A Runner's Nightmare

I think I gave myself undue props with the title of this post. You see, I'm not entirely sold on the idea that I, Courtney, am a runner.

I go back and forth in my mind about that question: Am I a Runner? 

Source: greatist.com via Courtney on Pinterest

In my head a runner is someone who does 5K's in their sleep and spends their weeks training to make a better time on their next marathon (that, by the way is in Istanbul or somewhere else glamorous, because in my head being a Runner is a glamorous thing). They know the ins and the outs of the running shoe world and read Runners World with their morning coffee.

And then there's me. I'm plugging my way, sloooowwwly, through the Couch 2 5K program. I impress myself when I move up a little bit and don't feel like death when I have to run 15 seconds longer than the day before. And it's pretty much all on a treadmill, because running on the roads in winter scares me. I get bored easily when I run. I sing to myself or talk to myself. Or I watch a TV program because that is a clear way to kill 30 minutes and not focus on my running.

Source: reasonstobefit.tumblr.com via Courtney on Pinterest

I guess I see myself as a runner. One with a little 'r' instead of the Runner with the big 'R' attached. 

But that all really isn't the reason for this post. 

The real reason? My shin splints are back. 

Source: Uploaded by user via Gabi on Pinterest

I suffered from them an itsy bit in college, but they never pained me enough to have to really deal with them. I'd fence on them, give my legs a day or two off, and then be fine to fence again.

But these days? Holy hell! 

My shins ache and it's been over 5 days since I last ran. I went to see the doctor, got some anti-inflammatory pills. And they still hurt. So now I have to call to get some sort of gel to rub all over my shins and hope that helps. My yoga instructor is also helping me with some stretches and assorted yoga stuff to take away some of the pain, so that's nice. And the instructor at the gym I love has reminded me that stretching and heat and ice will help a whole lot. And so will time. And this stubborn, former Div-I athlete may have to actually listen instead of trying to play tough and power through.

Because this pain? This pain sucks. 

So, this little runner, who dreams of someday maybe making the big leagues and being a Runner, is taking a small hiatus from running.  It's the bike, maybe the elliptical, some weights, and yoga for me for now I guess.

How about you guys? Athletic related injuries ever get you down? Do tell! And suggestions on how to make my shins not feel like glass broke inside them are always welcome!

Learning to Run

Source: rippedandfit.tumblr.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Okay, this is me trying to find a way to hold myself accountable. I am trying to get myself to be a runner. I also know my limitations - I've trained my whole life in sports that don't endear themselves towards long-distance running. Fencing? Dancing? They're all about short bursts of an immense amount of energy. So, setting out a goal of running a half marathon? Not likely for me. I'd rather set out a goal that I might be able to attain. I want to be able to run a 5K. Once I get there I can reevaluate further goals, but right now I want to set that as my goal.

You see, I need an outlet for my energy. I need to have something to do for myself each day. If I can take 30 minutes a day and go on a run - get out of my head, get out on my feet - I know I will feel a whole lot better this winter. Which is really the point. If you remember my last two winters in Budapest? Miserable. And while the winters in New England are nothing like the winters over there, the residual blahs that come with the grey days of winter still get to me. So, running? The endorphins? The energy? That's my solution, or at least that's the first solution I'm going to try out. I also want to get healthy again - I miss my college days of hours of sweating in a gym doing something I enjoyed - working out didn't feel like working out then. I guess that's what I miss - I want to work out and have it feel like not working out. Is that even possible anymore?

So, this past week while I was at home I went to the gym a few times and worked on the Couch 2 5K program - and it felt great. When I started to feel like I wanted to slow down, I pushed myself a little faster and would run an extra ten or so seconds. I am going to make this happen. Hopefully I don't have to run outside any this winter though. Maine is going to be cooooold.

Any running suggestions or support out there? You guys are always great for that sort of thing!

Running Barefoot

“If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies."

[Nadine Stair]

Well, almost barefoot running that is.

You see, I am not that great of a runner. It's not that I lack the endurance (though, that is getting pretty low these days with my increasing amount of time spent typing away in front of my computer), it's that I lack the patience. I get bored when I run - be it on a track (running in circles), running on the road (dodging cars and other pedestrians), or on the treadmill at a gym with a TV (you never actually get anywhere!).

So running has always been low on my priority list. I'd much prefer to run sprints or do a circuit of stadium stairs (yes, that does make me a masochist, but my calves look pretty amazing!). Or even better - sports. Any sort of activity that makes my brain and my body work together towards a common goal. I know a lot of people find running mentally stimulating - they get to think about everything and nothing at the same time, they get to watch the countryside go past them, they have to just get past that darn two mile marker and they're golden. For me, not so much. I get bored, end of story.

But, with the rise of a lot of my friends training for half and whole marathons (damn you facebook for showing me and therefore upping my competitive nature!), I've started to give running a new lease in my life.

This is where barefoot comes in.

I love the idea of running barefoot - running the way our bodies were intended to run. Sneakers, while comfortable, augment the way your foot strikes the ground. I like to let my body do things the way it was designed to do them - after all, our bodies are pretty amazing machines.

I bought my Vibram Fivefingers last August (well, my parents bought them for me for a 25th birthday present). And I love them. I wear them incessantly (so long as the weather is nice enough to not freeze or soak my toesies off). I bough them with the idea that I would start running in them - just short runs. Long enough to get used to them, but short enough to not let the boredom creep into my mind. I also bought them so I can wear them whenever I get back into rock-climbing (hopefully once back Stateside), if I ever decide to take up windsurfing (like I really want to do), or whenever I go whitewater rafting again (hopefully at camp this summer - yes I signed on again! 25 and a camp counselor! but more on that later....). These shoes have some big roles to fill!

However, so far, they've just been some super awesome shoes to wander around Budapest in on a daily basis.

However, with the impending doom of my thesis looming over my head, I've decided I need a reason to get my butt up out of my chair and get some blood pumping through my body.

I'm busting out the FiveFingers for more than a fashion statement (and let me tell you, in this city? They're quite the statement! I've never had so many people stare at my feet in my life!). Today I went for a short run. I'm playing this smart - I know how painful overdoing it in these shoes can be, and I don't need to add rehabing an injury to my list of stressors this year!

Training for something? Who knows. But I will be running 'barefoot' a lot more as the season progresses.

I know a lot of people have really strong opinions (both pro & con) about running barefoot, and I would love to hear what you all have to say about it. Do you own FiveFingers (do you love them?)? Are you ardently opposed to the whole concept? Please share!

PS. Yes, I know I just went to Madrid -

as soon as I've gone through all my pictures,

you can expect a post all about it. Promise. :)

all pictures (c) ME