Decided to chance a run today since I had some spare time in the evening. My ankle is better now, and I've been confident enough to go without an ankle guard for my regular training sessions, even though there's still the occasional jolt of pain if I'm not careful.
One of the great things running around your neighbourhood is the level of control you have over your run. I wasn't sure how far or how long I was going to run today since I was coming back from a long break. But rather than limit myself, I decided to listen to my body and go by how I was feeling overall.
Since I was generally familiar with the area, I could set shifting milestones to mark my routes.This allowed me to set an unambitious end point when I first started the run, but as I was approaching it, I changed it to a further location since I was still feeling good.
Another fun part of my runs is that I'm always exploring a new area, even if it's just a different lane. I like to set a general direction to run towards, but pick a slightly different road or backlane each time, affording me some variety and the occasional nice surprise. Like tonight, I accidentally revisited a nostalgic area of my teenage years without realising how near I was to it all this while.
All these help to keep me going during the run and engaged in the moment so I don't get bored or feel tired.
Halfway through though, I did feel some aching in the left ankle surprising, while my right ankle with the torn ligament had no pain at all and was in fact strong throughout the entire run. The ache shifted up to my left knee and remained there as a weak pain for the rest of the run.
At first I was able to cope with it, but after 20 minutes or so without it subsiding, I started to feel a little hesitant and decided not to push it, ending my run at the one hour mark. This cut my plan to finish the run at a longer distance and time of 90 minutes.
That said, I guess it's still not too bad considering I haven't ran in a long while. I probably need to ease my joints in to the sudden running movement again and I should be able to gun for the 90 and 120 minute marks soon.
Shoes of choice was the recent addition to my collection, the Soft Star RunAmoc Original Lites. These are super comfortable shoes that wear like moccasins and I'm loving them to bits! They are even more comfortable and breathable than my Five Fingers and slide on and off just as easily. Will probably do a review on them soon.
A week of rest, and hopefully another long run next week!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
A Long Hiatus
Ok, I'll admit I haven't been running for a long while since my injury. The ankle is a major hindrance as it'll take awhile to recover from past experience. The last time I snap a tendon in my finger it took a good five months to not hurt at any tiny pressure. Even then, it's not as strong as it used to be.
With the ankle I hope it'll strengthen back over time. It's mostly strong enough for daily movement and my other training activities, just with occasional light bits of pain when I'm not careful. But it hasn't regained the initial flexibility and I can't plantar flex fully without a little warning pain.
That said, I've been skipping and can handle it comfortably for most part, so I'll probably try to get some light running time in soon. Hopefully!
With the ankle I hope it'll strengthen back over time. It's mostly strong enough for daily movement and my other training activities, just with occasional light bits of pain when I'm not careful. But it hasn't regained the initial flexibility and I can't plantar flex fully without a little warning pain.
That said, I've been skipping and can handle it comfortably for most part, so I'll probably try to get some light running time in soon. Hopefully!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Walking Barefoot
Still can't run because of my ankle, think it's going to take awhile to recover. In the meantime, went for barefoot walks followed by swimming for recovery.
Interestingly, it would seem my barefoot walking gait is still quite different from when I'm wearing my Classics. While I consciously use a forefoot strike for both, I tend to land much more on the ball when barefoot than when shod.
This is consistent with my observations on the previous barefoot run. Seems like this is how the body copes with rougher terrain, since I do not walk this way at home.
Looks like it really takes quite a bit of actual barefoot time to get a proper feel of the 'right' form.
Interestingly, it would seem my barefoot walking gait is still quite different from when I'm wearing my Classics. While I consciously use a forefoot strike for both, I tend to land much more on the ball when barefoot than when shod.
This is consistent with my observations on the previous barefoot run. Seems like this is how the body copes with rougher terrain, since I do not walk this way at home.
Looks like it really takes quite a bit of actual barefoot time to get a proper feel of the 'right' form.
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Thursday, April 14, 2011
Terra Plana Vivobarefoot Neo
Awhile ago, I mentioned my search for a pair of water-resistant if not water proof minimalist shoes, which led me to the Vivobarefoot Neo. Initially, I was looking at the Evo design because of how nice it looked and the number of good reviews it received. I was pleasantly surprised to discover a Plana Terra store locally, but they were out of Evo sizes for me. Instead, the attendant recommended the new Neo.
From comparisons online, the local store offers competitive prices which makes it much more sensible to shop from the store despite some lack of sizes and designs. The upside is potential discounts during sales, and the opportunity to do a thorough fitting for sensitive things such as shoes! The Neos are cheaper than the Evos too, so I bit the bullet. After putting it through much use, here's my thoughts on it.
However, given that this were going to be my wet weather shoes, it didn't make sense to get whites that would might well turn brown the moment I splash into a puddle. I'm not a great fan of cleaning, and I was advised not to machine wash the Neos due to the mesh, using a toothbrush instead. In the end, practicality trumped fashionability on this one, and I convinced myself to stick to the black ones for easier maintenance.
The shoes are very aesthetically designed, featuring a mesh upper with suede at the sides, giving it a classy look. The selective use of accents also help to make the shoes pop and look eye-catching. From any angle, these look like an upmarket pair of running shoes. They are also very versatile and look good for a casual evening out. I've drawn compliments from a number of people who've seen me in my Neos.
The Neo has an antibacterial, removable insole, which I promptly removed after a couple of walks as I preferred more ground feel.
Fit
I had some initial difficulties getting the right fit for the Neo. While I fit snugly into a pair of size 40s at the shop with the size 41s feeling too large, the size 40s soon became too tight when moving around, the reason being the way the foot lengthens and splays during movement. I did notice the potential problem in the shop, but it felt like the slight bit of space I had was enough to accommodate once I got used to the shoes.
Unfortunately, that didn't happen. There was ample room for my big toe, but not my little toe, which soon developed a blister from the constant rubbing. I suspect this is partially due to the toe box being insufficiently wide, something I've seen several other comments mentioned, although it also depends on your foot width.
Luckily, the staff were happy to help me with an exchange to the size 41s, one of the great things of local purchases. While the 41s felt a little too roomy at first, I soon grew accustomed to them. There's still a tad too much space between the tip of the shoe and my toes, but at least now the shoes are wide enough to accommodate the width of my foot. It doesn't affect my running at all, although I did had some initial difficulties doing agility work with it, the shifting making it difficult to brake and shift directions suddenly.
Using a lace system, the shoes offer a great and snug fit once properly tightened. I like my lace shoes slightly loose for easy slip on and off, and the Neos work great in this respect. Most times I can put on and pull of the shoes very quickly, while it still remains sufficiently snug for running about. It also fits great with or without socks.
Barefoot Feel
The Neo offers a great barefoot feel once you remove the insole, although it's still different from being able to wiggle your toes freely a la the Vibrams. The sole is 4mm thick, and feels like the TrekSport when it comes to ground transmission. The insole provides additional cushion for those who feel they need it, but as a trade off removes quite a bit of ground feel.
The shoes are still quite flexible though, I can easily bend it toe to heel, and it offers little resistance to movement when worn. While I'm not sure what the shoes weigh in at, they are also very light, just slightly heavier than my Vibram KSOs.
As expected of minimalist shoes, there is no heel and arch support, while the heel is zero-drop.
Usage
The shoes are marketed as a pair of cross-trainers and should suit a wide variety of activities, although the mesh upper would make me hesitate bringing these on trail runs. Given their aesthetics, these are also a great pair of going-out shoes. They are my default when I need to meet new clients or parents, and in more formal situations where finger shoes might not be appropriate.
Besides my Classics, these are my next most worn pair of shoes for my walkabouts. While I did buy them for their water resistance, I was still a little hesitant because of the mesh uppers. However, they worked better than expected in wet environments, and I've managed to keep my feet dry even in light rain. This probably has something to do with the hydrophobic mesh upper stated as one of the features. Despite the water resistance, it still remains fairly breathable and my feet are not soaked in sweat after a day's walk.
The shoes are quite comfortable to wear with the cushioned insole, although footbed without the insole is slightly rougher with minimal cushioning. It's not a big issue though, and the texture helps to provide a little grip to reduce shifting when worn without socks and insole. The mesh uppers feel decent against the skin, though nowhere near as comfortable as the softer Vibram uppers. There was some initial chafing just below my right big toe, but that has since disappeared. That said, compared to your average running shoes, these are great for their comfort and lightness.
They also feature an interesting outsole design, with hexagonal patterns that supposedly offer more flex and better grip. It is also puncture resistant. Looking at the sole, I expected the small hex protrusion in the middle of the larger hex to wear pretty quickly, but so far only the ones on the V has faded, the rest are still there. Grip is excellent, and I've been able to move on wet terrain with minimal slippage.
Overall, the Vivobarefoot Neo are a great pair of minimalist shoes and an awesome alternative for those who can't get used to the Vibram look, are unable to fit in a pair, or not willing to fork out the local prices for it. It is also a great pair of casual shoes, making it a worthwhile bang for your buck.
From comparisons online, the local store offers competitive prices which makes it much more sensible to shop from the store despite some lack of sizes and designs. The upside is potential discounts during sales, and the opportunity to do a thorough fitting for sensitive things such as shoes! The Neos are cheaper than the Evos too, so I bit the bullet. After putting it through much use, here's my thoughts on it.
Design
The Neos are a pair of pretty shoes! There are 4 colour choices, each with its own tone and accents. While I eventually settled for the black/yellow pair, my initial pair was the white/red/grey one. It was such a lovely pair of shoes that grew on me, and I was almost tempted to get the same design when I exchanged the shoes for a larger size. In fact, I loved it so much that I photographed the white/red/grey pair instead of my black/yellow ones.
However, given that this were going to be my wet weather shoes, it didn't make sense to get whites that would might well turn brown the moment I splash into a puddle. I'm not a great fan of cleaning, and I was advised not to machine wash the Neos due to the mesh, using a toothbrush instead. In the end, practicality trumped fashionability on this one, and I convinced myself to stick to the black ones for easier maintenance.
The shoes are very aesthetically designed, featuring a mesh upper with suede at the sides, giving it a classy look. The selective use of accents also help to make the shoes pop and look eye-catching. From any angle, these look like an upmarket pair of running shoes. They are also very versatile and look good for a casual evening out. I've drawn compliments from a number of people who've seen me in my Neos.
The Neo has an antibacterial, removable insole, which I promptly removed after a couple of walks as I preferred more ground feel.
Fit
I had some initial difficulties getting the right fit for the Neo. While I fit snugly into a pair of size 40s at the shop with the size 41s feeling too large, the size 40s soon became too tight when moving around, the reason being the way the foot lengthens and splays during movement. I did notice the potential problem in the shop, but it felt like the slight bit of space I had was enough to accommodate once I got used to the shoes.
Unfortunately, that didn't happen. There was ample room for my big toe, but not my little toe, which soon developed a blister from the constant rubbing. I suspect this is partially due to the toe box being insufficiently wide, something I've seen several other comments mentioned, although it also depends on your foot width.
Luckily, the staff were happy to help me with an exchange to the size 41s, one of the great things of local purchases. While the 41s felt a little too roomy at first, I soon grew accustomed to them. There's still a tad too much space between the tip of the shoe and my toes, but at least now the shoes are wide enough to accommodate the width of my foot. It doesn't affect my running at all, although I did had some initial difficulties doing agility work with it, the shifting making it difficult to brake and shift directions suddenly.
Barefoot Feel
The Neo offers a great barefoot feel once you remove the insole, although it's still different from being able to wiggle your toes freely a la the Vibrams. The sole is 4mm thick, and feels like the TrekSport when it comes to ground transmission. The insole provides additional cushion for those who feel they need it, but as a trade off removes quite a bit of ground feel.
As expected of minimalist shoes, there is no heel and arch support, while the heel is zero-drop.
Usage
The shoes are marketed as a pair of cross-trainers and should suit a wide variety of activities, although the mesh upper would make me hesitate bringing these on trail runs. Given their aesthetics, these are also a great pair of going-out shoes. They are my default when I need to meet new clients or parents, and in more formal situations where finger shoes might not be appropriate.
Besides my Classics, these are my next most worn pair of shoes for my walkabouts. While I did buy them for their water resistance, I was still a little hesitant because of the mesh uppers. However, they worked better than expected in wet environments, and I've managed to keep my feet dry even in light rain. This probably has something to do with the hydrophobic mesh upper stated as one of the features. Despite the water resistance, it still remains fairly breathable and my feet are not soaked in sweat after a day's walk.
The shoes are quite comfortable to wear with the cushioned insole, although footbed without the insole is slightly rougher with minimal cushioning. It's not a big issue though, and the texture helps to provide a little grip to reduce shifting when worn without socks and insole. The mesh uppers feel decent against the skin, though nowhere near as comfortable as the softer Vibram uppers. There was some initial chafing just below my right big toe, but that has since disappeared. That said, compared to your average running shoes, these are great for their comfort and lightness.
They also feature an interesting outsole design, with hexagonal patterns that supposedly offer more flex and better grip. It is also puncture resistant. Looking at the sole, I expected the small hex protrusion in the middle of the larger hex to wear pretty quickly, but so far only the ones on the V has faded, the rest are still there. Grip is excellent, and I've been able to move on wet terrain with minimal slippage.
Overall, the Vivobarefoot Neo are a great pair of minimalist shoes and an awesome alternative for those who can't get used to the Vibram look, are unable to fit in a pair, or not willing to fork out the local prices for it. It is also a great pair of casual shoes, making it a worthwhile bang for your buck.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Recovery Time
Looks like I didn't make it for a run after all. The ankle still feels weak, and I'm not too keen on pushing it, especially with all the other activities I'm doing. Feels like I popped something around the Achilles tendon and outer instep region, since it hurts at the instep to evert the foot and occasional weakness at the back of the ankle during plantar and dorsal flexion.
Been cutting down a lot of my training activities recently though. Work is getting busier than expected, and I have new commitments as well. Hopefully I don't lose too much of the gains I've made. Will probably go for a short and light run sometime this week instead.
Been cutting down a lot of my training activities recently though. Work is getting busier than expected, and I have new commitments as well. Hopefully I don't lose too much of the gains I've made. Will probably go for a short and light run sometime this week instead.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Injuries
Seems like these two weeks are injury weeks for me. Hurt my left wrist and right index finger last Friday during training, when some 70 odd kg dude landed on me. Just when that was getting better, I went to get meself some blisters on the feet. When that was fading too, a friend popped something in my right ankle on Tuesday.
Argh, just not my week. That's more things at once than I've had in months. The wrist was so bad that I had to get my students to pop open the whiteboard marker caps for me, and I already have a bad left index finger, so I'm not too pleased to find my right finger joining the party. Hopefully the right ankle doesn't interfere with running plans this weekend either.
Fortunately though, recovery is faster than expected. By Sunday, the wrist was down to a dull throb, while I can put weight on my ankle again by now. Could be all in my head, but it feels like the Omega 3 and glucosamine supplements are helping with the recovery. Well, this is the first time I'm actively taking supplements and sticking with it, so let's hope I'm not just flushing money down the drain!
Argh, just not my week. That's more things at once than I've had in months. The wrist was so bad that I had to get my students to pop open the whiteboard marker caps for me, and I already have a bad left index finger, so I'm not too pleased to find my right finger joining the party. Hopefully the right ankle doesn't interfere with running plans this weekend either.
Fortunately though, recovery is faster than expected. By Sunday, the wrist was down to a dull throb, while I can put weight on my ankle again by now. Could be all in my head, but it feels like the Omega 3 and glucosamine supplements are helping with the recovery. Well, this is the first time I'm actively taking supplements and sticking with it, so let's hope I'm not just flushing money down the drain!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Drawing Compliments
I've been wearing Vibrams on and off for more than a month now, and while I've received some stares, finger pointing and whisperings about my choice of footwear, today marks the first time a stranger approaches me about it and even throws in compliments for good measure! Just when I thought Singaporeans were too shy for that kind of thing too!
I was at Unity Healthcare to top up on my Omega 3 fish oil supplements, and while I was paying at the cashier, suddenly I heard someone say, "Wah, your shoes very nice hor."
Looking around, it turned out to be one of the aunties working there, who was putting some of the products on the shelves. Her cashier friend quickly came around the counter to have a look too.
"It must be really comfortable to wear! Very good for walking," one of the aunties commented. The other auntie pointed at my toes and hesitantly asked, "Can you...?" I wiggled my toes to her delight.
They continued bombarding me with questions on how much it costs, where to get it, and a quick tour around the shoe. So there you have it, Singaporeans are not shy after all. Just leave it to the aunties to prove me wrong!
Oh, and in case you were wondering, I was wearing my Bikila LS.
I was at Unity Healthcare to top up on my Omega 3 fish oil supplements, and while I was paying at the cashier, suddenly I heard someone say, "Wah, your shoes very nice hor."
Looking around, it turned out to be one of the aunties working there, who was putting some of the products on the shelves. Her cashier friend quickly came around the counter to have a look too.
"It must be really comfortable to wear! Very good for walking," one of the aunties commented. The other auntie pointed at my toes and hesitantly asked, "Can you...?" I wiggled my toes to her delight.
They continued bombarding me with questions on how much it costs, where to get it, and a quick tour around the shoe. So there you have it, Singaporeans are not shy after all. Just leave it to the aunties to prove me wrong!
Oh, and in case you were wondering, I was wearing my Bikila LS.
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