Tag: running

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2016

The Ultimate Ultra Plan: Take 1

Nutrition, gear and strategy for my first ultramarathon

Three years ago – almost to the day – I crossed a huge goal off The List and completed my first Ironman triathlon: Ironman Arizona 2013 in 13 hours and 30 minutes.

After the race, still high from one of the best experiences of my life, I wrote:

As much as I’m tempted to keep basking in my Ironman glory, I need to keep moving if I want to make this experience truly last…I can’t wait to build on this momentum and launch into new projects and races on the horizon.

Since then, projects ended up taking priority over races, and I spent most of my free time and energy outside of work in business school pursuing my MBA.

Now that I’ve graduated, I’ve shifted gears back to endurance racing and set my set my sights on tackling my first ultramarathon: the McDowell Mountain Frenzy 50-miler, on Dec. 3.

That’s two weeks away.

Continue reading “The Ultimate Ultra Plan: Take 1”

Categories
2016

Foot Fight 2: Getting back to barefoot

A minimalist runner’s battle to overcome posterior tibial tendon dysfunction continues

My Foot Fight began in 2012 when I suffered my first running injury. I was on a six-mile pseudo barefoot run in Vibram FiveFingers, at night, on a dirt path, when my left foot slammed on a rock. It shook me up, but I pressed on – like an idiot – and finished my run.

A few weeks later I completed the Lavaman Olympic Triathlon and then finally faced the music: a stress fracture of the second metatarsal.

Since then – despite the upsetting prognosis, and later a collapsed arch and Achilles tendon issues – I’ve kept the faith in minimalist running, committed to getting back to barefoot and trudged along the slow road to recovery.

Even though I’ve made a ton of progress, I’m still dealing with foot issues from those injuries – four years later. Namely: posterior tibial tendon (PTT) dysfunction.

Continue reading “Foot Fight 2: Getting back to barefoot”

Categories
2016

CF January Race Report: Polar Prowl Half Marathon

As I mentioned in my anti-“new year, new you” post, I’m planning to ramp up my running in 2016. I’ll be focusing on improving my time and strength in the half marathon distance while running 12 half marathons in 12 months.

A lot can happen over 12 months: Changes in diet, new training approaches, and (in Colorado) the impact of varying seasons. So, I’ll plan to share with you a race report for each new race I run, filled with the training approach I took, goals going into the race, most memorable parts of race day, results, and key learnings that I’ll use moving forward.

First up: Polar Prowl Half Marathon – Lakewood, CO – January 9, 2016

IMG_6792

Continue reading “CF January Race Report: Polar Prowl Half Marathon”


Categories
2013

Running unplugged

Why I don’t wear headphones when I exercise, and how I still hear the music.

Harmony

It’s Sunday morning and you’re about to head out the door for a run.

Fifteen minutes ago you were lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to convince yourself to get moving.

The good side won the battle, and now you feel motivated – proud even – to tackle your training plan, but still not happy about leaving your comfy bed.

You lace up your shoes, put on your hat, grab your keys and phone, and take one more gulp of water before stepping outside.

You lock the door behind you, zip away your keys and are almost ready to go get it.

Only one task remains before you go galloping off:

Continue reading “Running unplugged”


Categories
2013

Foot Fight: A minimalist runner’s road to recovery

How my posterior tibial tendon dysfunction could have been avoided, and why it don’t always gotta be the shoes.

VFF KSO

My feet used to be awesome.

After nearly two years of strong, minimalist running, they developed nice high arches, flexible toes and could happily handle all the bludgeoning that endurance and strength training threw their way.

Running used to be my strongest sport, and when I registered for Ironman AZ 2013, I was so jacked up to go out and dominate that I could barely sleep in the days that followed.

Excited, I kept training hard, set the course for the coming year and started to design my training plan.

But now, only a few months later, everything has changed.

Continue reading “Foot Fight: A minimalist runner’s road to recovery”