Fairy steps

"Rogaining" - noun - the result of agreeing to go for a short walk with one's boyfriend and his parents, only to find 8 hours later that they carry headlamps and a second page of maps - being an intense scowl and complete inability to notice that others somewhat faster than one's indignant plod might want to overtake on a narrow path.
(Disclaimer: if, in fact, we read this situation wrong and that charming lady out on the Bibbulmun is tragically afflicted with a grotesquely angry facial disfigurement, then we apologize unreservedly.
Thanks for letting us past, stupid cow.

So, today we took the chance on a Bibbulmun front-end adventure IN FINGERS!

To set the scene, I ran 14km last night barefoot, and decided that it was admirable* to push through the distance, though the hotspots started appearing after kilometer 2. Sigh.
(*not so bright)

Back to the Hills!

We left the Kalamunda pub with high hopes of a triumphal return in daylight. The trails felt remarkably good in the fingers - not nearly as painful as I expected, and much, much more nimble than in shoes. Still, with ants as long as one's forearm waiting patiently beside the trail with napkins, it was best not to stop.
Alas, multiple encounters with the rogainers (including a group who appeared to have misplaced their dungeons and dragons 20-sided dice) and a minor loss of two our our party slowed us down a little.

In my defense, I didn't think that the espresso gel would make it THAT much fun that I got away. My sturdy compatriots, having lost sight of their tour guide in fading light on unfamiliar trails, carefully backtracked to check the trail markers, while the panicking tour guide raced first back to where I took off, then to the top of the trail, then back again, figuring there's no way that a short cut could've gotten them that far ahead.

The run thus ended as a stumbly walk back to the pub, illuminated by the comforting glow of mobile phones, but was nonetheless a solid workout. The feet feel a little beaten, but not in any way damaged. The technique is to keep the rapid fairy steps going, uphill and downhill, keeping a good blast in the pack pocket for the occasional open spaces.

I could be said that today's run ended badly. But fear not, dear reader, it could've been far, far worse, and indeed, it almost was. Remember way back in "It's like fishing", I mentioned an issue that afflicts me (and indeed every other runner)? Well, in the car on the way back home, one of my uninitiated compatriots fed me chocolate........

Luckily we survived that intake. Getting home, though, and removing the fingers, was an entirely different matter.

So it as been a good day.

Tomorrow is the Kid's first Triathlon - a huge day for doting dads. I'm immensely proud of her for having a go at something completely new. I suspect a blog post will document this one.

Tough

Ran tonight with new friends, plus the kid on the bike - real good fun. Good talks and easy dinner with beer afterward - this is what running is meant to be!

And the title? Well, tough relates to two observations from today, both from runs (I'm not going to get too explicit, here, you'll just have to stay with me and try to figure it out for yourself.)

First, a patch of thoughtful conversation this afternoon coincided with a particularly spiky stretch of road surface. Either I was sufficiently distracted ( and therefore usually a wimp), or my feet are acclimatizing to rougher barefoot surfaces, because rather than the "dance" that normally accompanies hurty bits, I cruised over it and it actually felt quite good.
I suspect most of the discomfort originates in the wet grey bit upstairs.....

Second, superfoods. Chia seeds, flax seeds, goji berries etc. plus raisins and other whole foods. Are they super because they are super-indigestible? They go in, but, if you look carefully ( and anyone over 50 should be, by the way), they seem to mostly make it through unscathed......

Sigh. I have mercifully refrained from illustrating tonight's entry.

Running on Mars

Note: For some reason, no matter how I rotate or un-rotate images, they like to appear on their side. 
Tilt Yer 'Ed. 
Today I returned to the Bibbulmun, thinking that the worst of summer may be behind us. Sure, it wasn't so hot (though I was out just before dusk), but the dryness was incredible.


The trails have weathered summer badly - many sections have turned to sand, and the remainder are strewn with sharp rocks no longer held together by the soil. In the afternoon sun, the open areas look like pictures from NASA.

expanses of red rock

normal trail condition - this ain't Fingers territory!

I ran the first section of the track (the hardest bit - stupid!) - 10km out to the powerlines and back. The trail beyond this point eases off dramatically to smoother rollers, but today, the sharp hills were death on legs.
I gave the race shoes a spin today, figuring that they were the most snug protection I have, but they still don't offer enough side protection - lots of scuffs and stumbles. I wonder if the numerous stubbed toes and near falls are a result of having a rubber sole under my foot for the first time in a while.


The trails were real tough I'm going to try it out with the fingers at some stage - I have to feel it. Te downhills are the issue - they are so steep, it is almost impossible to not land on the heels - even letting go and rolling the legs over at a pace to match the incline gets completely out of control. I expect the Fingers would be more grippy, though - many of today's slips were just losses of friction in all the twisting and turning on sandy rocks.

Regardless of the trail condition, this is the running I really enjoy - going Yippee on the flat smooth patches between the rocks and getting the quickstep going on the rough descents.
More mileage - need to get out beyond the wier again......

No stopping

Working in the city now, as well as my own shop, so things are hotting up.
The workshop in the city is 7pm from home, so a run each way picks up some good flat miles.

Today, it was so hot on the way home that I had to put on Fingers, and my feet now feel blistered burned all over. That, plus the novelty of carrying a backpack (eating so much is a curse sometimes) made for an awkward-feeling run - all hips and knees.

Thanks to a few late nights and a small but uncomfortable hole in my sole where I just pulled out a little shard of glass, I think I'll take the silver surfer tomorrow.