Wildwood trail Half marathon

It is the evening before the race. I am with my family and we drive to a small cabin in the mountains. Before I go to bed I remember to get up early tomorrow for the race.

In the morning I leave the cabin and start walking over some hills to the car. Snow appears. More and more snow around me on the ground. I start worrying. When I get to the car it is buried half way under the snow. There is a couple of feet of snow on the mountain road. I start panicking. There is no way I can get to the race in the next half an hour left to the start.

- - -

I open my eyes. Check the clock. 5:30 AM. Big relief.

Just a bad dream.

Yes, I am really excited about this race so it is probably I can hardly sleep. It is my very first Half Marathon and it is on a Trail. On a trail I know very well. My favorite trail.

I feel really good today. Well rested and strong. My last training run was just two days ago on the same trail, I did 6 miles and felt pretty comfortable going more.

There is only one thing that worries me a little. For the past 4 weeks there has been a sensitive spot on my lower left fibula. Just above the ankle. I can run with it, there is no pain. It only hurts when I push directly on it. I have no idea what it is but if it does not get worse after today's run I guess I will just forget about it.

6:30 AM

I have a banana as a main course and for an appetizer I pick a granola bar with Chia seeds and leave the quiet house with my wife and son still sleeping.

Excited before the race

I meet my friend Travis at the park where the race starts. He is running the 10k route today.

The two of us are the only barefoot runners here.

"You are going to win the half marathon barefoot division today" he is joking.

As if there were such a thing :-D

The little Macleay park is packed. There are about 360 runners, 170 for the half, 80 doing the full marathon and the rest for the 10k. Everyone stretching, tuning MP3 players, filling water bottles and camel bags.
I have decided to run this one very light so I am taking nothing with me. No water, no food, no emergency shoes.

8 AM
I start somewhere towards the end of a huge pack of runners in no hurry.

Full and half marathon runners start together

Mile 1

Familiar rocky trail along Balch creek.

The group is still dense and the pace is slow. Warming up.

Mile 2

First climb up. Most runners in front of me slow down. I can finally start passing and move forward.
I can feel my spot on the left fibula but there is no pain.

Mile 3

Steeper and longer uphill. My strong point. I feel like my feet are on springs. I pass a bunch of runners.

Mile 4

Still climbing but more gently on rolling terrain. Running alone for a while, then I catch up with a small group of four runners and stick to them. The discomfort on my fibula is gone. I feel relaxed and in a great shape.

Running at mile 4

Mile 5

Still at the tail of the group. The trail changes to a wider firelane forest road. When uphill I pass all four runners and take the lead.

Mile 6

Aid station and the turn around. I only grab a cup of water and keep running. The uphill part is behind us. Now it is only going to be downhill.

Running on Firelane road

Mile 7

I am being closely followed by one guy from the previous group. I am trying to shake him off but he is still glued to me. I am running really fast right now. Reaching my limit.

Mile 8

It is just two of us running fast down through the forest. I am running completely silent with high cadence but I keep hearing the slow slapping from behind. Slap, slap, slap...

I sure feel sorry for his knees.

Mile 9

We catch up with a group of two girls and stay behind for a while. Slower pace refreshes my energy so I accelerate again and shoot forward.

Mile 10

My legs start feeling heavy. I am running too fast. I concentrate on the form trying to relax with bent knees even more.

I think about what Jason Robillard says in his Barefoot running book:

"A necklace around your neck should not bounce up and down when running barefoot."

It is helping. I slow down a little. The guy from behind finally passes me.

Mile 11

I am running alone again. Long and fast downhill. Some 5 weeks ago running a training 12 miler my knees started to lock up right at this spot to the point I had to stop and walk for a short time. Since then I have learned a lot about running downhills. I am flying down this time.

Mile 12

Back down on the rocky Balch creek trail. Two girls close in from behind.

“How can you handle all these rocks ? Your feet are probably used to it.” the closer one starts a conversation.

I convince her it is not as bad as it looks. They both pass me some 500 feet before the finish. I stay right behind them. The end is not yet.

Mile 13

Last 150 feet to the finish line. The trail changes to a nice paved path through the park. Now or never.

I start sprinting. A surge of energy. For a second all three of us running next to each other. I do not feel my feet touching the ground anymore. I feel like flying. Then I see no one next to me and hit the finish line at exactly 1 hour 57 minutes. Adrenaline rush. High, intoxicating feeling.

When I check later my Garmin reports 4:50 pace for the last 150 feet.

I grab some water and start walking. Calves are quickly becoming really tight. Almost to the point of cramping. I roll them out on a water bottle and go get some more goodies from the tent.

Summary:

Awesome race.
The discomfort on my left fibula is gone.
Feet all in one piece, no scrapes, no cuts. The front pads are quite tender but amazingly that tenderness goes away in the next two hours.
Just 5 sticky spots from smashed slugs. Sorry guys.

Happy after the race (the brown on the feet is not tan but dust from the trail)

Race stats:

Length: 13.1 miles

Elevation change: 925 ft.

Time: 1:57:33 (Pace 08:31)

Placed: 20th from 170 overall

Race course

Aerial map

Course profile

Race for the Animals 10k trail run

It is a gorgeous Saturday morning.
The sun is up but the air in Lower MacLeay Park is still cool and fresh from the last night as I arrive to the starting point filled with the usual pre-race excitement and expectations.

The Race for the Animals is a 5k/10k event which takes place in Forest Park and the course is mainly on the beautiful Wildwood Trail. Today the trail is all dry and not muddy as most of the year here in Pacific Northwest.That promises a perfect run today.

I am really happy to know I am not going to be the only barefoot runner here. Our Barefoot Runners Society Oregon Chapter really represents today.

Josh, Jasmine, Suzanne, Mike, myself and Martin (down)

I know the course well. I have run it multiple times (it is actually one of my training runs) so I know almost every pointy stone on the trail. This gives me a real confidence so I am not taking any emergency shoes with me. I am pretty sure I can finish  easily and my only goal for today is not getting injured on the sharp rocks, have fun as always and stay under 1 hour.

First part of the course follows the beautiful Balch creek

Me at the start

The first half a mile is on a rocky trail along the charming Balch creek. The runners pack is dense and it is hard to slip further ahead. I start passing runners anywhere I can find a wider spot and soon I end up at a tail of a small group running at my pace.

Rocky section along the creek

First half a mile is somewhat technical at places

I stay behind the group and wait for my moment. That comes at mile 2.

There is a steeper climb up ahead so I shoot forward. I easily smoke all 4 runners in front of me and quickly find myself running alone in the woods. I see some faster runners in front of me flashing through the trees but other than that it feels like there is no race today. I am just comfortable running mu usual route enjoying the calm forest.

Three miles climbing up done, now to the downhill part. I lean forward, bend knees more and fly downward with a hellish cadence.

At mile four there is a short but steep climb. Two shoddies in front of me stop and start walking up.

As I pass them I hear some nice encouraging cheering from behind.
"What a nice day it is to run today!" I think to myself.

Soon my feet hit the familiar rocky surface of the Balch creek trail again and I start hearing some runners behind me closing in.
"Nobody is going to pass me here and now !" I hear my competitive part of me and I decide to listen to it.
The last half a mile is definitely the fastest I have ever done at this place. The chasers are gone and I can not be happier seeing two fives on the timing board as I sprint to the finish line. I wait for Mike, Martin and Suzanne and snap some pictures for them.

Jasmine finishing

Martin finishing

Mike finishing

Josh with Jasmine ran the 5k course and Josh actually won the race ! We had a good celebration after the race in the park with a cold refreshing beer.

Our contingent of barefoot runners even got a bit of respect in the local newspaper's running blog :

"Starting and finishing at Lower MacLeay Park, this well-organized tour of Portland's urban forest brought out an enthusiastic group of runners, including a contingent of barefoot athletes who somehow braved the rocky surface of the trails east of the Stone House."

Race stats:

Length: 10k

Elevation change: 610 ft.

Time: 0:55:08 (Pace 08:48)

Placed: 18th overall

Race course:

Race profile

My 1 year anniversary of running barefoot

On June 23 2010, exactly one year ago I decided to ditch my shoes and went for my very first run barefoot.
I only did 0.9 miles on a rubber track and it took me 10 minutes. My feet were quite sore after that run and I had to take the next day off to recover.
But that memorable run successfully started my path to barefoot running and what a great journey it has been so far !

I have run total about 700 miles, all barefoot with only two exceptions. One winter run on snow in freezing conditions and my very first trail run on a rocky forest road. Both in Vibrams.

For the first 25 weeks I was running on a pavement only. Then I tried trails and immediately got hooked. These days 80% of my running is on trails, the rest is pavement. 


My weekly mileage in my first year of barefoot running

As much as I was trying to avoid it I also fell victim to TMTS.

Looking back at the graph now I realize running almost 35 miles in my 26th week was not such a good idea. I paid for that and got injured in my 31st week. Luckily it was only a stress reaction on my lower fibula but it still took me 6 weeks to fully recover.

Here are some highlights of this great adventure

Fastest run

June 21, 2011 (week 53)
Summer Solstice 5k
Time 0:23:32  (7:31 pace)

Farthest run

June 12, 2011 (week 52)
Wildwood trail, Portland, OR
Distance: 12.5 miles
Time: 01:59 (9:30 pace)
850 ft elevation change

Fun run

October 24, 2010 (week 19)

10k Run Like Hell Portland !

Time:0:48:19 (7:47 pace)

Running in Hawaiian man costume

Most beautiful trail run 

March 14, 2011 (week 39)
Wildwood trail, Forest park, Portland, OR

Coldest run (barefoot)

November 25, 2010 (week 23)
10k Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day
Time: 00:54:34
Temperature: 32F, icy patches mixed with a little snow on the trail

Most painful run

...not counting the one I injured my fibula on...

November 28, 2010 (week 24)

Leif-Erikson drive in Forest park, Portland, OR

Distance: 8.8 miles

This was my very first trail run, the forest road was full of gravel and sharp rocks, not the best choice for a beginner. I lasted for about an hour and then I gave up and put Vibram Five Fingers on for the last 20 minutes. My feet were burning after that and I got 4 bruises in my arches.

Needles to say these days I run on the same road about three times a week, comfortable, relaxed and without any pain. It still amazes me how human body can adapt.

Muddiest run

May 15, 2011 (week 48)

X-Dog Havoc at the Hideout 5 mile trail race

Elevation change: 980 ft 

Time: 0:53:46 (10:30 pace)

It was raining all night before and all day at the race. Everyone was slipping like crazy. We had a ton of fun :-)

Summer Solstice Sundowner 5k race

It is a beautiful hot summer evening, the longest day of the year.

I am taking my son Lukas and his buddy Jessie and we head to Oregon City for the annual Summer Solstice Sundowner 5k run.

It has been almost exactly one year since I first put my shoes away and started my barefoot journey.

I remember myself and Lukas being here at the same spot one year ago just to see the race because as much as wanted to run I simply could not. I was just in my early transition time to barefoot running and my calves were really sore after almost every run at that time.

A year has passed and it is a different story now. Today I feel strong and confident. I have run 700 miles in the past 12 months, all barefoot on all kinds of surfaces and right now I am really looking forward to run a road race since it has been a while I ran one.

Lukas and Jessie run first their ¼ mile Kids run. It is just one loop on the track and they both enjoy it with the kids spontaneity.

For the 5k there are about 220 runners. The course is mostly flat, two loops around the Clackamas Community College campus on pavement with some sections of a crushed gravel paths.

7:15 PM and the gun shoots. I am starting with no rush somewhere in the middle of the pack. I am the only barefoot runner here today and I only see one older lady in Vibram 5 Fingers.

I feel strong but relaxed. I start adding speed right after the start and start passing people in front of me. Then we hit the pointy crushed gravel part. I am really curious how fast I can handle it and happily realize right away this is going to be an easy one.

I am well trained running barefoot on gravel and rocks from all my trail running in the past 6 months so I do not slow down much and even keep passing people. For the whole race nobody passes me and that feels really good.

Two loops done and I am sprinting to the finish line. I glance on the numbers on the board – 24 minutes. I am really happy and smiling.

My new 5k personal record, my fastest run up to date and my feet and legs feel great.

“Daddy, I want to run with you next time” Lukas asks. What a lucky dad am I :-)

Results:

Time: 0:23:32

Pace: 07:36

Overall place: 39/212

Place in my age division: 2/15

Summer Solstice 5k course

 

My first Trail Half Marathon - barefoot

Sunday morning, it is a beautiful sunny day today.

I have been running for a while and I feel really good and strong. The longest run up to date was 10 miles on a trail so I decide it is time to finally test my feet on a bit longer run.

Today it is going to be the half-marathon distance (about 13 miles).

I pick Wildwood trail in the Forest Park as the place for this event since that is where I run most of the time. I am only taking my cell and a small handheld water bottle with me.

The trail starts climbing up right from the trailhead and I am working hard, breathing heavily but as I gradually warm up by the mile 4 I already feel great and all relaxed.

The first 7 miles is just a steady climb up from 150' to 1000'.

When I reach the turning point I just sip half of my 12oz bottle and turn running back.

At mile 10 I feel like my legs are running by themselves and my body is just hovering above the ground flying through the woods. Awesome feeling.

At mile 11 there is the longest downhill (250' drop over 1 mile) of the route and I almost shoot both my knees on it. I have to stop and walk 50 yards down and then slowly start running again. For some reason my knees hate running down long hills despite of my full concentration on a high cadence and having them bent all the time.

The last mile is a piece of cake running along a beautiful creek.

At the end I feel really good. My feet are in a great shape, no bruises, no blisters and no hot spots.

I only consumed 6 oz of water at mile 7 and no food.

Overall great run. Feeling ready for the real Half.

Homemade Casual Huaraches

After reading so much about them I finally decided to make a pair for myself.

I ordered a big sheet of Vibram Cherry 4 mm sole rubber online (www.footcaresupply.com)

and for the lacing I used 4mm utility cord from REI.

I made these just for a casual wear at places I do not go barefoot (pretty much just restaurants, stores and public buildings). I just could not stand ZEMs (too hot) and flip-flops (scrunched toes) anymore.

I am not planning to run trails in them since I only run barefoot but will be taking them on my runs as emergency shoes.

Worked out pretty good and I really like them.

Havoc at the Hideout 5 mile trail race

Sunday May 15, 9 AM, 45F and raining

It has been raining the whole night. Me and Mike (migangelo) are approaching the registration shelter enjoying the sticky mud squishing between our toes.

This annual X-Dog event takes place on a private ranch nestled deep in the Pacific Northwest lush forest. The scenery around is beautiful and I am getting quite excited.

Cold, wet and muddy at the start

Since I started running 10 months ago I have done three road races barefoot but this is my very first trail race and also my first X-Dog event to run. I am not sure what to expect on the course but the X-Dog description is really compelling:

“The venue is incredible with terrain that will satisfy every adrenaline junkie. No experience is necessary and all abilities are welcome. The course travels Hornings Hideout property, and enjoys (if you are not breathing too heavily, and the sweat is not filling your eyes, and the snot is not clogging your nose) spectacular views, lakes, creeks, dirt, logs, and more (especially the sweat, breath, and snot parts).
The course is a one lap loop with plenty of single track, and other wide sections of trail for passing and being passed. The layout and design is second to no other trail.”

Everyone around us is enjoying their soaked up boat anchors so it is easy to get some attention.

“You guys aren’t going to run it barefoot today, are you ?” we catch an interest of a tall guy glancing down at our naked feet.

“Well, that’s the plan,” I reply trying to look calm hiding all the shivering from being cold.

He keeps going clearly trying to weaken our determination:

“Believe me, I am all for running barefoot and I have run without shoes on grass before but you do not want to do that on this course in these conditions."

"I saw the course yesterday, there are some crazy steep downhills in ankle deep mud with sharp rocks buried underneath that will slice your feet like butter,” he sounds quite convincing.

I am starting to think having my KSOs in my backpack as a backup is not such a bad idea after-all. My goal is just to enjoy the ride, have fun and finish the race without injury.

Martin (stomper) arrives just in time and that makes our trio of barefoot runners complete for today.

The gun fires!

I start somewhere in the middle of our pack of 230 adrenaline loaded junkies. Some in costumes, going Hawaiian is the theme of the day.

I am feeling the comforting cushy mud under my feet.

Slipping and regaining balance. So far so good.

Uphill on a single-track.

Downhill on a muddy slide. Martin comfortably slides down by me sitting on his butt.

A piece of a forest road.

A nice soft grassy meadow.

I am all warmed up by now so I start adding some speed. My feet feel like springs swinging with high cadence. I start passing people and feel energized and invincible.

The whole course pretty much looks like this.

After about 2 miles we hit the killer uphill climb. Nobody really runs anymore. ‘Zombie walking’ and crawling seem to be the only options here. I quickly realize moving uphill barefoot in a deep mud actually has its advantages. I curl my toes down and use my feet as “hooks” to get some traction. Everyone around me in shoes seems to be uncontrollably sliding back and many kissing the ground so I easily pass another bunch of runners and hit the top unharmed.

Downhills are a different story. I have a vivid picture of NakedSoleNate’s slashed feet in my mind. But I have no plans to be the next Definitive Gross Picture Thread thread winner. I am trying to stay on the side of the trail taking advantage of all the leaves, grass and debris I can find to maintain some traction. It is somewhat working but I also get my share of fun falling down into the sloshy mash. A couple of times. Get up and keep running man!

The scenery changes again. A quarter a mile on a crushed gravel forest road. It is not so bad as it looks. Bending knees a lot and a really high cadence should do it. Pumping some adrenaline helps as well.

Two knee deep creek crossings and a final sprint to the finish line. That was quick. I am almost surprised where the whole hour has gone.

I grab my camera and snatch some pictures for Mike and Martin finishing.

Mike at the finish

Martin finishing

We grab a couple of beers from the keg and then the rain slowly stops.

My feet feel great and all in one piece. All I find later that evening is just a bruise on the top of my left arch and a small cut on the other arch. Both gone in the next two days and I am up and ready for more fun.

My time was 53:46 which I am really happy with. It placed me 63rd from 230 overall (10th from 18 in my age division, average pace 10:30 ).

I am definitely hooked on BF trail racing now so the next day I am already signing up for another 10k trail race in June. And if I push my luck a bit more it may even be sunny!

Some race stats:

Length: 5.09 miles

Elevation gain/loss: 980 feet

Max. slope: 39% up, 43% down

Aerial images of the race course (track taken from my GPS)

Course elevation profile