Whatever it takes

Tonight I went for a run for two reasons: 1) I can hear music from my house and wanted to see if there was a fair in the park. 2) I read that Harry Styles of One Direction has been hanging out at a pub on my running route. If fairs and minor-celeb hunting aren't good running motivation, then I don't know what is. However, following another short Vibram-based run on Saturday, my calf muscles are still really sore. So I decided to ditch them. (The Vibrams, not my calf muscles.) Just temporarily. Sinking back into my trainers was like reuniting with an old friend. If my old friend was a pair of oven gloves, filled with cotton wool. They may be the gift of the devil, but they are a very comfy, shock-absorbing gift. Given the Ealing half-marathon is less than six weeks away, I have decided to mix up my training attire. If I can't go farther in my minimal shoes, then my trainers will have to take me there instead. All in all, it was a very satisfying run. I chased a squirrel up Oakhill Avenue and managed to avoid running into a fruit stall on Finchley Road. Oh, and as for the reasons to run in the first place: no fair; no Harry Styles. But I did see Bill Nighy. As usual. (Stats: 4.34 miles; 41.59 minutes; 9.40 minute/mile.)

Two nights of barefoot running

And I'm barely walking. Epsom salts. Hot bath. Ice pack. Hmmm... there's a reason they tell you to take it slowly. Am both a tool and a cock.

Google search: calf pain

That's how I've started today. My calf muscles hurt so much, I'm back to having to take stairs sideways. Thankfully, several forums on minimalist running have reassured me this is completely normal. They say having a rest day between runs is essential and I should also practise 'chi' walking. I'm not entirely sure what this means, but I think it indicates walking 'mindfully' in order to give my muscles a good stretch. Ice is also recommended. Less than 8 weeks to the Ealing half-marathon. Not sure yet what I'll be running in. Or whether I'll still be able to run at all. Getting to work today should be interesting. I wonder if I can find someone to carry me?

Chafing mole 2

I thought another gentle run in my Vibrams would ease my painful calf muscles. Little did I know that while I was concentrating on my feet, something far worse was going on behind my back. On my back. My poor mole was, once again, the victim of a chafing. I'm now running a cold bath to cool it down. On the plus side, Zoolander is on. (Stats: 4.24 miles; 1 hour 20 minutes - calf muscles hurt so much, I walked half the way and stopped off to buy my tea.)

Feeling hot hot hot...

Too hot getting changed in the work's toilets. Too hot trying to force my swollen feet into my Vibrams. Too hot running home through Regent's Park. However, it was my first proper run in what feels like months, ergo it was a good one. Issues: I'm not sure my right foot fits properly in the shoe. My toes don't sit comfortably in the toe gloves and this led to a stubbing incident on Marylebone Road. Another issue, I'm landing ever so heavily, which I try to address, but this 'fleet of foot' running style is extremely tiring. Halfway home I was already turning corned beef; three-quarters of the way and I was groaning like a tennis player. But I kept going and made it home in one piece. I practised my patented 'running backwards down Hillfield Road' technique in order to stretch out my calf muscles in the opposite direction so I'm hopeful I'll be able to walk tomorrow. This is all in preparation for the Ealing half-marathon at the end of September. I'm not sure that speed will be of the essence, if I'm going barefoot then I'll just be happy to get round. Expectation management in progress. (Stats: 4.24 miles; 43 minutes; 10.08 minute/mile.)

Olympic fortnight

Training for the Ealing half isn't going as well as I'd hoped - in the sense that I haven't done any. With the Olympics on, it's much easier to get my sporting fix with my bum glued to a chair. I've been somewhat remiss and have singularly failed to get tickets for any Olympic event, despite living just a short tube ride away. That said, you need only walk into London to soak up the unique atmosphere. I'm not too far from Lord's (and the archery) so last week, emboldened by having just had my wisdom teeth extracted, I went down there and asked if they had any free tickets. There was a method in my madness. I'd been chatting to a nice security guard and he'd said that people had been giving away the odd ticket as they queued to get in. I guess their guests had dropped out. Unfortunately, none of these made their way to me. Probably just as well given my head had begun to swell up like a melon and, with the drugs wearing off, my mouth was throbbing. I went home to bed instead. Yet another inspiring Olympic story.

A new challenge

Time to take my Vibrams for a proper run. I've just signed up for the Ealing half-marathon. Two months to fitness. And, possible, to under 2 hours?