Lately I’ve been on a running kick - by which I mean, reading about running. A few months back, a friend mentioned a book; Born to Run, and a program; couch to 5k. I looked into both and was surprised to see the book was about (in part) the Tarahamura people, of copper canyon mexico. The one and the same place I wanted to visit last winter! Intrigued, I ordered the kindle edition but had to finish reading a rather dry book first. I also started trying to run, following the C25K program which was going well enough till I started getting very bad foot pain, which I self-ID’d as sesamoid inflammation. By taking it easy and not running, the pain is gone at last and now that I’ve had a chance to start reading this book I’m quite interested in trying something different. I’m also totally not over my desire to visit the area, and all this reading has only reinvigorated that.
The “something different” is adjusting my running style and footwear to something a lot more minimalistic and forefront-strike oriented. I could get some thin soles shoes, just use my old street pumas, or pick up something freaky like the vibram fivefingers. But, after I spent so much time making fun of them! >.< After all the reading I’ve done, though I’m probably going to get a pair of those - I miss the feeling of hiking and walking in sandals but its just so rugged (and sharp!) out here. I’d like a pair of the TKO Treks but they aren’t released for women yet - “late spring.” Can I hold out?
I found an Article in Nature about the differences in impact when running fore-foot-strike versus rear-foot-strike which is how runners who predominantly run in thickly padded running shoes stride. Runners who are accustomed to running barefoot have 1/3 the impact to their legs than shod runners do! (the video link is a nice accompaniment to the charts presented in the Nature article)
Interview with Caballo Blanco, from the book born to run. This is the guy who lives amongst the Tarahumara and organized the copper canyon ultra marathon. I was looking through links the other night and I found a facebook page he’s behind where I just happened to see in a random comment thread that….. he’s coming to los alamos this weekend! To run in the Jemez Mountain Trail Runs 50miler! AND give a talk on Sunday, right in town! I’m so excited! And proceeds go to Norawas de Rarámuri.
And, what’s more caballo blanco even leads adventure tours of the copper canyons! Needless to say, I am intrigued. The prices seem decent for a personal guide into one of the most rugged areas in the world! Perhaps I could learn from some experts on making homemade tortillas, because I gotta tell you all my attempts with masa harina have been tasty, but distinctly un-tortilla-like.
I contacted the organizers for this weekend, and have the go ahead to take some pics at the talk on Sunday which I’m looking forward to, and I think I will take photos of the race as well. It’ll be a good excuse to go for a nice hike on a pretty day and see some athletes doing their thing. A friend from santa fe might come up and hang out as well, so that’ll be cool.
Some very nice pictures from the 2010 CCUM.
Barefoot Ted, also from the Born to Run book had some interesting posts on his blog. I liked this interview with him in Runners World. And an interview with the author of Born to Run.
Last night I went for an experimental walk, only like 3/4 mile, barefoot with a few short testing the waters strides of running. It felt nice, but I did step on some pointy rocks! My impatience is mounting up rapidly, now that I’ve decided I want monkey shoes I want them NOW dammit. If I go to santa fe this weekend to stock up on some staples, I’ll swing by REI and try some on, even if my precious Treks aren’t manufactured yet. And I need to translate all of this desire to run into actual running. I want to be able to run wild antelopes to the death!
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