You probably shouldn’t read this. But I’m posting it anyway, in case you’ve ever wanted to see the stupid side of my brain. Which is the only side of my brain Nix ever sees, I think.
So there you go.
Heya XXXXXXX:
So, I’m very interested in your take on my project, and I wanted to drop you a note and check in to see if you’ve had time to read it. BUT. I also don’t want to be a pest.
As a result, I’m writing a little email to myself instead. That is to say: I’m writing it to you and sending it to myself. Mark Twain believes that that’s the best way to precipitate an awaited response, because he believes that in some way the message is conveyed directly from my brain to your subconscious without even mailing the letter.
I suppose if he’s correct, you’re reading my project (“Kite”, which I originally emailed on November 15th) RIGHT NOW!
How cool would that be?
Hope you had a great vacation!
Justin
I’ve owed this update for a while now; it’s fitting that I begin this entry as I wait for a treadmill at the gym.
(Yes: I have given in. It’s Winter now, and that brings with it a Mordor-like, deep, dark, frigid despair in NYC. I have begun supplementing my exercise regimen with treadmill time. It doubles up as reading time. Cause running in place is BORING and my iPad is great for — ooh! My turn on the machine!)
*takes break for run; plays elevator music*
Anyway, I meant to write about minimalist running about six months into the experiment and I’m at nine months now. The good news is: the transition was clearly a success. I’m now able to match my old runs’ distances in minimalist shoes, and I’m able to run on consecutive days (with appropriate caution). Which is to say, I ran 9 miles in the park over the weekend and was quite happy about it.
I don’t have too much more to say — I think my first impressions are proving out, pretty much. As to the overall benefits of the style of running? To me, it’s about the fun of it. I haven’t been able to figure out one way or the other how much it’s helping / hurting my knees. I continue to seek more info on that…
…but I’d hate to get bad news on that count because I really dig the whole thing.
Dude. In 2011 I wrote a pilot, wrote a novel, traveled the west coast, was best man in a wedding, worked for an Academy Award-winning producer, started working with the writers on an HBO show, and transitioned to minimalist running. I did NOT reliably write anything in this space*, but: DUDE.
I subletted 3 apartments and moved on to a 4th, with intervals of high-functioning homelessness in between. I dipped into savings and wore out my clothes. My car is gone and was replaced by an iPad. I helped make another batch of wine.
2012 is going to be a very different sort of year than 2011, I hope. (And not only because I turn 30 in the middle of it, but mostly.) Here’s to the payoff for hard work done.
–jw
* – This is unlikely to change.
I have moved to a new ISP and Humphrey hasn’t learned to self-soothe yet, so things have been hairy. Please excuse the clutter and all the pictures that seem to have disappeared. You’re the best.
Well, this is a slight departure from usual fare here, but I want to talk about my running habits. And so you shall listen. Why? Because I brought you into this world, Humphrey, and I can take you out of it and make another blog that looks just like you, that’s why.
I bought me some Vibram FiveFingers Bikilas about six weeks back, and jumped into the minimalist running fad with both feet. It’s been really interesting, and gloriously successful, and fun. So far. Today is the first time I feel like I am truly ‘back’ to my old running habits, as I’ve run 6+ miles both Saturday and Sunday this weekend. Feeling good. Feeling like calling it a successful experiment.
Of course, my results are not typical as far as I know. From the ‘experts’ at EMS, I was told I’d be only running a half-mile or so to start out…and the first night I got the damn shoes home I took off for 2.5 miles, then got up in the morning and felt so good that I went ahead tacked on 2 more miles. (The third day I was admittedly a little sore.)
Over the course of the first month I did end up over-extending myself and suffering some fairly exquisite tweaks to my calves and the tops of my feet. (Note: no plantar fascitis to speak of, thank jeebus.) However, as I said, I did 12.2 miles in the ol’ Bikilas this weekend and am feeling great about where I am with them now.
I could probably ramble on about this quite a bit more, but for now let’s keep it brief(-ish). Here’s the lowdown, from my POV: running with minimalist shoes is fun, because it’s a new challenge and works some different sets of muscles. (I can move all my toes now! Not just flippers at the end of my feet!) Not only does it work those new muscles, but it makes you conscious that they exist. Learning something new that your body is capable of doing is a cool feeling, and not one that happens everyday. Further, feeling the ground that’s under your feet is a stimulating phenomenon, and if you do it right, makes the whole running event less boring. No more clodding along.
The bad? The shoes still give me blisters even once they’re broken in (60 miles); and they’ve begun to show lots of wear in the toes; and who knows what the long-term wear and tear on my joints is (better or worse). For now, I’m willing to keep going down this road, and researching it. I anticipate a ‘Part II’ to this entry which will be more interesting and thoughtful. But for now: go bikilas!
I’m not here right now, so don’t tell anyone you saw me, but I wanted to stop in and say hello. I miss writing, and I miss it fiercely; and it feels like when the dust settles after this job ends, I’ll have so time to do just that. Why? Because I’ll be in the same position I was in before I began: looking for a place to live and a place to work and trying to find a stable configuration upon which to build a foundation. We’re one week and change away from the one year anniversary of this quest — and it’s gonna slide on, little noted nor long remembered. There are other things happening that are more worth celebrating, and it pays to focus on those.