2010 Philly LiveStrong Challenge – August 21-22, 2010
Let’s cut to the case… How do you donate?
Go to my LIVESTRONG fund raising site [http://philly2010.livestrong.org/shevitz] and either donate online or print out the donation form and send it in. If you need any assistance, please feel free to let me know!
shevdog’s goal in 2010
2010’s fund raising goal is no less than $250, ideally I’d like to double the fund raising total to $500.
Good news…
Between now and June 1, 2010, I will match dollar for dollar every donation up to $125. (Meaning if sum of funds I raise = $125, I’ll donate $125 for a grand total of $250.) If we reach my goal of $250 quickly, I may extend this dollar to dollar match up to $250, ($250 + $250 matched = $500).
Just so you know, when I reach my fund raising goal, I will be biking the full century (100 miles) on the rolling hills of Philly and Montgomery County.
Why I am teaming up with Team Fatty?
Why not? Nelson (aka Fatty) is both IT and a cyclist like I am. Also, his cycling blog (http://www.fatcyclist.com) is a million times more entertaining than mine. I’ll admit, he’s inspired me for the cause. Last year I wanted to do this ride, yet didn’t know about this team. Now I know and here I am riding for the fight against cancer!
Why am I doing this?
None of the loved ones in my inner circle have or have had cancer. I do know people who have battled cancer. I figure this:If I had cancer, I’d want someone to donate at least $10 to Livestrong to help cancer fighters. So being cancer free, I have one of many chances to do what I love, cycling, plus do it not too far away from where I already regularly bike in Philly + Montco.
It is a QR code, which is like a bar code. Pretty much you use your QR enabled mobile phone to scan the QR and it takes you to the fund raing website. Just one of many methods I’m trying to use to raise funds with Team Fatty for the LiveStrong Challenge.
T h a n k y o u so much for donation and joining the fight against cancer!
Ride cut short due to flooding on the Perkiomen Trail around Lower Providence Park. My bike definitely need to go in the shop, but I’ll hold out til I get my new bike this week.
Was nice to bike in my shorts and have less layers covering my core, though likely I shouldn’t have biked in shorts quiet yet. I planned on doing more today, yet just kept it simple. Very low miles this month, though a year ago I only had 25 logged and ended the year with 5700+ miles. Besides I am scheduled to get my Cervelo this week, while my Trek really needs to go into the shop.
As July 2009 approached, the cycling enthusiast I am had reached my cycling goal for the year in 6 months. I spent June and July trying to figure out what my new goals were going to be, exploring things such as mtb racing and ramping up my cycling somehow. Then I got Ironstruck, getting the crazy idea of doing triathlons. So starting in July I got back into running.
I ran here and there in college and a couple years after graduating. I had been biking casually too, yet didn’t get serious about cycling until I stopped running. The reasons I stopped running where the usual reasons people stop running, including various shoe related pains and injuries. Additionally, being the cube dwelling IT professional I am, when it comes to physical effort, I rather exert, then coast a bit, then exert again, which is why how I got to love cycling and also why I “love” running.
One day a co-worker mentions those funky VFF’s and I make mental note of them. As I evaluate what’s next in the middle of 2009, I think about running again and running shoes.
I’ve been using New Balance trail shoes for everything but running and started up my running in those. You’d think all that cycling would have my quads in shape, yet those first handful of 1-2 miles runs had my quads so sore that it was hard to just walk. Of course that quad soreness went away after a while. Beginning of August I go to the beach in Delaware and left my NB’s at a shower house by accident. Luckily that justified me going to Trail Creek Outfitters to pick out a pair of VFF KSO’s.
Initially I followed the advice that I read all over the place about starting with very low mileage and building up, regardless of your previous level of running. In the end of summer, I did a lot of short to mid distance trail runs, staying off the asphalt. I loved the KSO’s and they lived up to the hype. I finished off August getting my feet and legs use to barefooting and began my training in September for the 2009 Philadelphia Half Marathon.
Half Marathon Training
I don’t claim to be a runner and never will, even if somehow I do get good at it. If I could go back to summer 2009, I’d get my KSO’s sooner and take longer to train for 13.1, since I didn’t give my feet and legs enough time to adapt to the training. Since I cross train and had been riding a bike that doesn’t exactly fit me, mixing that with barefooting gave my left calf some significant tightness. (That went away after a while.)
I weighed in the 220-230’s that fall and my poor running form along with no padding gave my heels a beating. For the most part my feet adjusted, yet as I started running 10+ miles once a week my poor running form, plus other non-running factor likely caused me to develop a plantar fasciitis on my right foot around the time of the Philly Half Marathon.
Without the VFF KSO’s I doubt I would have ran 13.1 on 11.22.09. The actual half marathon went relatively well for me, even though I was slow (not the KSO’s fault). The #1 conversation topic during the run was my KSO’s, where a lot of runners were curious about them.
Marathon Training: Halfway Point
December I planned to take 3-4 weeks off running to recover, which I wish I would have done. (I didn’t, because I wanted to build from there, recover, build again, then pre-race tapper.) It was during the first two weeks after 13.1 that I discovered what a plantar fasciitis is and that I had developed one in my right foot. I did two 10 mile runs and then switched to 1-5 miles runs mixed with a lot of elliptical. I had also bought a pair of Nike Free 5.0, ending my boycott on Nike.
I mixed my run + elliptical workouts 50-50 with the KSO’s and Free 5.0’s, where I found that I did better on the elliptical with my KSO’s. About the only thing I liked about the Free’s over the KSO’s was padding on my heels, as well as some support on that injured right foot. Aside from that, I rather run in the KSO’s or in my bare feet, which I’ll focus on more after 26.2. I will train 1 day a week on a shorter run in my KSO’s, maybe do one long run a month too.
May 2 is the Pittsburgh Marathon, which will be my first marathon ever. Three things I will work on the next 3 months are:
1. balancing triathlon cross training
2. extending my weekly long run to 15-20 miles
3. speed work (since I am a slow runner)
The Good of KSO’s
1. I like them a lot… my favorite shoes!
1. Yes, they do Keep Stuff Out… No trail or river debris aggregating my feet.
2. I love these for kayaking! Much better than sandals and river shoes.
3. Easy to wash and quick to dry, (though there is a flip side to that).
4. Breathable and not suffocating in hot weather.
5. Love the velcro, since I hate show laces. No issues with them coming loose.
6. Decent grip, though you’ll slip in slippery and slimy conditions, which is only natural.
7. You feel the trail, though the rubber does mute some of that feeling, especially a lot of the “ouch“.
8. The price isn’t too bad, since it is a special foot design.
9. I love that they are a conversation piece, though there are moments I opt for shoes since I don’t want to be bothered.
10. Aside from the mysterious plantar fasciitis, I was injury free.
11. Injinji toe socks rock, not just for the KSO’s, yet for solo wear, everyday use, and as a cycling sock.
12. The toe separation is awesome. Due to that, I now hate how crowded my cycling shoes are and look to get wider ones.
1. They are funky looking, which means our feet our funky looking and people don’t see feet much. LOL!
2. As flabbyathlete pointed out, though the bottom material is durable, the upper material isn’t. I’ve had to sew up stitching that came apart. The material itself is fine, just that maybe some double stitching is in order?
3. I agree with flabbyathlete that the KSO’s can stink. I use them in the river, on the trail, in the mud, and step in wet spots. So they get wet. Yes, I do wash them after using them and dry them, yet they just stink anyways. Baby powder helps, yet honestly that’s not a good idea, paste and all.
4. The more precise foot design can lack in precise fit. My right foot is not identical to my left, as in slightly bigger and thicker. Also, there is too much room in the smaller toes, almost not enough room in the bigger toes. Ok, so these precision flaws are understandable from a manufacturing standpoint. Even so, they come close and the fit is good enough.
5. Take it from a non-runner who runs that running on pavement is rough, though over time not so bad. I prefer non-paved trails in these, though I get annoyed by debris on longer runs. Treadmills… I wouldn’t know? Each surface has its advantages and disadvantages. Just note that hard surfaces will lack debris, yet will literally be hard until your heels get use to it.
6. My triathlon concern is transition time. Typical shoes and socks, (plus tying laces), is fairly quick for me. With practice I could match that time, even reduce it during T2. Only concern is the stitching coming undone during a fast slip on.
7. I also have concerns about barefooting for long distances, since I am slow and still am trying to develop good running form. I am learning to run distances of 13.1 and 26.2 miles for Half and Full Ironmans. I have run a half marathon in my KSO’s, yet as one runner told me she had problems beyond the 8 mile mark. I agree. Now imagine leg muscles having swam 2.4 miles and biked 112 miles, now exiting T2 heading out onto 26.2 miles of pavement. Guess I need to get to race weight soon and train more in my KSO’s.
2. Whether you run or not, these are worth buying and wearing… Over time your body will thank you!
3. Take time building up miles wearing the KSO’s. Trust me, you’ll regret doing too much too soon. Also, plan on making adjustments on your other shoes, especially your work shoes.
4. If you can afford multiple pairs, buy multiple pairs. I’d reserve a pair for everyday use and would keep those clean and stink free.
5. I would not go long distances and race in VFF’s until you properly build up to that level.
6. I can’t wait to backpack and do other activities in these Spring/Summer 2010!
7. I really want to do a triathlon in these… Time will tell…
Feels great to be back to my long run and out on the trail. Nice night out.
Additional details:
That’s the furthest I’ve run in (traditional) shoes. My right foot was slightly sore pre-run and after the run I was able to walk on it normal, though it was sore. The next day wasn’t too bad as compared to the extra soreness I usually had after my long runs. My quads where slightly tight, but that’s because they haven’t done 10 miles in 6 weeks or so. (Elliptical doesn’t work the quads like running does.)
Next week (last week of Jan), I’ll attempt 13.1 miles. My aim is to run 20 by the week of March 15, so I can recover, build, then tapper. I’m still uncertain about my running schedule in the next 12 weeks, where once sunset breaks the 6pm mark (end of February, the day light savings 2 weeks later), I’ll be able to get some track time in for speed work. Until then, I’ll have to finally schedule in speed work elsewhere in the dark.
