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MV Grasshopper Bridge 5K (Bare Footed)

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Location:

Mesa,AZ,

Member Since:

Apr 04, 2007

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Marathon Finish

Running Accomplishments:

Prs:

1 mile:  6:31

5K:  23:37

Half Marathon: 2:04

My first post-high school 5K, in which I thought I was going to die

The first time I won my age division.  Yippee!

My first half marathon, in which I attack Sasha

The time I beat my high school PR for the 5K (as a 31 year-old mommy of 3!)

My first 5K barefooted

 

Short-Term Running Goals:

I'm just getting back into running after a long break to have my last child.  I would like to race some 10Ks, a half, and a marathon in the next 2 years.

Long-Term Running Goals:

Be the oldest woman to complete a marathon.  Yea!  But hopefully I will also complete some BEFORE I geezer up, like, before I'm 40 for sure.  I think it would be fun to dress up really strange for marathons, like impersonating celebrities and stuff.  Except I don't really like celebrities, as a rule, so maybe I'll have to stick to the age old question of ninja, or pirate.  I say ninja. *Hyah!*

Personal:

I am happily married to James W (Cool Runnings). We have 3 boys and 1 opinionated little girl.  I love reading and I'm also a news junkie.  I am a stinker.

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Race: MV Grasshopper Bridge 5K (Bare Footed) (3.2 Miles) 00:26:25
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
0.803.204.00

I'm being liberal with the distance here.  I had to run this race naked, meaning without a garmin--or even a watch.  I ran this course last year, and it was a little long.  Well, this year the big novelty was that I was running it barefoot.  Since I really prefer the sidewalk to the road while barefoot, I ran the most abominable tangents ever....EVER.  So that's how I got that extra .1.

 

I had to tie my toe-chip to my shorts.

The hero of the day was Camille.  If it had not been for the fact that I told her I would meet her here (more like begged her to run this particular race), I might have backed out and stayed in my pajamas until 10 this morning.  This was my first time to meet someone from the blog who actually lives close enough to run with--fun stuff!  She just ran a 5K 2 weeks ago with a time of around 29:30.  She has her very first half marathon next weekend, and she was still willing to come do this race so we could meet.  Isn't that nice?  Everyone from the blog is nice--at least from my experience.  I've never met someone from the blog and thought Geez, that person is a little scary, or MAN, they are uglier than their blog picture.   It's always Well THAT'S a great person!  How fun to finally meet.  And so it was today.  My general impression of Camille is that she is a very dependable, hardworking, and tranquil chica with the MOST adorable baby girl ever. 

 

This is our "before" picture.

Since this was only Camille's 2nd 5K, I took the liberty of giving her some prerace advice.  (The NERVE of me!  Really, like I know what's what!)  I told her that she had enough fitness to push hard.  Start fast, I said, and then when to get to 2 miles, speed up.  :)  Well, she did a fabulous job and took 2 full minutes off her first 5K just 2 weeks ago.   Isn't that amazing?  How many people can boast the ability to drop a minute per week in a 5K? 

 This is our "after" picture.  "Supastahhs!"

Now for the actual race...  My dear bloggies...my very very dear dear bloggies, can you ever forgive me?  I did not push myself as I ought to have done today.   I started off with the feeling of just running for the joy of running, and I never really pushed myself beyond those bounds.  Sure, I felt a little hot, and there were a couple of times that my body suggested, gently, that it would prefer a bit of a more maidenly pace.  But it was not the death-grip wrestle with my pain threshold that I have become accustomed to in a 5K.  It was a good tempo run, though.  I feel pleasantly tired and shamefully content at this point. 

It was a fun race, though.  Everywhere I went people were staring at my feet, smiling at me, and even laughing out loud.  People were shouting things to me as I passed as if I was something special.  I like that, though it makes me blush to admit it.  I couldn't hear what anyone said, because I had my music blaring, so I'll just assume that they were saying stuff like "way to go barefoot!  You are amazing!" and not "where are your shoes, you lunatic?!"

I had an interesting barefoot experience today: my very first THORN.  I've been waiting.  It was bound to happen.  In Arizona there are these monstrous, 2-pronged thorns that are quite long and very hard (I call 'em "goatheads").  Well anyway, I felt a dull ache in one of my heels before I started and sure enough, one of the prongs from a goathead had broken off in my foot, but part of it was still sticking out (umph.  It's more disgusting to write about than it was in real life.)  So I just yanked it out.  It didn't even hurt, that was the weird part.  No blood, no foul.  Not to say there wasn't blood--there was, just not from the thorn. 

By the last 3/4 of a mile one of my pinkie toes was beginning to feel like I might be getting a blister.  By the time I finished, though, the blister had been scuffed off, and there was a bit of blood.  Nothing too impressive.  I've had worse while wearing shoes from my slightly-too-long-toenails attacking the nearby toes. But I do have a couple of blisters on other toes.    I think that when trying to run speedier barefoot, my toes play more of an active role than they do when I am just plodding along at my normal pace.  They grab the sidewalk and throw it behind me, whereas while going slow they just pad-pad-pad, touch the ground and come off again. 

 "Minimal Carnage"

So what can I say?  I enjoyed this race.  I beat my time from last year, by just a few seconds, and yet with much more comfort.  I got to meet a really sweet & fun chica from the blog, and I got to make a little bit of a scene in a pretty big race.  There's really only one downside--I am a boltushka again.  That is unacceptable.  Oh yeah, AND I got passed by an 80 year-old woman right at the end.  Jeez!  Well, I can't help if some 80 year-olds are dang tough. 

 

"Man, that old lady was dang tough!"


Night Sleep Time: 0.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 0.00
Comments
From James W on Sat, Sep 27, 2008 at 14:58:28

Woohoo! Congrats on finishing your first *barefoot* 5K! Let me just say, you looked as fresh when you finished the race as you did when you started! I'm so proud of you.

From Kim on Sat, Sep 27, 2008 at 15:19:45

That was a perfect race if you ask me! You had FUN! I think that should be our main goal! (except for maybe those few who can make some $ while they kill themselves out there!) I love that you brought smiles to everyone who saw you! That was an awesome race report! I'm going to find Camille now and see her report.

BTW: The pictures just show up as red blocks on my computer....is it just me?

From Bonnie on Sat, Sep 27, 2008 at 15:31:44

Hi Kim -- it is me too (the red pictures - except the one showing the bottoms of Lybi's feet -- they are much nicer looking than my feet and I have never run a 5K barefoot).

Great job Lybi, you totally crack me up! Less than a month and we will be out there! Please tell it to cool down in the next few weeks, I am getting spoiled here in SLC (it has been perfect running weather).

From Brent on Sat, Sep 27, 2008 at 18:11:52

Well, Lybi, 500 commando points to you, I thought you would have your feet wrapped in gauz and in ice buckets after the race, two tough chicka feet.

Stay Kool, throw the shoes out the window, B of BS Rools out

From Lybi on Sat, Sep 27, 2008 at 18:43:05

Thanks Brent--you are the original tough runner, so that means a lot!

Bonnie and Kim, I THINK I've got the pictures working now. Let me know if you still can't see 'em.

From Grant on Sat, Sep 27, 2008 at 20:05:29

Good run, Lybi. Way to be tough.

By the way the "pictures" you posted are just little red squares to me. I'm assuming that's your bad, because how could it be mine?

From josse on Sat, Sep 27, 2008 at 20:39:19

Great job Lybi, that is super tough!! I can't see the pics either.

From Kristina on Sat, Sep 27, 2008 at 21:19:50

Wow, a whole 5k with no shoes. That is an accomplishment that most people will never get to brag about :) And you know, there is something to say for running for the joy of running. If you take out the joy and all you have is pain, then what is the point, right? Keep working, but have fun :P

From sarah on Sat, Sep 27, 2008 at 22:37:43

I'm sorry I spaced it when we were talking and didn't ask you about the race(before Sasha took over the conversation)

I say that running barefooted sounds uncomfortable enough and you are awesome!!

From laura on Sat, Sep 27, 2008 at 23:49:23

Hey, get James to fix those red squares! I wanna see pictures!!! (hee,hee) Great job, Lybi. I'm glad you accomplished another goal - running a race barefoot. I don't think you should feel bad that you didn't give your absolute all - this was a race with a different goal, that's all. Not every race needs to be a near death experience. ;o) Congratulations!!!!

From Mom on Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 00:36:59

I can see all the pictures. So I assume James came home and fixed it? You look happy and refreshed. I personally think running should be for the joy of it and not to will power yourself into and past pain. Reminds me of the definition of marathon runners: Funny people with a thing for pain. Good luck

From Lybi on Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 00:41:14

Thanks guys! Ok, I really DID fix the pictures this time. The key is that you have to put them on SHUTTERFLY, not Snapfish. Snapfish is stingy with their band width.

From Camille on Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 11:46:38

Lybi - Thank you so much for talking me into that race. I'm so happy I did it, and even more excited that I was able to meet you and your husband! You are awesome! I can't wait to run with you in the future.

From James on Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 19:11:10

Sounds fun! I would have worn the old VFFs though.

From Lyndsay Johnson on Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 21:38:22

Well, that little pinky looks like it might be crying out a bit. But your star frame is stellar! :) Good job on the race! You were only *barely* limping today.

From Christi on Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 23:12:51

What a great race report!!! Congrats on a fulfilling day! 8:15 pace is not Boltushka- that has to be over 9 min miles, doesn't it? (oh please say its so...) You had fun, made a bloggie friend & you LOOK GREAT! What more could you ask for?! I still think you're nuts to run barefoot, but glad your feet are in tact and they look much better than mine at this point after the marathon training, losing toenails, etc... Your pics are great- love the borders too... GREAT DAY!

From Walter on Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 09:25:53

Lybi what a stud you are! Dont you have a pair of barefoot shoes? I bought a pair after I saw Clyde wearing them and tried them out. Ouch! Not for me! You freakin' amaze me! I hope to hear some major cheering from you at SGM this Saturday! I want to be able to single your voice out alright? lol Way to help Camille to a PR! Coach Lybi!

From gdoc on Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 12:08:15

congrats on an enthusiastic and unique race. can you explain to me though why barefoot running may be less injurious? just wondering, keep it up.

From Lybi on Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 16:37:12

Walter and James, I purchased some 5 fingers, but they don't fit me because, apparently, my feet are deformed. Look at those beany little toes, with no "neck". The toe compartments were mostly empty. I sent 'em back and James got some supremely orange racing flats instead.

Gdoc, here is a good scientific article on barefoot running: http://www.sportsci.org/jour/0103/mw.htm

But I have to say that I do it because I like it. Somehow I feel more relaxed when I run barefoot.

Everyone: Curious as to Sasha's response to the race? "You ran a SLACKER race today." ((Understood: And your face looks puffier than usual.) True on both counts (I need some cucumbers, stat!) but still!

From marion on Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 17:45:46

Great race! That is amazing!!! I am super impressed with the whole barefoot thing! ROCK on sister!!!

From D'Net on Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 18:40:59

Dang, Lybi! You are one impressive gal. I'll let you run the races for me, since the chances of me ever enjoying running are next to nill. :-)

From Walter on Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 21:08:22

Yeah Lybi, I bought a pair and it took some time to get all my piggies lined up right to get into them. I ran on some lawn and I was really impressed, then I ran off the lawn in some weed that had those round stickers and they went right through into my feet. I tried running on the pavement and it hurt because of the gravel from construction going on near me. I think they would be good on an all grass park.

From Burt on Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 10:53:24

How on earth can you be shorter than Camille? I didn't think that was possible.

From Camille on Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 11:13:34

Burt, she was barefoot and I had shoes on. LOL And what you can't tell from those pictures are that I'm standing on my toes. :o) Okay, maybe not.

From Lybi on Wed, Oct 01, 2008 at 10:28:31

Hey, Burt--Camille and I are just the right size. Everyone else is too tall.

From Camille on Wed, Oct 01, 2008 at 10:34:23

I like that Lybi! We're "practically perfect in everyway". LOL (Isn't that a measurement on Mary Poppin's tape measure?)

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