Grab a blanket and a couple of toddlers!
The funniest part happens right before I start pulling. When Jonathan sees Brenden on the blanket and me holding one end, he walks over and flops facedown on the other end. He has figured out a stable position for blanket riding. =)
Last year I blogged about the barefoot/minimalist running movement with great curiosity. Since then I read Chris McDougall’s outstanding book Born to Run, which further convinced me that minimalist running is worth a try. (Since my preferred running course is made of crushed limestone, barefoot doesn’t seem like a smart move for me) This week, I finally took the plunge.
The picture above shows my new toys, a pair of Vibram FiveFingers Bikilas. Think of them as stretchy gloves for my feet with a thin layer of rubber on the bottom for a bit of rock protection.
VFFs for runners work like Alli weight loss pills for people on a low-fat diet; they force you to do the right thing and punish you when you don’t. Most people run in cushy running shoes that allow them to land hard on their heels, which the human body just isn’t designed to do. Try that in the VFFs, and you’ll be in a world of heel pain. Instead, the VFFs naturally guide you into a midsole or forefoot strike, which is much better biomechanically. When I test-drove them on a treadmill at Luke’s Locker, it barely felt like my heel was hitting the ground.
Per Vibram’s advice, I’m easing into them to allow my body time to adjust. After all, my heel is suddenly about an inch closer to the ground, and my feet aren’t yet as strong as they should be. I ran a mile on Wednesday. I started off at a decent pace, just getting a feel for how they worked and trying to watch out for large rocks. They felt awesome – very light, comfortable, and just natural. At the halfway point, I realized how fast I was going and was surprised at how little effort it was taking. Toward the end I picked up the pace a bit. I finished in one of the fastest mile times I’ve ever run without really trying and with no pain. If this is a sign of things to come, I’ll be a very happy man.
Here’s a great video of Brenden singing his ABCs.
Here are a couple of pictures of me from the Cowtown 10k back in February. A company called Brightroom takes tens of thousands of pictures of runners at races like this and somehow manage to put together albums for them. The actual prints are very expensive, but here are a couple of the low-res versions:
SETTING: me and Brenden in the boys’ bathroom at toothbrushing time:
Me: Do you want big boy toothpaste (with fluoride) or little boy toothpaste (without)?
Brenden: Little boy toothpaste. But I want to hold the big boy toothpaste.
[Brenden stands on a stool by the sink and brushes his teeth for a bit before handing the toothbrush to me.]
Me: OK, Brenden, my turn. Turn around, please. Show me how clean your teeth are.
[Brenden turns around. I crouch to his level. He immediately throws his arms open and gives me a big hug.]
Brenden: Daddy!
Me: Thank you for the nice hug. Now, let’s brush your teeth.
[Brushing, then an unfortunate kick]
Me: Brenden, please don’t kick me there.
Brenden: OK. (muffled)
[More brushing. Brenden rubs my head]
Brenden: Daddy, I like your fuzzy hair.
Me: Thank you.
[Brenden opens the cap on the big boy toothpaste and sniffs and snorts.]
Brenden: Mmm…it smells good.
Me: Do you want to add some?
Brenden: No, not yet. Later.
Me: (sigh)
[Brushing]
Me: OK, all done. Good job.
[Brenden runs out the door, makes a hard right toward his room. I rinse the brush and wait for the loud sound of him colliding with his doorframe after missing the turn, but apparently he has learned his lesson from last time. I replace the toothbrush.]
Being a dad can be really fun.
As I mentioned recently, I’m now working the day shift for the next several weeks for a special writing project. Today we began the project with a kickoff meeting and some initial planning. My partner is a very sharp guy and will be a huge asset. I must admit, though, that switching back to an office job after more than six years is a bit odd. Here are the ten weirdest parts:
Weirdness aside, we’re off to a good start. Our target completion date is July 1. I am confident we can make it.