At the finish!
Well, I ran the Tybee 1/2 marathon today using my vibram 5 fingers. And, I finished the race with a better time than I expected. My time was 1:43:13. I figured I would finish closer to two hours. So, I’m happy but not my feet. My feet are very upset with me. If I don’t watch myself they will kick me hard! I have burst blisters on each foot in the middle of the ball of the foot.
my v5f's at the end of the 1/2 marathon
I’m very happy and satisfied to have finished the 1/2 and with a time much better than I expected. I didn’t doubt that I would finish but I did not know what to expect of my feet at the end of the race. On my tweeter account I joked around with other runners about my feet falling off during the race or, that I would look like the peg-legged dude on the front of the Tybee run shirt by the time I dragged across the finish line. Thankfully, two little burst blisters and just tired, aching feet was the outcome. Not bad really. If you want to hear about bad, I should perhaps tell you about the 100 miler I did in 2008 in 24 hrs & 12 minutes. That was bad! Both of my feet were like one great, big, nasty blister with another blister over the blisters! It was rough. After I took off my shoes (after the 100 miler) I couldn’t put them back on because my feet were so swollen. That’s why I say that this 1/2 was painful but I’ve been more uncomfortable before during a race. So, I’m glad that I did the run with the v5f’s but I want to focus on my conventional running shoes more now.
Next month, there will be the NYC Marathon Lottery and I hope that my number is picked. If my number is picked I will focus almost entirely on the conventional running for that marathon. If I do not get picked then, I don’t know. There are some other races coming up but they are small. I’m thinking seriously about doing a 50 miler over the summer and that will be using conventional running shoes.
Before the race. there were about 1200 runners
So, will I make the transition completely to minimalist running with the v5f’s? I’m not sold on this movement completely…not yet. For some people the use of the v5f’s has become almost cultish. I’m not an easy convert. I do enjoy the feeling of running almost barefoot and I think there are many benefits to it but I still like regular running shoes, you know what I mean? I mean, I love my Mizunos! They are awesome shoes.
a strange face in the crowd
I saw one guy before the race that had some 5 fingers on. We shook hands and wished each other luck. I’m not sure how many runners ran with 5 fingers but I can tell you that I had about a dozen people run alongside me and ask about the experience of running with these shoes. I told them all the same thing – “if you decide to give these a try give yourself some time to get used to them”. Its taken me almost two months to get used to them some what but I’m still not there. It taxes your calves something intense! If I keep running with these shoes I’m going to have some badass calves. The girls will be drooling over my calves.
my number 511 - remember it;)
Brian Welch, he’s a running buddy of mine that I’ve mentioned in my blogs several times. He had a great race. He finished the 1/2 in 1:26:14. That is an awesome time! That dude is amazing. He’s also 49 freakin years old! I’ve never met anyone as driven as Brian. This is the man that just 18 months ago had over a dozen blood clots in his legs and lung. This is the man that was told that he would never run again. He is now free of blood clots and running stronger than he ever has. I admire this guy so much. Way to go Brian!
coffee, cookie and 5 fingers
After my run today I stopped at Starbucks on Victory and Skidaway (my favorite starbucks) and bought a venti coffee and a great big chocolate chip cookie. I savored that cookie and coffee. And, while sitting there at the shop minding my own business enjoying my cookie several people walked up and asked me about the race at Tybee and about my “funny” looking shoes. I have a twitter friend that refers to my v5f’s as those “silly” shoes. God bless her! She’s been such an encouraging person. Thanks Kim! You mean more to me than you realize. Actually the twitter community tends to be very friendly, supportive and encouraging. I have twitter runner friends from Utah, Savannah, Oregon, South Carolina, Brooklyn, Texas and, we all encourage each other. Its really cool. One of my twitter friends, who’s also a facebook friend, Tim Waz ran the Hilton Head Island 1/2 marathon and kicked butt completely on that race. His time was 1:34 & some seconds. Way to go Tim! I’m looking forward to running with your group in the Spring! Tim heads the Palmetto pacers running club.
Ok, here are the race results for the Tybee 1/2 marathon and 5 k: Race Results
the fleet feet frog
And, above is a picture of the fleet feet frog. Fleet Feet, as always, put together a great event! Those guys are totally awesome but next time that I participate in another one of their packet stuffing parties I would like to get more than one slice of pizza. Is that cool? Any way, they said to take a picture of the fleet feet frog if we saw it at the race. Here it is! Do I get a free slice of pizza? Please!
runners finishing up the 1/2 marathon
I leave you with this pic (above) of runners coming down the last stretch of the half marathon. It was a great race, a great event and, it was just so good to be around a great bunch of runners. Runners are the best!
Thanks for taking the time to read my running blog.
All the best,
peace,
dh
02/06/2010