Now if I can just do this on the road....I may have something. (And some news to share)

First off, for those of you who religiously read this blog (OK, OK, let's just say occasionally), you'll know a couple of things 1) I've been wining like (fill in wimpy verb as you choose) about my fee for the last two months) 2) this blog is essentially supposed to be about Teens Run Westchester - you know, our work, lessons learned - stuff like that and 3) OK, I'm saving a little announcement for the very end

So, in regards to the first two, I want to say (hopefully) that it's never too last to change - maybe not as a whole person, your core being and that stuff - but a skill or approach to something. And that thinking holds whether your 8, 18 or 48 (like yours truly).

As has been way too documented, I've been diagnosed with just about everything that has a medical term that can impact one's foot. Or should I say feet since I have these issues on both. Somewhat humorously, the table next to my bed looks like a cross between a science experiment and the foot paid section at CVS. In the past two months I've purchased:

A toe separator
A bunion splint
The Futuro Plantas Fasciitis Night Splint (thank you to my esteemed Fraternity Brother Louis Harron for the recommendation); and most recently, my favorite;
The Strassberg Sock - the good news on this one is that it's so popular that I had to go to multiple locations of my favorite running store to get this in my size - so I'm in good company with my suffering (not that I like to see others suffer)

And I wear them to bed in all kinds of interesting combinations - it's almost like some kind of medical fashion show. (Let's see - I think I'll do the Strassberg on the right complemented by a toe separator on the right)

I've also had the fun of trying a couple dozen new types of sneakers - most of which helped me adjust my BMI lower since they lifted my another couple inches even after I removed them. As some of you may know, over the last three years, I've been a very steady Newton customer and have often extolled their value to fellow runners. While I didn't blame them for my troubles, I did feel as though I needed some shoes with a bit more heft and padding. I never got rid of them - I would just look at them longingly as I put on the new "boats" of the day. I started the Brooks Adrenaline, a few different Sauconys and other more typical non-minimal wedgy running shoes. No knock to any of them, they just didn't do it for me. Finally, a few weeks ago, with an hour to kill in DC before my fraternity reunion dinner, I walked into a family owned place I had been before called Pacers. The guy there was really helpful -first of all he introduced me to yet another wonderful prop that I've become a fan of - the plantar fasciitis sock. I think if I can't think of what to do next, I'm going into the Plantar Fasciitis industry - clearly it's growing with lots of room for product expansion.

Anyway, this guy introduced me to the Mizuno Wave Inspire 9 - and I have to say, it's been the best yet. It's the first shoe that I do find myself going back to and enjoying running in. For the past few weeks, I've felt good enough to do fairly reasonable recovery-ish mileage on the treadmill. I just decided to be good to myself. Finally. this Sunday, with a half marathon registered for February 17, I got myself out there (outside that is in the snow) and didn't feel half bad. Kept it slow and steady.

What I haven't said (with all this build up) is that I haven't been taking this lying down. I do recognize that my body just may not ever want to do another uninterrupted 250 days of running like I did last year. And I may not be able to do all the marathons that I want. But I'm not stopping. And I had decided I was going to keep trying things until I found a good formula that would keep me running.

Several years ago, I had bought Danny Dryer's book Chi Running. At the time, I read through about half and it never really took. But I always kept it all my shelf. When I started getting into Newton's several years ago, I noted that Danny Abshire, Newton's running guru often mentioned Chi Running as sharing some qualities - the lightness to the touch of the feet, the focus on the mid to forefront, the focus on a straight column.

So, looking for solutions again, I picked it up off the shelf and was excited when I re-read the title and sub description. "effortless, injury free running". I'm starting to believe it. Over the past month, I've read the book at a clip of about 10 or 15 pages a day. While I can't say that I've done all the exercises, I have spent a good time practicing what is described as the focuses - attention to running with a straight column, doing what he calls a body scan every so often to be mindful of your form. Most important though is the relaxation and letting your running - your energy movement come from your core (in clearer term the strength around your mid/pelvic section. Essentially, your letting your legs and arms be extensions of that core - there's no big focus on leg strength or push offs. Your run is really being powered by your lean and your cadence. OK, if you're interested enough, I would grab the book - it's easy to find

What I want to share is that I had a breakthrough at the most unlikely time. I went to my basement to get my laundry. I also happen to keep my running shoes and treadmill down there (along with the many seinfeld dads). Since I had to grab a pair of shoes, I decided since I'd worn the boats for the last few runs, I could sneak in a pair of my Newtons. Since I hadn't had them on for a while I thought, better be sure they're still feeling OK.

I turned on my treadmill at an easy 5 mph. Now, remember, I'm a slow guy so this use to be my base speed. For the last few runs, I've been in the 12:30 to 13:00. I started at 12 and just clicked into this perfect form. My breathing was clicking perfectly so I had this perfect cadence going between my feet, breath, hands etc - bottom line, it was just all coming together. By the 2.5 mile point, I was at a good 5.7 mph clip and feeling like I could have kept going and going and going. Truly a beautiful thing and I was in heaven. I only stopped because I had already run 5 miles this morning and have a TRW training this evening and just wanted to be sure. But I think - like golfers when they find that perfect stroke that they always want to get back - I've found mine.

Now if I can just do the same thing on the road. And I think I can.

THis has been a really long post. So I'll start off my next post with my news - stay warm, dry and happy