Friday Morning

9.6 kms with a running group. There are longer run options on leaving at the same time and place but 9.6 km seems to be enough for me at the moment.

Felt a little sore but not too bad from the past couple of days. Felt a bit heavy on my legs and randomly remembered watching some elite runners in the recent commonwealth game run with their heels flicking up so high they looked like they were going to kick their own buts.

Decided to give it a go. No where near flexible enough to kick my own bum while running but i did find it felt easier and lighter running this way to bring my leg forward. It makes sense that it's easier to swing a more compact semi folded leg through than a longer leg.

The other benefit i didn't expect was that it made it easier for me to run down hill in the vibrams. I've never been able to run as fast down hill with the vibrams as with shoes because you feel it more even if the actual impact reverberating through your body tend to be less with bare feet due to landing on your forefoot more (this has been researched - will get the Nature paper reference for anyone who is interested). Oddly no problems with the vibrams. Not sure why yet, need to think it over but regardless I'm going to keep working on kicking my heels up more when i run from now on.

I'm also at the stage where i think i should learn to periodise my training program. I was tossing up with the idea of gradually increasing a weekend run for a long - long run. I think though with North Face in mind and trail running I want to be stronger and more confident on hills and tricky tracks. Will increase hills and balance work and trail running over the next couple of months.