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An admitted shoe geek waxes philosophical about running, triathlon, and life in general.
Comments welcome!


Sunday, April 3, 2011

A long run

Yesterday, I ran long, longer than I have in years. In fact, I don't think I've gone this far since before my second incarnation as a triathlete. Maybe 12 years, or more.


With the coming trail race at 10 miles, two half marathons (one in June, one in August), I figured I needed to start ramping up the miles some. I'll be upping the frequency as well.


I took Jake with me, and it took him about 3 miles before he stopped getting nervous about the traffic, and in the last 2 miles he started dragging a bit. Poor pup.


Since the run was almost all on roads, I wore my Kinvaras for the cushioning, and the distance kind of accentuated the issues I have with this shoe, and maybe convinced me that going with the Peregrine may just transfer the same issues to another model. Mostly it was related to the little toe on my left foot, from being pressed inward. Also, with the compression of the forefoot (wear), and the 6mm toe drop of the midsole and insole, I found myself having issues with foot strike. In the last couple miles, I renewed my attention to my stride rate and keeping it under me, and I found my fatigue level dropping dramatically. Amazing what a little attention to detail can do. I think I'd let my stride rate drop, and that meant my feet were going farther out in front of me.


I imagine that if I'd been running alone it wouldn't have been as much of an issue, since my attention wouldn't have been on Jake.


So the take-aways from the run?


One: I need new shoes for road distance. Maybe the Altras will be that. Maybe I'll have to find something else.


Two: Pay attention to form. I guess it's not as "natural" or automatic as I thought.


Three: I need to run more often, and longer. I've got some time though.


It was a good run, and I was plenty tired at the end. Can't wait to do it again.

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