Some area runners are leaving their sneakers behind to try on a more natural approach to training.
From barely-there shoes to nothing at all, some seasoned runners say barefoot running has its benefits.
"Running sneakers provide a tremendous amount of support and cushioning, but they could be hurting us by causing the foot area to move differently," Framingham runner Adam King said. "Shoes are basically doing the work nature intended our feet to do."
A self-proclaimed "fitness geek," King said he's always interested in running improvements and was intrigued by the trend he read about in magazines.
HMEA has a long history of providing innovative services in school, at work, at home and in the community and now serve over 2400 children and adults with developmental disabilities. Services include: Residential, Day and Family supports, and services for children.
HMEA's Employment Programs provides people with disabilities the opportunity to pursue meaningful employment either on a full- or part-time basis. For people in the Employment Program who work part-time, HMEA encourages volunteering for community organizations, or leisure and recreation activities to supplement their day.
HMEA's Employment Programs serve people 22 years of age and older who live within the commuting distance of program locations in the following cities and towns: Bellingham, Clinton, Hopedale, Plainville and Worcester
SAVE THE DATE...Sunday, May 23, 2010 HMEA's 9th Annual Independence 5K Walk/Run in the Park - MARK YOUR CALENDARS and grab your sneakers to participate in this "Fun-filled Family Day fundraising event...
This event, which is hosted by our good friends at EMC2 Corporation in Franklin, MA gathers 2,000 or more people to help HMEA continue its mission to make a difference in people's lives. AND, all the money raised is returned to the many programs at HMEA, which supports 2,400 children and adults with intellectual challenges and developmental disabilities.
Once again we have Gene Lavanchy from Fox News25 and tentatively Gail Huff from WCVB-TV Channel performing hosting duties for us. And our great friends and inspiration to many, "TEAM HOYT", Dick and Rick will be on hand again this year -- plus we're pretty sure there will be a few other celebrities and mascots on hand as well!
So come on down and participate in the fun...there's raffle prizes, food, tee shirts for participants (while they last), prizes, a Kids Corner filled with games and activities, a Kids "FUN RUN" and so much more...
"Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity"
HMEA has a long history of providing innovative services in school, at work, at home and in the community and now serve over 2400 children and adults with developmental disabilities. Services include: Residential, Day and Family supports, and services for children.
HMEA's Employment Programs provides people with disabilities the opportunity to pursue meaningful employment either on a full- or part-time basis. For people in the Employment Program who work part-time, HMEA encourages volunteering for community organizations, or leisure and recreation activities to supplement their day.
HMEA's Employment Programs serve people 22 years of age and older who live within the commuting distance of program locations in the following cities and towns: Bellingham, Clinton, Hopedale, Plainville and Worcester
SAVE THE DATE...Sunday, May 23, 2010 HMEA's 9th Annual Independence 5K Walk/Run in the Park - MARK YOUR CALENDARS and grab your sneakers to participate in this "Fun-filled Family Day fundraising event...
This event, which is hosted by our good friends at EMC2 Corporation in Franklin, MA gathers 2,000 or more people to help HMEA continue its mission to make a difference in people's lives. AND, all the money raised is returned to the many programs at HMEA, which supports 2,400 children and adults with intellectual challenges and developmental disabilities.
Once again we have Gene Lavanchy from Fox News25 and tentatively Gail Huff from WCVB-TV Channel performing hosting duties for us. And our great friends and inspiration to many, "TEAM HOYT", Dick and Rick will be on hand again this year -- plus we're pretty sure there will be a few other celebrities and mascots on hand as well!
So come on down and participate in the fun...there's raffle prizes, food, tee shirts for participants (while they last), prizes, a Kids Corner filled with games and activities, a Kids "FUN RUN" and so much more...
"Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity"
I got out early Friday morning to crunch my footsteps in the new snow. Stopping to take a photo or two, I did complete three miles with some double telephone pole fartlek.
Drove home from the recent Baslock reunion so I missed running Sunday. Will definitely need to be more diligent with the running schedule as I go forward.
Do you have goals for the new year?
I did a 6 mile run today and rendezvoused with Dolores and her walk to met at Cafe Dolce. The juice and coffee will pick me up for the walk home together.
Note: these flowers were in the hanging basket outside Cafe Dolce
Altered my route today due to the high humidity. I shortened the length and changed to one where there was lots of tree cover. I was hoping the shade would help and it did. The course change did add a big element of more hills but that was the price to pay today.
I took a couple of stretch and water breaks, lengthening one to Twitter about the hope for rain. It turned out to be a passing cloud, nothing more than that.
I added a stop at the Dunkin Donuts on the last stretch to enjoy a nice coolatta but alas their machine was down and nothing of that sort was available. I passed on the coffee as it was already too hot.
Walking the final stretch home by Spruce Pond, I enjoyed the breeze. You can see evidence of it in the ripples on the water surface.
Weighing myself I found I lost about 7 pounds of water weight. I have been hydrating myself all afternoon and am not quite back to normal yet. Good excuse for a second beer today!
What is the lesson from running in the heat?
Adjust to the conditions. I ran slower, took a shadier course, and carried water. All things that Amby Burfoot covers in his recent Runner's World article on running in the heat. It is good advice to follow.
May the roads and trails be kind to you!
I found one shoe the other day on Union St in Franklin.
Running this morning, I saw one along RT 140 but I was in stride and didn't want to stop. I turned the corner onto King St heading on the home stretch and saw this second shoe. It made a pair with the one on RT 140. I had to stop for this one now.
If CSI: Franklin were involved, I could speculate that the boy, strapped into his car seat, sitting by the back window of an SUV, playing with his shoe managed to take one off and either accidentally or intentionally it went out the window. This one on King St was the first. As he realized what he had done, he went to take off the second one and tossed that also. That was the second shoe along RT 140.
By the time, they arrived where they were going, the mother was left with a son with no shoes and no idea where they went.
I had a good run avoiding the rain today.
Three shoes in less than a week? Creative kids or inattentive parents?
Hopefully, you did not leave a sock at the starting line?
Down at the track for my pace workout this morning, I saw one sock near the starting line and another about 20 yards away. I guess it was warm and they decided to remove them.
Socks are good to absorb sweat and reduce friction which can create blisters. Yes, there are arguments for running barefoot too but that doesn't work very well in an urban environment.
Bottom line: be prepared for your workout. Make it a good one!
No matter how steep the hill you still take it a step at a time. This is especially true for Mount Street. It has a sharp slope. Fortunately, it is less than a half-mile long.
It demands attention.
Pick 'em up, pick 'em up!
One step at a time and soon you can hear the peacocks crowing as the take the slight bend to the right.
Soon, you'll turn right on Upper Union and just a little more of an up slope until you crest by the water tank.
Then it is a good ways down. Let the gravity do all the work. Your legs can stretch out and hug along the soft sand to help cushion the down steps.
A good work out!
3 miles in the coolness of the morning brings me to a total of 100 year to date!
No ankle problems.
The workouts will progressively get harder as I work myself into good running condition on the 3-day per week FIRST Plan.
I realized that running in the rain is a progressive resistance workout. As I got out of my wet clothing, I realized how much it weighed. That was a lot of water it held, as evidenced by the dark shadow on the floor, the puddle the rain left as it dripped from the clothing.
It was a good 6 mile run today. One of my favorite routes. The rolling hills along Pleasant St provide a short slope up, incentive to maintain stride, hold the pace, keep the rhythm going. Then the road flattens out a bit, allowing for a brief respite before slopping up again. The slope and flat pattern occurs about four times, then you turn into downtown where is rises again and then on King St the last slope before home.
The rain didn't bother me. Didn't really notice it while running other than keeping watch for the road puddles to avoid.
A nice warm shower after getting out of the wet clothes gave me a good start to the day!
A close up of the finish medal from yesterday's St Pat's 5K Race held down in Providence, RI.
A great event, well executed and for the first time run, it attracted about 2600!
I was waiting patiently for the results to be posted to CoolRunning and shortly after they were, I also received a personalized email with my specific results. Nicely done!
I'll likely return next year. It was a great experience!
Are you going to stagger to the start today?
Or take the inside track with focus and determination?
I did my first track workout this morning. It felt a little strange at first. It has been several months since I was on a track. The ankle and new brace have continued to behave well. Knock on wood, I hope it continues that way.
I started with some simple strides working my way up a small ladder. 100-200-300-300-200-100. With a walk/jog recovery of the same distance for each step. Then I ran home from the track (another 2 miles) for a total workout of about 3.5 miles.
A good work out. I will sleep well tonight.
Yes, the second week for 5 miles on Sunday. The ankle brace is continuing to do its thing. The ankle feels normal.
The run was good today. An out and back route, little breeze, warmer so I only needed the headband. I also rolled up my gloves and carried them most of the way. Helped to concentrate on good arm carry and good rhythm.
I'll run 3 on Tuesday, do some quarters for the first time on the track on Thursday and then go down to Providence for the St Patrick's 5K on Saturday. It won't be a race effort for me, just a good run in plenty of company.
If you are going to Providence, let me know and we can meet somewhere along the way.
To whomever picked this up downtown and took the time to return it to me. This is much appreciated.
I had dropped it when running last Thursday morning. I know I had it in my pocket at the corner of Summer and East Central. When I checked again on Wachusett it was gone. I completed my run, got into the car and retraced my route. As I went along Union, I was dismayed to find that the DPW crews were out street sweeping. Good for them and cleaning up the town but that also meant that if I had dropped it on Union, I had no chance of getting it back. It would have been gobbled up in the sweeper.
With it returned, it must have fallen out somewhere along East Central before I turned on Union.
Anyway, my thanks to the person who picked it up and was kind enough to return it. Franklin does have fine people living here. Don't let anyone say otherwise!
What's with the nylons?
The new brace creates a couple of pretty good gaps between the brace and the shoe, enough for pebbles to slip inside on the run.
Not a good thing as the pebble will then create pain in a greater preportion than its size would normally indicate as it presses against the brace.
Fortunately, the nylon (cut from some of my wife's older ones) creates a lite and effective screen. I had been using the old reliable, Duct tape to seal and hold the nylon to the shoe/brace until I could find these velcro like hooks. With a little luck, they'll stay in place and I can then stretch the nylon over each time.
Should be a little more sustainable than the duct tape. Tried today for the first time and learned that I need to keep the velcro sticky side on the plastic or leather. It doesn't hold well against the cloth parts of the shoe.
More from the website:
One World Running is an international program promoting an awareness of health, fitness and nutrition by providing running shoes to those in need in the United States and around the world.
Since 1986, a group of runners in Boulder, Colorado, has collected, washed and sent to Third World countries new and "near-new" athletic shoes, T-shirts and shorts, along with medicine and school and art supplies. Shoes for Africa was started after sports journalist Mike Sandrock returned from a coaching and racing trip to Cameroon, West Africa, sponsored by the U.S. Information Agency. Many of the runners from Cameroon ran barefoot (and were still able to beat Sandrock), and afterwards, a group of Boulder elite runners including Lorraine Moller, Steve Jones and Arturo Barrios began shipping shoes to West Africa. Since then a group of runners in Boulder has collected, washed, and sent shoes, T-shirts, and shorts to needy athletes and children around the world. The project continues to grow with shoes and athletic equipment being sent in from around the United States. Now called "One World Running" the group is a 100-percent volunteer organization, and the program has now expanded globally.
The American Cancer Society Charity Runner program is now available to New England running enthusiasts looking for the opportunity to make their miles more meaningful. Through the Charity Runner program runners are able to dedicate their run in honor or in memory of a loved one with cancer, while raising funds for the fight against this devastating disease. The American Cancer Society has a select number of entries for partner races around New England for those wishing to run as a Society Charity Runner.Fundraising minimum commitments vary by race. Since 1996, more than 5,000 athletes nationwide have helped raise $5.2 million through Charity Runner, enabling athletes of all levels to turn their passion for half-marathons, marathons, triathlons, or cycling races into a lifesaving effort to fight cancer. The American Cancer Society dedicates funds raised to fuel the most promising research; to spread lifesaving cancer awareness messages; to advocate for screening opportunities for all people; and to ease the cancer burden for people facing the disease through practical, day-to-day emotional support. In return for their fundraising efforts, American Cancer Society Charity Runners will receive many benefits, including:
- A personalized Web site to assist in fundraising efforts
- Complimentary local training
- Exclusive American Cancer Society racing shirt
- The opportunity to dedicate their participation in memory or in honor of a loved one touched by cancer.
Official 2009 race partners of the Charity Runner program in New England include:
- The Hyannis Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10 Mile; Hyannis, MA; February 22
- Great Bay Half Marathon; Newmarket, NH; April 5
- Cox Sports Marathon, Half Marathon; Providence, RI; May 3
- Sugarloaf Maine Marathon; Carrabassett Valley, ME; May 17
- Boston's Run to Remember; Boston, MA; May 24
- KeyBank VT City Marathon; Burlington, VT; May 24
- Patriot Triathlon; East Freetown, MA; June 20
- Cranberry Trifest; Lakeville, MA; August 29
- Pumpkinman Triathlon; South Berwick, ME; September 12
- Manchester City Marathon, Half Marathon; Manchester, NH; November 1
Previously qualified and registered runners for the Boston Marathon (April 20) may also choose to raise funds for the American Cancer Society through Charity Runner.
For those unable to run but interested in getting involved with the efforts of the American Cancer Society through Charity Runner, Click Here to request more information.For additional Charity Runner opportunities nationwide, please visit http://www.charityrunner.org/or contact the American Cancer Society, 24/7, 365 days a year, at 1-800-ACS-2345. The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information anytime, call toll free 1-800-ACS(227)-2345 or visit http://www.cancer.org/.
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One of the wonders of running in the snow is getting the first steps out on the road (or sidewalk).
The second wonder is hearing the crunch of snow underfoot with each stride.
The sound can make listening and understanding your rhythm easy.
Some Franklin runners hit the roads early today for a run.
This is a good thing to do on a day like today. A little leg and lung exercise before the stomach and elbow exercise later today!
Have a great Thanksgiving all!
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I did stop to take a couple of photos but otherwise kept a good steady pace.
How was your run today?