4 Races in 8 Days = 84kms

From Sunday to Sunday, I ran 4 races for a total of 84kms!

Last Sunday I raced in the Springs Striders 32km. This was the first time that I have done this race and I am really pleased that I did. I travelled with 4 girls from the same athletics club, altho' from another branch and this was a chance to get to know them all a bit better.

We met at Tanja's house at 4:15am for the hour long drive out to Springs. The race started at 6am and we got to see the sun rise about 15 minutes into the race.

We ran to Sharon's pacing chart and finished in a comfortable time of 3:33. I enjoyed running with Sharon and Sally. We kept an easy pace, chatted occasionally, motivated each other when necessary and pushed each other when needed. I am used to running on my own, in silence but listening to snippets of conversations around me, and taking in the surroundings so I found this quite novel and surprisingly pleasant. It was a well organized race with good water points and a reflective jacket given to the first 500 pre-entries (I wasn't one of them). Well worth the early morning and long drive.

 

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On Wednesday night Ian and I travelled to Irene with Norman for the Irene Lantern race. There is a 5 and 10km race starting at the same time and that means a great many people. The traffic flow going in and going out of the area is very slow but we were fortunately there early enough to get in easily and get good parking. The race started 15 minutes late and I think that was because of the number of people who were late. Julie and Linda were there to do their first race of the year. (Hopefully this will be the first of at least 6, for them)

While I was checking out the food stand, Julie mentioned that this is the ideal race after which to drink a beer. So I changed my focus and located the beer tent and got my cash ready to purchase our "after-effort-treat".

A very slow start, making our way around social runners and walkers on very narrow roadways. Again, I was thinking that I won't be doing this race again. The race is run on the grounds of the Agricultural Research council and we run an out and back route past herds of cows. Just before we reached the first of two watering points, the leaders of the 10km were on their way back!

The road is lit by lanterns, placed on the side of the road every 30 meters. It looks really pretty and creates a festive atmosphere. Ian and I ran together the whole way!

When we finished (in a time of 1:11), we went to buy our beers and chips. The traffic leaving the venue was so slow, we decided to drink more beer ('cos we weren't driving) and chat a little more.

This is a great race to run if you are a "new" runner and are looking for a relaxed 10km. It is well organized, festive and fun but no longer for me. I don't think the time and distance involved is worth the 10km.

 

 

 

 

 

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The 3rd race of the week was the KFC Valentines Night Race 10km. This was the first time that I have run this race and it was also a lot of fun. The traffic was slow getting there - even tho' it is only 20 minutes from home, it took us an hour because of the number of people taking part, it was Friday evening and it was raining.

Ian and I lined up with Sharon and Sally and met Sergio, a barefoot runner who makes his own sandals. The start was congested but on a dual-carriage-way with lots of space so wasn't so slow. We ran in the dark, with drizzling rain, and a huge thank-you to all the Marshall's, metro police and water table volunteers who supported us with such spirit. We finished this race in 1:05 and received a branded coffee mug for our efforts.

Another great race that was fun to do and I am glad that I have taken part. Not sure that I will want to do it again. (I didn't take any pictures of this run because it was dark and raining.)

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This past Sunday, I ran the Pick n Pay 21/42km. This is the third time that I have run this race. It is well organized, pre-entries only, timed with champion chip and you get a fantastic long-sleeve-t-shirt and goody bag!

Like last year, I ran the first lap and instead of carrying on to the finish, I went off with the marathoners on their second lap. At the 24km water point, I turned around and ran back to the finish. This gave me a supported 32km training run.

I ran with Sally and Sharon again, this time using my Run/Walk 9:1 strategy. It worked very well for me and I finished in 3:31 which was 5 minutes faster than last year.

Just like last year, I was impressed that the clean-up was well on the way when I ran back past the 3km watering point. I did feel awkward when I joined the marathoners in the last 1.5km - it looks like I was running a very good marathon time. I did go thru' the half-marathon finishing shute and my official finish time shows a slow half marathon. After collecting my t-shirt and goody bag, I looked back to the finishing line, just in time to see my dad finish his full marathon - 3 minutes behind me!!!

I was very saddened to hear that a runner had a heart attack and died on the road at the 39km mark. My Thoughts are with his family.

The RWFL tented was very well catered with these delightful valentines cupcakes amongst other tasty goodies.

I am undecided about whether or not I will do this race yesterday. Ian says he will definitely do it again – for the t-shirt.

Amanzingwe 11km Trail Race

Alan and I made the 7am, 45 minute drive in cold weather to Amanzingwe, near Hartbeesport Dam.

The start area had a little market going with a sports shop displaying shoes, 2 tents offering compression gear, Hammer nutrition and tent offering taping and massage.

I had signed up to try a pair of calf compression sleeves from www.compressport.co.za and collected them at the tent.  I was measured up to make sure I got the correct size and told that there are no studies showing that there is any benefit in wearing the sleeves during exercise but plenty showing that if they are worn after exercise, there are many recovery benefits.  I did feel a little hot wearing them but that could also be because I had them on under my long NB running pants.  I didn’t notice any benefit while running but can report that I had no calf pain the day after the race but Karen did.  This really doesn’t mean anything since she is the first to admit that she hasn’t been running much and isn’t totally fit to run an 11km trail race. 

Karen arrived just in time for the start and we couldn’t see Val anywhere, even tho’ there were only about 400 runners.  It was Karen’s birthday but I was so happy to see her (I wasn’t expecting her to be there) and I forgot to wish her.  It was only at about 4km that her mobile phone rang and she answered that I remembered and wished her.  I felt really bad for having forgotten her birthday!!  I think I made it up to her later when myself and a few other runners, sang Happy Birthday while we were walking up a very steep incline.

My clean feet at the start, wearing my brand new Invisible Shoe 4mm Connects on their first trail run.

The race had a seriously tough profile and was quite technical which had us walking a fair amount of the 11km.  Karen and I stayed together and chatted, enjoyed each others company and the beautiful views.

Karen very bravely crossed the wall, she hates heights but had no other way to get to the other side.

Our welcoming committee – Alan who finished in 1:25, Gus who did the 5km and Val who finished in 1:33. They had very kindly waited a half hour for Karen and I to finish in 2 Hours. Definitely my slowest 11km.

Karen, Val, Alan and I at the finish, all happy with the days outing.

My dirty feet, that got clean in a shower. 

I did well in my new Invisible Shoe Connects.  They are 4mm rubber soles, just like the original IS.  I got 5 small bruises on my right foot, 3 in the arch, from landing on large and/or sharp stones.  This is not unusual and I was happy with my sandals.  I had been thinking that I might order a pair of 6mm Contacts for trail running but there really is no need. I had no scratches or thorns or anything because my feet are open.  I am slightly wondering if I would go faster downhill if I had a cushioned shoe but even then I imagine I would go slow for fear of falling in which case my shoes or lack thereof would make no difference. There were parts of the course that had me thinking I might need to look at running in minimal trail shoes but nothing about my sandals had me wanting to change.

Another good trail event, well organised and a lovely route – I will be back.

Titbit Tuesday

Vibram Five Fingers vs Huaraches

I was recently chatting to a family member who is thinking of taking up running again. He hasn't run in many years but is thinking about it now because there is a stage race in the second half of the year that he would like to do. He was also in touch with a physiotherapist who insists that running barefoot is the best way to run. Needless to say, he went to try a pair of Vibram Five Fingers.

This picture was taken from birthdayshoes.com

I said that if he is only starting to run, he should run barefoot from the beginning and build up his feet and stamina at the same time. At the very most, he should wear huaraches, like mine from Invisible Shoes, for the times that being barefoot could be hazardous.

Then, I came across a trail runner, Chaotic Mark, who did a video review of his Luna Sandals vs The Vibram Five Fingers.

It is a longish video but well worth watching - to see his running style, on trails no less, his take on the tread, the fact that the Vibram is still a shoe, his focus on correct natural running form

I obviously wear Invisible Shoe huraches and think they are great. I would recommend that you read up on the difference between Luna Sandals from Barefoot Ted (as featured in this video) and Invisible Shoes, and find a pair that suits your needs.

At the end of the day, whatever gets you running in a more natural style and form will lead to a more pleasant (and injury free) running experience.

To JM, go for a short run "in" your barefeet and notice the feeling of the ground beneath your feet - I'm sure you'll not want to ruin the experience with a pair of shoes ;-)

Tidbit Tuesday

Sale and Give Away

I love Giveaways and I love a Good Sale and today you can have both :-)

The Giveaway is over at Barefoot Angie's Blog and is for a set of 5 headbands.

All you need to do is follow her blog (and it is well worth following) and leave a comment for Angie. This giveaway will run until Monday November 29th and the winner will be announced on Tuesday 30th.

If you are interested in huaraches - Invisible Shoes are having a one year anniversary Sale.  Everything is 20% off! 

 

That means custom-made Invisible Shoes are $39.95 — you save $10/pair

Kids kits are only $10.35

Standard kits – $15.96 — save over $4

Large kits – $19.96 — that’s $5 off.

And extra laces are 30% off — just $1.99/pair!



This sale ends on Sunday, November 28th, but may end early if they run out of material! So, now’s your chance try out Invisible Shoes for yourself, or buy a kit or custom shoes for a friend or loved one as a gift.

 

I love my huaraches



These are my shoes as soon as I made them - each foot with a different tying method.  I now have the orange, blue and lime-green shoe laces.  I tie mine with the slip-on method and am using the blue laces as pictured in my profile.

Tidbit Tuesday

Steven Sashen of InvisibleShoe.com showing how to make your own huaraches.



This is the process that I followed but unfortunately I didn't think to take photographs.

3kms in BFS

I ran my 3km route to the highschool and back, wearing my huaraches. I am definitely going with the slip-on style and tying the extra lace into "The Phoenix Flower" designed by Lena.
I could feel the lace between my toes and so played around pulling it tighter on one foot and making it looser on the other and running a bit to see which one I prefer. Turns out that it felt best when the lace was relatively tight from my toe to the first hole and a little looser around the back of my foot to the second hole. I am reading and learning alot at www.invisibleshoe.com/tying

I got my Huaraches

I am so excited because my Huaraches have arrived! I ordered them from http://www.invisibleshoe.com/ on May 1st and I collected my parcel today. I get to trace my foot, cut out the rubber and learn to lace them up. I will try running in them tomorrow at RWFL.