Dan L Hernandez

Back by popular demand, how to clean your vff’s

danlhernandez — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:07:57 +0000

Cleaning my vff’s with denture cleaner from Dan Hernandez on Vimeo.

Back by popular demand, how to clean your vff’s.
This video is a bit higher quality than the last one, more professional, more serious.
Your community will thank you for taking these small steps in cleaning your vff’s.
After 30 minutes of soaking in the fizzing water, rinse out and hang to dry.
that’s it!
Your vff’s will be clean enough to put in your mouth and, will smell good too.

peace,

03/11/2010

Me & My VFF’s

danlhernandez — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:41:19 +0000

my happy vff feet

Well, I’ve been running with my vibram 5 fingers for a little over three months. In those three months I’ve completed a half marathon in them & have logged 67.67 total miles since I bought them. Contrary to misguided belief I have not gotten any faster. My pace is about twenty seconds slower per mile than it was before I started running with them.

At the start of my vff experience I actually injured myself because I slapped those whacky looking shoes on my feet and shot out like a cannon for my initial run. I spent the next two weeks nursing my right calf. I then took my time building up the strength on my calves and feet and inching up my miles. As previously stated I did the Tybee half marathon in February with a time of 1:43:13. That was a better time than I expected.

The starting line of the Tybee Island half

It is quickly approaching mid-March and I’m exclusively running with my vff’s. My beloved Mizuno’s have been shelved. They sadly watch as I grab my vff’s every afternoon and head out without so much as a second thought of the lonely and neglected Mizunos.

As the Spring kicks in and weather warms up my running usually cranks up a good bit. I’m definitely a warm weather runner. I’ll do good in a global warming world. Where I had said that I wanted to give myself three months to make a good judgment on the vff’s I’ve decided that to be truly fair to this experiment I should go six months with the vff’s and then pass my final judgment on them.

good on hard ground

I love running with the 5fingers but I’m just not doing very well in picking up speed with them. But, to be fair, I’ve not been doing any speed training. And, my running has not been as consistent this year as it has prior years.

You have to be careful where you run with vff’s -that I’ve learned the hard way. Running on concrete or asphalt is fine with vff’s. I have no problems with that. Actually, I kind of like running with my vff’s on the road or on paved paths. And, I feel a great deal of comfort running on hard surfaces like road and paved paths when wearing injinji socks with my vff’s. I picked the wrong color for my injinji socks, though, but I still like them and like how my feet feel with them on while running with the vff’s. You see, the color I chose for my injinji socks (both pairs I bought) are olive green. And, wearing them with my vff’s gives me a “Shrek Feet” look. I’ve had several women tease me about that. And, I have to admit that I do have that “Shrek foot” thing going when I’m wearing my injinjis with my vff’s. But my feet are comfortable -so, I don’t care what people think. I’m happy.

just call me shrek feet

I’m seriously toying with the idea of running a marathon with my vff’s. I don’t know how many people have run a marathon with vff’s but I think that I may be one of the few in Savannah to do so. I just haven’t run into many vff runners in Savannah. During the Tybee half I saw one other vff runner. He was a young guy who looked to be in his twenties.

I have gone running twice at the rails to trails here in Savannah with my vff’s and both times it was a miserable experience due to all of the rocks on the trail. Its impossible not to step on golf ball-sized rocks at the rails when running. It hurts to step on these rocks in conventional running shoes -you can imagine with vff’s. At the bonaventure and greenwich cemeteries the terrain varies from asphalt to soft dirt to hard-packed ground to very rocky. It has been a good place to train with my vff’s. Running at the cemeteries I can say that I’ve hit just about every terrain.

vff imprint

After my half marathon, I had blisters on the balls of both feet. That’s because there was slight friction between skin and rubber. With the injinji socks that disappeared. When its cold, your toes will freeze in vff’s. If your feet get wet when its cold, your toes will go numb. That’s happened to me several times.

I was a religiously devoted heel lander when running. I thought the transition to landing on the balls of my feet would be difficult. I should not have worried about that. Within a quarter mile of my first run with my vff’s my body naturally adapted to landing on the outside balls of my feet. The most difficult part of getting used to running with vff’s has been how it impacts the calves.

The vff’s will give your calves one heck of a workout! I’m starting to get some killer calves. Also, my quadriceps are getting very well-defined. The vff’s will workout your legs…no doubt about it.

Where do I see the vff running craze going? My view is that running with vff’s is going to be limited to a few hardcore runners. I do not think that vff running will become a mainstream thing. The reason I say that is because it takes time to get used to running with vff’s. People just starting to run with them may quickly grow tired of the discomfort you feel on your calves after each run with them when you start off. Advanced, serious runners may not want to change their running routine just to test out the vff’s. These type of runners (the serious ones) are interested in improving on their times and, I do not think that slapping on some vff’s is going to do that -at least not as fast as they would like.

my vff's in grass

I think that the vff’s are for adventurous people who like to try new things and/or are hardcore runners that want a different perspective on running. The vff’s will certainly give you that different perspective. I think that a sub-culture of barefoot runners will grow out of the mainstream running community and those quirky runners will be the vff clad runners.

What does that mean for me and my vff’s? I like em. They have been a pain in the calves getting used to but I like them. I’m actually slower with my vff’s than I am with my conventional running shoes but, what can I say…I like my vff’s.

my vff's are #1

How far will I go with them? Well, I’ve signed up for the NYC 2010 Marathon Lottery. At the end of March I find out if my number is picked. And, if my number is picked I will run the NYC 2010 Marathon in vff’s. After a marathon, then what? I’m an adventuresome guy – I might run an ultra with them. Geez, next year I’m going to climb Kilimanjaro. I might climb to the roof of Africa with my vff’s. Who knows…

i love barefoot wine and my vff's

All the best to you and yours,

peace,

03/09/2010

Series of video clips leading to the assasination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh…

danlhernandez — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:14:27 +0000

This is very eerie to say the least…

peace,

03/08/2010

Enjoying a beautiful morning at the dairy farm

danlhernandez — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:40:12 +0000

The canal at the dairy farm

I’m at the dairy on a beautiful Sunday morning with Isabella. My vff’d feet are dangling below me as I sit on a concrete wall that crosses the canal that is adjacent to the bonaventure cemetery. There seems to be a symphony of birds taking place at the dairy farm this fine morning. Birds of all sorts chirp away. A red-tail hawk flies overhead as a king fisher skims the surface of the water searching for a fish to eat.

Earlier, I watched as a large school of inch long fish cascaded through the water with sun light capturing some in the school here and there with a brilliant silver reflection.

me and my vff's dangling off the wall that crosses the canal

Three crows just flew overhead. I only noticed them because of their reflection on the water as they flew overhead. To the trees on my right (where Bonaventure cemetery is) a flock of robins chirps away delightfully. On the trees to my left, little greenish birds dart back and forth from limb to limb as a serious mocking bird warily watches them. The king fisher continues to do his (or her) thing, looking for fresh fish but not fully focused on the task at hand because I’m a distraction that it would rather stay away from.

Enjoying the dairy farm with Rilke

Isabella is basking in the sun after a quick dip in the canal. Life is good.

Its so beautiful and peaceful here today. A slight breeze wafts through carrying the first hints of spring. The temperature is a delightful 68 and not a cloud in the sky to hold back the warmth of the sun on the back of my neck. I feel as I’ve died and gone to heaven… Perhaps.

A happy Isabella after a dip in the canal

The dairy farm is a magical place. Any minute now I expect Maccabee to appear in all his regality…only to shed it off quickly the moment he sees me and Isabella and bursts happily into my waiting arms. Maccabee’s spirit is here. I feel its warmth wash over my heart.

The love I once had, I see her too. No inhibitions any longer. Its our time.

My favorite Rilke poem

Life is good.

peace,

03/07/2010

There is a king fisher in this pic. its hard to make out

Me and my VFF’s

danlhernandez — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:38:45 +0000

A collection of pictures of me and my vff’s…

So happy together…

me and my vff's on the edge of a cliff

me and my vff's with raccoon tracks

me and my vff's on very painful rocky terrain

me and my vff's running

me and my vff's on a boardwalk

me and my vff's with animal tracks again

me and my vff's stretching

me and my vff's in injinji socks and on a grated bridge

me and my vff's on a stump

me and my vff's doing a 1/2 marathon

me and my vff's on cracked and super dry ground

me and my vff's picking up a medicine ball

me and my vff's over a sewer

Ok, I’m tired of posting pictures of me and my vff’s.

so, this is good bye for now.

thanks for stopping by and looking at me and my vff’s.

have a great day.

enjoy life.

peace,

03/06/2010

Rough Running: VFF’s and rocks do not go well together!

danlhernandez — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:43:09 +0000

VFF's on rocks - no good

My feet are still hurting! Yes. I ran 5.57 miles today at the rails in my 5fingers. And, I wish I had not. With the recent rains we’ve had and the abnormally super high tides we’ve had the rails to trails have been hammered hard. There are big ruts on the trail and a lot of dirt has been washed away leaving big-ask rocks all about waiting to mess with me and my vff’s.

Pain was the name of the game today for me at the rails. Even Mr. T would say so…

I should not have gone running at the rails. I should have stayed away. I went to the Y on the Island with every intention to lift weights and then run a few miles around the perimeter of the Y. That was my plan. Then, I ran into what’s his name…Brian Welch. He asked if I wanted to run at the rails and I thought about it for a second and said, “oh, why not?” I prefer to be outside, running against the wind just like what’s his face – Bob Seger says. So, I went running.

When I got to the rails I saw my old running buddy, Nelson there. A few minutes later, Don (another running buddy) showed up. It seemed for about a milli-second that this might of been the right decision…that is until I slipped while stretching only to land on a patch of prickly sticker plants. Before the run I was picking these sticker things out of my hand and arm. And then, I realized that I left my stop watch behind! Aargh! I was a bit annoyed (if you can believe that).

prickly sticker things were all over me

I started my run and for the first 3 minutes all was kosher. Then, the rocks began to pop up like popcorn all over the friggin trail! And, I stepped on every friggin one of them it seemed. I do not think I’ve ever cussed so much in my entire life! It was terrible. It was bad. God is most displeased with me tonight. It was F-this, S-that, Mother-F this, Son-of-a-youknowwhat-that! Not good…not good at all. Today, I was not a good Christian. So, I gotta pray just like MC Hammer says.

I finished my run without knowing what my pace was (since I didn’t have a watch), my feet hurt and, I was cold. I got in my car and went to Kroger and bought some good food. That made me happy.

2 cadbury eggs!

I got home and played with Isabella and even Texas (my cat). I made a big ol salad, sat down in front of my computer to eat it and that’s when Isabella walked into my home office and right in front of me barfs her recently eaten meal. Just as quickly as she barfed, she began to eat it. I lost my appetite and led her outside while I cleaned up her mess. I love Isabella so much but going back to eat your own vomit is just so disgusting. It was a nice reminder that “she’s a dog Dan, that’s what they do”. Even a proverb in the Bible says that “just as a dog returns to his vomit…a fool returns to his folly”. That proverb hit home tonight! Isabella returned to her vomit to eat it and I (like the fool) went back to the rails to trails in my vff’s to run after knowing what a rough time I had at the rails the prior time with them.

Ha! Life is good, though! I say that because I’m drinking a nice glass of Pinot Noir that I bought at the grocery store this evening and I have two cadbury eggs waiting for me once I finish my wine…yes, life is good…:)

I was running and tweeting at the same time

Wildlife Inventory:

5 pelicans
1 mocking bird
4 egrets
a bunch of little birds darting in and out of the brush that hugs the sides of the rtt like the little bit of hair that forms an almost horse shoe ring around some balding old men’s heads.

Thank you for taking the time to read my running rant on this running blog.

May you all have great runs without the runs!

All the very best to you and yours…

peace,

03/03/2010

Cleaning my vff’s

danlhernandez — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:18:52 +0000

my super clean vff's

If you wear your vff’s long enough you will soon learn that they will stink up your whole house and possibly even get you evicted out of your neighborhood. I’ve heard of women leaving their husbands over stinky vff’s. I’m not lying…really…maybe…

Lucky for you and me I’ve just learned how to clean the 5fingers real nice. You take a bucket fill it up with water (i use warm water because i like warm water) and throw your 5fingers in there. After submerging vff’s in water I dropped 10 or 9…I cannot exactly remember…it was 9 or 10 tablets of generic Target denture cleaner into the bucket containing your vff’s in agua. I left the 5fingers fizzle in the bluish water for about 30 minutes. Here is an instructional video of this first important procedure:

Cleaning my vff’s from Dan Hernandez on Vimeo.

After leaving them to fiz away for 30 minutes or so, I withdrew them from the water and rinsed them out real good -to get all that denture stuff off. Here is the second instructional video. Please pay close attention…

cleaning my vff’s pt 2 from Dan Hernandez on Vimeo.

I then hung them up to dry overnight. This morning they smelled just like a brand new baby. Tonight, after my run, they will probably smell like ass again but that’s the price you pay for being a runner.

Just wash them with denture cleaner every time they take on the smell of rotten skunk.

Here are a few still shots of the amazing denture cleaners eating away nasty foot smelling bacteria off of your vff’s…

vff before cleansing

vff in warm water with denture cleaner

denture cleaning eating away nasty smelly bacteria

the denture cleaner i bought at target for $4.14

wash yo smelly vff’s!

peace,

03/03/2010

Bonaventure cemetery running

danlhernandez — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:29:12 +0000

me, cartoonishee

I ran 4.49 miles today entirely in Bonaventure cemetery. Today was the closest I’ve been to mapping out the entire cemetery. That is one of my little goals – to run every pathway in Bonaventure cemetery. I wonder how many miles that will be? Maybe, 1 million? I doubt that, but close.

my bonaventure cemetery mapped route

I really wanted to run today even, though, I am not feeling very well. I think I’m coming down with something. My joints are a bit achy and I have this odd headache. I do not feel very strong physically. That’s probably why I ran an 8:20 pace. After my run I felt good for getting out there and moving lots of air in and out of my lungs but my body felt a bit weak. I hope this doesn’t turn into something bad. Hopefully, after a good night’s sleep I will feel better for a glorious Monday at work. Lets hope. Hope is good.

The run through the cemetery was very pleasant. The temperature was ideal at 61 degrees with 32% humidity. That’s close to perfect for me. As for the windy conditions…I don’t care much for it but oh well, that’s life. It was very nice out there. If you have never gone running at Bonaventure cemetery I highly recommend it. Its very beautiful and peacefull and there’s lots of birds darting from tree to tree. Its very quiet and safe. Its a wonderful place to run -that’s if you don’t have a problem running at a place where there’s a 100,000 dead people buried all around you. I don’t have a problem with that. Now, should there be a zombie outbreak the Bonaventure cemetery would be the last place on earth that I would want to be running at. Thank goodness that zombie outbreaks are only in California and England. I wouldn’t want that here in Savannah. It would destroy the tourist industry in Savannah and that would just create all kinds of problems here. What would happen to St. Patrick’s day festivities in Savannah should zombies suddenly appear? It would ruin the biggest party in Savannah! Not that I care too much for St. Paddy’s in Savannah. Usually, I try to stay as far away from downtown Savannah as I can during St. Patrick’s. But, other people in Savannah love it and, the city needs the revenue, I guess. I just want to stay away. If zombies were to attack Savannah during St. Patrick’s, everyone would stay away. And then, this city would go bankrupt. Not good. Not good at all. So, no zombies in Savannah.

my zombie leg getting stretched

Well, today’s run was the only one I did this weekend. I would have run yesterday but I helped a friend move. And then I did yard work. And then, I went to the dairy farm. And then, I went grocery shopping. And then, it was night. So, I did not do the Seacrest Partners 10k. I heard from some people on Savannah Running Facebook fan page that it was a nice but chilly run. Hopefully, next year it will be back. I would like to do this run. Does anyone know if the Crimestoppers Azalea 10k will happen this year? I’m really hoping that it returns but I have not heard anything at all about it this year. The last few years its been held in April in downtown Savannah. Its a nice 10k. If its happening this year, I would like to do it. If you know anything about it please share that info with me. Thanks.

I’m really getting accustomed to running with my 5fingers. I’m not sure if I’ll ever go back to regular running shoes. Wait a minute…I take that back. I suddenly remember running over many patches of walnut sized rocks at Bonaventure cemetery today and last week at the rails to trails. Rocks and VFF’s do not go well together, my friends! So, in rocky areas, I will run with regular running shoes or, just avoid running in those areas. Nah, I cannot avoid the rails. Its too beautiful out there. I’ll just have to toughen up my feet for rock running or run in my mizunos cuz I cannot stay away from the rails.

Rails to trails goat

Hey, speaking of the rails, a friend of mine thinks she saw a nutria at the eastern section of the rails yesterday over where those wooden bridges are. She said it looked to be the size of a beaver and was kind of beaverish/rat-like looking. I think she might of had one too many drinks too early in the day, eh? We all know that there are no nutrias at the rails. She probably saw a turtle or a goat and thought it was a nutria. Nah, she’s a pretty serious lady. If she said she saw a nutria it was probably then a squirrel or a rabbit. Maybe, it was a kangaroo. Who knows? My brother claims that he saw a kangaroo in the wilds of Puerto Rico. I think he just saw a goat. Have any of you seen nutrias in this area? Have you seen one at the rails? It does make sense that a nutria would be in this area. There are hearty populations of nutrias in Louisiana and Florida. Some could of hitched a ride here on a train like hobos or, using their thumbs (if they have thumbs). Maybe, they showed some leg and a car came to a screeching halt and gave a family of nutrias a ride to our swamps. There’s no telling.

Actually, I’ve learned that nutrias have made a comfy home in the swamps of Georgia. So there you go. I guess my friend truly did see a nutria. Or maybe, it was my brother’s Puerto Rican Kangaroo..;-)

my brother's puerto rican kangaroo

So, you all have two assignments to do…

Find out if the Crimestoppers Azalea 10k is going to happen this year.
Find out if nutrias live in Savannah especially at the rails to trails.

The person that finishes these assignments first will get a $10.00 gift card to starbucks..;) I’m serious!

Wildlife inventory:

30 robins
1 sparrow
1 red cardinal (male)
1 mocking bird

my mapped run

my running log

Thanks for taking the time to read my running blog. Please wish me to get well soon. I do not feel too well at the moment. Many thanks.

All the best to you and yours,

peace,

02/28/2010

Prayer Flag Annex

danlhernandez — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:44:40 +0000

No one yet knows where the prayer flag annex is located.
Some people think it might be on a different planet something like Pandora.
There really is no telling…but one thing is for certain -its for real!

Walking, Ellipticizing & Reconnecting with old friends

danlhernandez — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:21:14 +0000

Moon at the dairy farm

I did not run after work today like I had initially intended to. The moment I stepped outside the motivation to run evaporated into thin air. I watched a 2d animation piece on running which I love and I posted on the previous blog entry but that didn’t do the trick this time. I just do not like running in cold weather. I know, I know…ten minutes into the run you will not feel cold any longer. I know that too well and yet, it does nothing much to my motivation.

So, instead of running after work, I took Isabella to the dairy farm for a brisk 2 mile walk. After I got home I jumped on the elliptical for 45 minutes and logged 2.16 elliptical miles and burned 776 calories -burned off the rice krispies treat I ate at work. Why do I eat rice krispies treats? They cost me a buck and a half at work and are totally bad for me. Weak, dude, weak! My new years resolution is not to eat any more rice krispies treats…at work. Its a late start on my new year’s resolution but I guess better late than not, right? Right.

While I was at the dairy farm I got some really nice moon shots between tree limbs. What do you think of my moon shots? I turned two of the pics black and white and darkened the sky by reducing the cyan and blue in photoshop. I like that night effect. Its super cool, I think.

elliptical miles & calories

As I ellipticized this evening I watched the latest X-Files movie. The one about the pedophile priest who has visions and has bloody tears. Yeah, that sounds pretty spooky. Its not my favorite X-Files. It was simply the first movie I picked out of a spool full of movies. Its now 9pm and I still have not eaten dinner. I am drinking a cup of coffee, though. If that counts.

my vff's on a grated bridge at the dairy farm

I don’t know if I mentioned in another entry that the offer I made on the bonaventure house was rejected. Well, it was. Oh well. After I made the offer I handed it to God and said, “if its Your Will, that house will be mine”. There you go. At least I got to wear my vff’s today during my walk at the dairy farm.

btw, an old friend of mine from Texas contacted me today and friended me on facebook. Jonathan Merchant, is my friend from Texas. He’s a great guy with a heart of gold. He’s one of the most amazing individual I’ve ever known. Jonathan was in a terrible car accident some 9 years back. It was awful. It left him a quadriplegic. He cannot feel anything below his chest but he has semi-use of his arms but not his fingers. Jonathan was a soldier when the accident occurred and a gifted athlete as well. The horrible accident changed his life drastically but it did not break his spirit. This man is still a gifted and inspirational athlete. He has done triathlons & numerous races on a wheel chair or with his hand-cycle. Triathlons! That’s right. Check this site out: Jonathan Merchant on Hookit.

Jonathan Merchant

Jonathan is an inspiration, no doubt. Every time I have felt sorry for myself I’ve thought of him and I suddenly feel totally ashamed… and, I then get my act together. I’ve known Jonathan for almost a decade and what I’ve learned from him is that we are our own limitation. His dreams and aspirations did not die that horrible day in Texas that left Jonathan a quadriplegic. He had a lot of hurdles to overcome, I witnessed many of them. He hit the ground many times, face first. But Jonathan always pulled himself back up and pushed himself forward. He still does it. His faith in God is a pillar. He knows that God expects a lot of him even if he’s bound to a chair. Only one other person have I met that is equally as strong and inspiring as Jonathan and that is Cindy Randi. But that is another story for another day.

Cindy Randi

Before I wrap this blog entry up I’ll just say this about Cindy Randi….she has battled cancer three times and every time she has thrown herself headfirst into that fight to live. It was Cindy Randi that inspired me to run a hundred miles in 2008 in the Boulder 100. Seriously, on another day I will tell you about this amazing woman I’m honored to call a friend, Cindy Randi. Cindy Randi, Cindy Randi…it kind of just rolls off your tongue, doesn’t it? Trying saying “Cindy Randi” one hundred times really fast. Try it, I dare you! Then, let me know the results of your attempt at saying her name really fast that many times. While you’re doing that, though, I’m going to eat something before going to bed.

Later alligator.

Thanks for taking the time to read my walking-slash-running blog.

All the best.

peace,

02/25/2010

close up of the moon

another moon shot

last moon shot, I promise