is a new style called Neo (£85), which, it has to be said looks a lot like the Evo! The difference however is a water-resistant upper and according to the press release – retro-styling! Which is probably more apparent in the flesh than through the medium of press release. Either way I do like the Vivo Barefoot shoes (click here for my Evo II wearer trial), and I have also spotted a rather nice green and white colourway of the Neo, so they are definitely worth checking out.

Also from Vivo Barefoot, and possibly a bit more exciting is this completely new style called Ultra – I’ve given it a large picture in recognition of this! The Ultra is ultra-lightweight and aimed at a multitude of outdoor sports – trail running, watersports, beach activities etc – do you see a theme emerging?

What sets this shoe apart from the other two is that it has a removable inner sock which is, according to the press release, puncture resistant. It also gives antibacterial freshness and climate control. I am assuming this means you can wash it or choose to wear the shoe with or without the sock. Pictured below is the Ultra without the sock and it’s worth mentioning that this is one of the cheaper shoes on offer at £60. www.vivobarefoot.com

Aside from all the beneficial technology surrounding outsole and midsoles, which you can read about on their website, the most striking feature is the internal thong and unusual closure system, which they claim prevents excessive foot movement and is therefore more energy efficient.

Sounds an interesting theory, looks pretty amazing, but unfortunately is not yet available here or indeed in a women’s version. Still you can’t have everything!
www.golite-footwear.com

Got a question, comment or just fancy a chat? Email me at [email protected]

Bath Half Marathon – my race!

Filed under Danielle's barefoot running blog

So the day of the race has arrived and despite my recent calf strain and only one 4 mile run in three weeks I am really looking forward to the event. For me this is a fun and relaxed race, I only live five minutes from the start and get lots of cheery support from friends and familly on the way round.

Because the start is so close to my house, I can take it easy in the morning and not leave my house till half an hour before the start which is a great bonus – especially on this race day as it is rather grey and chilly.

This year is the 30th anniversary of the Bath Half marathon. This fact reminds me that I am getting on a bit – I first ran the race when I was a nimble 19 year old, I was not a runner as such, but I was fit from all my canoeing training. My time as I remember was around 1.42 and I ran with a friend called Marilyn who was a gym member where I was working between college. Marilyn was older than me – probably not much different from my age now and somewhere I have a photo of us smiling as we aproach the last couple of miles.

They are happy memories of a very different race – fewer entries, no goody bags, fewer specatators. But great!

Race day also means careful consideration of what to wear – I choose all my favorite items and this is a strangely comforting ritual:
Shock Absorber run specific bra – The best by far.
Sweaty Betty longline vest – I like the length and having a fitted base layer keeps me snug, warm and holds the wobbly bits in place.
Zoca Long Sleeve top – looser style performance top (hides the muffin-top), thats a bit stylish but also really comfortable.
Gore windstopper capri’s (nice higher cut waist which is way more comfortable than all the hipster versions, plus windproof panels to protect my thigh muscles)
Compressport calf sock – Ok I wouldnt actually class this as a favourite item, but I hope it will help me get around the race. Vainly I only wear one, so I dont look like I am wearing weird leggings!
Smartwool socks
Merrell Pace Glove shoes
Workplay waist pack with door keys, Mule bar gel and phone (plus a bit of loo roll – just in case)
Sugoi windproof jacket to keep warm before the start.

So at 10.30 I knock on my neighbour Richards’ door, as is customary, and we head off to the start. In the olden days we used to sneak in from the course-end of the start five minutes before the gun and then wiggle back a bit – but alas now it is all rather serious at that end of the race and we can no longer get away with it!

Richard has a green number as he is faster, so he jumps over the barrier to avoid a long trek round to the back of the group, while I head on down to the orange start. Still 20 minutes to go, we have misjudged it and arrived a little early – damn. In front of the Orange start (below left) is the end of the Green start (below right) and a nice big space for warming up, so I sneak under the tape and jog around rather than stand still in the line. I am sure this will annoy some people, but this is self preservation – I have no desire to freeze for 20 minutes.

To everyone’s relief the race starts on time – I LOVE THE START – all the excitement, all the crowds, and the anticipation, it’s such a spectacle to see the runners stretching out in front and behind along the wide majestic roads of this part of town.

I tend to run along the edge, looking out for friends that I have promised to wave at – I realise this suggests that I am not taking the race very seriously – and maybe I am not in the way most runners do. A few years ago I would have had all my split times written on my hand and be aiming for a certain time, but more recently I just have not been able to train sufficiently and have been forced to look at races in a different way.

Now I don’t take a watch, I worry not about the time, I relax, I enjoy, I high-five the kids and wave at my friends and salute the bands – in short I have fun and its quite a different experience. One day I hope to go back to a more serious attitude, but for now this is the way to go and I would recommend it to everyone who is also just running for fun and fitness!

The first half of the race is joyous, I spot loads of friends and the sun even comes out. I am going at a slow but steady and comfortable pace, it’s cautious and sensible given my recent injury and I am pretty chuffed with myself. I even think that maybe its time to pick up the pace a bit!

But then, completely out of the blue, the injury flares up. AAAARRRGGGHHH I am so annoyed. I am heading out on the second lap to the the furthest point of the run and starting to limp, so it is decision time. If I keep going there is no early way back because of the river, but there are two bridges close by. I really want to get fit and enter more races this year so I decide to take a left turn over the nearest bridge to prevent further damage.

I am now around 2 1/2 miles from home, the quickest route home is also the last 2 miles of the race, so since the pavements are jammed I rejoin the race, stay out of the way and jog/hobble along the route until the final bend before the finish – then I slip off sideways and dissapear home (no doubt completely baffling the runners around me who must be thinking ‘we’ve only got 300 metres to go don’t drop out now!).

Back to the ice, the elevation and rest. Still - on the plus side I raised some money for charity (huge thanks to all who donated x), I enjoyed the day and actually, getting to nearly 8 miles without any pain was pretty reassuring. The injury is not so bad as the first time, so I am hopeful that I can get back on my feet and on short runs in a couple of weeks.

On my soapbox

Drinks stations are starting to annoy me – BIG TIME. It’s starting to get silly, with thousands and thousands of bottles of water and sports drinks literally being wasted and causing a major hazard to runners. It’s amazing no one has been knocked out by stupid, stupid competitors lobbing near full bottles from the course to the pavement. At one point the bloke in front of me threw his over everyones heads, over the cleared route for the race leaders and into a skip around 10 meters away – madness. And even if you don’t get knocked out by a flying bottle, you have to dodge the abandoned ones and their lids littering the course to avoid twisting your ankle.

This is not unique to The Bath Half Marathon, this is a scene familiar in many bigger races. I carry my own drink as I prefer the be self sufficient and I really think this has got to be the way to go. If people can get themselves trained and kitted out for a race then surely they can find a way to carry their own drink.

I know, I know, many will say it’s a safety issue – that it is the race’s duty to stop people passing out through dehydration – but really these drinks stations are about product placement not safety. A couple of water stations for emergencies should really be sufficient, it would cut back on the disgraceful waste, save hours of tidying up and prevent potential injury.

OK rant over.

Got a question, comment or just fancy a chat? Email me at [email protected]

Just when it was all going so well…

Filed under Danielle's barefoot running blog

Well it had to happen sometime, I have picked up a minor calf strain! Having completed 12 miles in the rain and mud on Sunday, I was full of confidence (maybe too much), when I set out for my Tuesday six miler. I was a bit weary to start with – inevitably I guess after the 12 miler – but once I warmed up, I was feeling pretty good.

Then it happened, literally as I reached my turn (obviously it had to be as far from home as possible!) I felt a strange pain deep in the middle of my left calf muscle. At first I thought it was cramp and decided to walk a bit, but it didn’t seem to improve. Damn, surely I am not injured I think to myself as I walk towards home in the dark, cold and rainy night. I do have my phone, but no one is home, and it’s not enough of an emergency to bother anyone else, so I decide to tough it out.

After walking for about ½ a mile I start to get cold, so I decide that once up the hill ahead, I would try and trot again. Of course the trouble with trying to run home carrying an injury is that the rest of your body starts to compensate and hurt too. In the event, I was able to trot/jog and occasionally walk home. Arriving just as my family pulls up too.

‘Oy – hurry up slow coach’ comes the call from the ever supportive other half, as I trot miserably up the road.

Once in the warm, I realise that I am now depleted (if you read my last post – you will know that I spoke too soon!) So I quickly change into something warm and dry whilst simultaneously frying up a double fried egg sandwich with salt and drinking some warm Ribena! (I know, I know – what a gourmet combination!)

I manage to avert a full on crash, by following my sandwich with a couple of handfuls of peanuts and a several spoonfuls of Nutella. Then I make myself a cup of tea, settle in the bath and start googling calf strain.