As Fast As You Can - Run! Run!

Every week it seems I'm learning more, running more, feeling more, feeling better! A couple of weeks ago (not sure how long exactly) after watching an episode of 'Real Sports' on HBO, entirely by accident, I decided to take the advice of the guest of the show and ditch my running shoes. I had been unable to participate in any sort of physical activity for a week because of terrible, pounding, joint shocking knee pain. And I was ready to give it another shot when I saw this show and something "clicked". I figured after the devastating blows to my knee and my pride, I certainly wouldn't be any worse off if I tried running without the expensive shoes. So to protect my feet I strapped on an old pair of water wading shoes with flat, pliable soles and took off. It was definitely a new experience for me. I felt a little different after my run but the real testament came the morning after. For the first time since I began this incredible journey I woke up, put my feet on the floor and walked! NO PAIN! I knew then and there that this "barefoot running" idea couldn't be all bad. Since then I've run in my water wading shoes and you couldn't pay me enough to strap on another pair of sneakers and hit the pavement in them. I believe they not only contributed to my injuries, but I believe they would have kept me from being able to continue running. And since that first day without them the only pain I've felt has been where it's supposed to be... In my sore, tired, achy muscles. My calves ache and man alive my butt does too! But then again, when you're building a muscle, it's supposed to be sore. You don't strengthen your joints by pounding your bones and grinding them together by striking your heel into pavement! It makes far too much sense to me now that the way our bodies are designed to move is actually the RIGHT way! We don't need fancy $140 shoes to help us hit the ground a certain way because we do it the right way naturally, without all that cushion and mesh and gel and whatever else they put in those rubber monsterosities. But that's enough of my shoe rant. I have some things brewing in my brain that I hope to have sorted out well enough to contribute to this blog before leaving with my family on our vacation to the mountains. I have things I need to say about running, but I don't know if I have the words yet. And quite honestly, I'm not sure that I'm ready to feed them to print. Meanwhile, run run!