I slacked off this morning, drug my feet as long as possible hoping I could create some kind of diversion worthy of avoiding my workout. I am the queen of procrastination and excuses! The rowing machine is about as cardiorific as I get. I hate running, always have, and probably always will. My 5'10" frame feels every ounce of my 160lbs that get tossed around when exercising. Did I mention how much I hate running? My knees are not in bad shape but I like to use that excuse because my knees actually did hurt the last few times I ran....years ago. Well, they hurt because they're taking 160lbs of beating! And, it's partly the shoes. I know, I know, Vibrams are such a faddish thing and I fought hard to not give in. But, the V5 Fingers won me over when my husband (who is a certified stud and has to run as part of his job) surprised me with a pair for my 34th birthday. He, also 34, has had 2 knee operations (one on each) in the past year(others in previous years, too) to remove debris and bone fragments. Part of his recovery included running with these funny shoes and it seems to be the exact opposite of what you SHOULD do when you run on bad knees. But the science does not lie and I have watched my husband not only fully recover from his injuries but now run faster than he ever has in his life ... when he runs in his Vibrams. He tackles it all, sand, soil, and pavement and has not complained once about joint paint afterward. I started to wear mine on our hikes and camping trips and instantly fell in love. It was like being a kid again and going barefoot but you do have some protection from cooties and sharp things. Then, he encouraged me to wear them while working out in our garage gym. I can grip the floor and have better balance and stability in my movements. I have been known to roll an ankle or two in my crosstrainers but my feet are firmly planted with these suckers! So, back to the running. I decided to fight my inner critic today and I jog around my neighborhood. Using "mapmyrun.com" I plotted out about half a mile and figured I would enjoy the stroll after giving one block of effort. With Metallica and Godsmack pumping me up, I strapped my Vibrams on and hit the pavement. I felt so good passing my first route that I kept going ... and 1.27 miles later I came back to my house feeling like She-Ra, that's right, the Princess of Power. It took me 13 mintues and by my former military standards I would be on probation for such a sucky time but I didn't care. I really ran, like non-stop! I know there are so many reasons to laugh at my little "go me" post, but this was a big step today! I CAN run and it won't kill me! I finished off with 10 sets of 10 Knees to Elbows and Knee Push Ups in about 10 minutes. Feelin' like a rockstar today and I'm motivated to do it again. It was liberating, lung burning and exhilarating. I loved splashing through puddles of melted snow and seeing my footprints behind me, looking like bare feet with all the separate toes. I passed 2 ladies walking and they had a good giggle over my funky footwear. I had a good giggle, too, knowing that I was earning my smoothie. I'm curious to see how I'll feel tomorrow. I have definitely felt worse than this after some workouts so I'm not too frightened. Feeling like a goofball next to Konacath's half marathon, but hey, we've all got to start somewhere. Today was my day!
