Writing is just not happening lately.  Maybe when my darlings go back to school things will slow down.

I have been trying to run.  My IT band is just so jacked up.  I've been to physical therapy.  I've started weight training and focusing on my hamstrings and my gluteus medius.  I'm using the foam roller.  I'm reading and doing a ton of research.  It is all SLOWLY paying off.  I've been getting about 2 miles out of a run before my knee is killing me.  I've just been pushing through to get another mile.  How can I quit before 3 miles?  I just ran a marathon dang it! 

I've been reading a great book called "Tread Lightly", written by Bill Katovsky and Peter Larson.  I'm not finished yet but I'm loving it.  It discusses the history of running and the history of running shoes.  It also talks about minimal shoes and has some great points about barefoot running. The parts I find intriguing are the ones about injuries from running and the causes behind them. 

This has pointed my rehab in a new direction.  I bought a pair of minimal shoes.  I LOVE THEM!!! I bought the Altra Provision.  They are the men's version, I couldn't find any Provisioness my size in the valley.  I really wanted to try them so I went with the men's.  I had talked to my PT, Mark and he was worried about how they would affect my neuromas.  Also, leaving the "traditional" support shoes in the dust was a little concerning.  Altras give a 30 day guarantee - if they aren't for me in 30 days I can return them for a full refund.  Awesome.  I purchased mine from Runner's Corner, a specialty running store in town.  I believe that the Altras are the brain child of the owner and his son.  They are fabulous.  They weigh less than 10 oz, have a super wide toe box and this model has a small arch support (if you can call it that).  They are like putting on a pair of slippers.

So, just how do I know that they are fabulous?  Well, I ran in them yesterday - just a mile.  They felt great.  There is a transition period when moving from regular shoes to minimal shoes.  You are supposed to ease into them so that you don't stress your calf muscles and Achilles tendon.  Today, I put them on again to try a 2 miles run. I am really nervous about sore calves.  I ended up running 4.19 miles.  I felt tremendous.  This is the first run since the beginning of May that I have felt great.  Did I feel my IT band?  Yes, I was aware of it but it didn't stop me.  It didn't hurt so badly that I had to stop and walk and stretch.  I could have run more.  I wanted to do 5 miles but I didn't want to rush it.  I really can't even tell you how good I felt.  My first mile was done in 9:38 - I slowed down for the rest trying to not over do it.

Can I give all the credit to the shoes?  Probably not.  I have been stretching and icing and doing my strength training.  I'm putting in my time.  I think the shoes have something to do with it.  Last week I was able to run 3 miles - in my old Asics 2160.  Was I pain free?  Nope but I finished.

I can't wait to run again!  I may even run tomorrow.  Running back to back hasn't happened for weeks.

I have 10 weeks until the Red Rock Relay.  That's not much time.  I will be ready.  Next week, I'm taking a running form class - I can't wait to finally get going again!