This morning I set it upon myself to run a little further without slowing down in my Vibrams Sprint.

As a preface though, I got injured earlier in the week at fight practice. I have been using the vibrams there, but now that my stride has changed with them, my big toe gets caught on the texture of the mats. This happened and it bent my big toe in such a way that I was afraid I had broken it. I quickly changed into my runners and continued with practice that night. I got home, iced and decided then to only use runners or wrestling shoes on the mats and to leave the vibrams for running and walking.

Light runs for the next few days and it healed up real quick. I’ve had a few people stop me on the subway, on my bike or at school asking about them. First they think they’re “cute”. I scrunch up my face and mention that they’re actually my running shoes. Then a good conversation about back problems and modern day runners usually starts. Honestly, I think they’re not the most stylish of shoes, but they’re the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever had. I’ve had no lower back problems and I’ve had little soreness since I’ve started using them.

Now for today’s run.:

Conditions: Cloudy 15C POP:95% Wind: 5km/hr

5:18am

Hey, it’s Sunday and not waking up exactly at 4:45am like I have trained my body to was a welcome surprise. I took my time, stretched lightly and set out.

The scent of the humid breezes through the trees and grass was invigorating. Of note here for those starting off running in the summer: I highly recommend early morning or late evening runs if you can manage it. The humidity in Toronto is big, but it’s not exactly clean. Early morning and late evening runs at the very least assure for a somewhat comfortable workout.

I went northbound on my street and decided to tackle the Christie Pits hill and then the St. Clair “Wychy” hill. The psychology of taking on a hill is sort of like that moment before a test you’re confident which are thoroughly prepared. Then when you start, the questions are all worded differently than the way you studied them. In my runners, I would usually see the hill before me and try to slow down so I could gather up some energy to go full burst up it. Maybe ten strides up I would eventually slow down. In my Vibrams today, I just didn’t think about it. I went up the hill and continued and up the next hill without hesitation. I even noticed that I was doing it, but still continued. No winding, no tiredness and no heaviness in the legs, just gliding. It got a little emotional, but then again, when am I not emotional when it comes to anything.

Leveled off my route and headed for the downward parts. I would like to say I sprinted, but it didn’t feel like I was going too fast. I’m a slow runner. I only do personal best speeds in when I’m in the midst of training for a race or after the winter thaw (due to snow running). I pretty much felt like I was playing and my stride felt more like a skip. I was having a very enjoyable fun run.

When I arrived at my front door steps I stopped my watch and had just hit the hour mark. I ran in and gmapped my course.

Results: 12.45km in 60 minutes.

WHAT.

I still need to try these babies at a distance between 25-35km this summer. If I don’t get blisters or injured in them, then there is a very good chance they might be used in one or both of my marathons this Fall.

They don’t call me “La Loca Jackie” for nothin’.

Don’t forget about the RUNNER’S MEETUP THIS COMING SATURDAY, MAY 30th AT 1PM!!!:

http://somethinggoodisgoingtohappen.wordpress.com/2010/04/27/runners-meetup/