Deal Alert! Altra Shoes up to 50% off.

Altra Adams - my go-to shoe for when the pavement is too hot or cold. They are as close as it gets to minimal perfection, in my humble opinion.

Altra Adam, Instinct, Eve, and Intuition models are on ridiculous sale (50% off!!!) at Left Lane Sports!

I reviewed the Adam (women's version is the Eve) here a few months back.

Click on my referral link to sign up (if you haven't already). It costs nothing, and their daily deal emails are full of great stuff for runners, hikers, bikers, triathletes, surfers, climbers, campers, skateboarders, and generally outdoorsy types. Act fast, though; the deal is only good until July 3rd!

Referral Link!

Feel free to post any questions about the Adams below in the comments.

Just a little bit nuts...

Have you ever wanted to do something really badly, but when the opportunity arises you are totally and completely unprepared to do it?

I had this happen recently, and this is your preview for what could turn out to be a huge mistake, a glorious adventure, or some combination of both. I received an offer last weekend from a friend to run Nashville's Country Music Marathon next weekend. I said, "Heck, yeah!" However, I am grossly underprepared for such an undertaking. No matter; I'm totally doing it.

And I'm totally stealing Homer's look. Headbands + wristbands + singlet + legendary beer belly =  legit marathoner!

"Why?" you say? Well, first of all, I have been wanting to run a marathon for quite a while now, but they are so doggone expensive that it's just not feasible on my shoestring budget (lol, pun intended). I just couldn't pass up an opportunity to run a big-budget marathon (part of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series) for absolutely nothing.

Secondly, this is not the first race I have entered with little targeted training. I ran a local half marathon a couple years ago grossly underprepared (never running longer than six miles prior to the actual race), and I finished in under two hours. I was very pleased with the results of that race, all things considered. By the way, that race entry was free, too. I ran in place of a friend whose nagging back injury prevented him from going on race day. In short, being a slacker who hates paying for stuff has worked out beautifully for me so far. I have every reason to believe that the CMM will be a fantastic experience. If it isn't or I have to DNF, well shoot, who cares! It's free! No harm done.

I mean, what's the worst that could happen? Am I right?

Lastly, I think that many a layperson takes training for and competing in many sporting events they have to pay to enter just a tad too seriously. (Case in point: pretty much any triathlete most of us have ever met!) A marathon is a significant undertaking and shouldn't be taken lightly; however, people should not confuse themselves with Paula Radcliffe or Geoffrey Mutai either (If you do not follow the marathon scene, they're elite women's and men's marathoners, respectively). Basically, if you are reading this blog entry, you are likely a layperson much like me who will never win much of anything while running. You run because you enjoy it and like to challenge yourself. Races are great fun if you have the right attitude, and most runners are in more danger of taking things too seriously than they are being too laid back. Don't confuse me with those people who just goof off and enter races with no ambition to finish, but you won't see me elbowing old women out of the way on the sprint for the finish, either.

Not quite this seriously....

...and nowhere near this silly. /lolJapanese

So maybe I'm in a perfect place to run a marathon for the enjoyment of the experience, and maybe I'm woefully delusional about my lack of preparation. Plus I have just a dash "I don't really care," thrown in there for good measure. And because I am sure some are curious, I will be running at least part of this marathon barefoot. My goal is completing the half bare before throwing on my Altra Adams (love!) to finish it out. I believe that this marathon - my first - will be a race to remember. I am excited, confident, and fully prepared to enjoy myself.

....and maybe just a little bit nuts.

Link of the Week: New Balance Minimus Zero Road Review and Giveaway!

If you are interested in the New Balance Minimus Zero Road shoes, and I cannot imagine you couldn't be, check out this review from Donald at Running and Rambling. Dude is rad. Hopefully I will get a chance to review these puppies soon.

http://www.runningandrambling.com/2012/03/new-balance-minimus-zero-road-review.html

Minimalist Shoe Review: Altra Adam

Ah, yes. Tasty minimalist goodness!

Let me just start by saying this review has been a long time a-comin'. I first heard about Altra on Runner's World Barefoot Running subforum at least two years ago. They were calling themselves "Altegra" or "Ultegra" or something equally as preeminent-sounding back then. Their concept art for their first, as-yet-unnamed shoe looked remarkably like a Vibram Fivefingers KSO model with one extremely important (to many runners) exception: no individual toe pockets. Keep in mind that at the time, minimalist shoe options were very few and far between. The choice was essentially either $85 VFFs if you could stand looking ridiculous or $160 VIVOBAREFOOT Evos. The excitement level was quite high for the shoe that would eventually be called the Altra Adam, so I was super stoked when I got an email response from Altra offering to allow me a pair for review!

Although I just received the Adams a little over three weeks ago, I have worn them to work and on runs pretty much every day including one run of 14 miles just to put them through their paces. I can say that the results are exactly what I was expecting. Keep reading for an explanation.

Appearance
At first blush, the Adam definitely looks a lot like a water shoe or boat shoe. The straps add to the effect. There is something just a bit jarring about a shoe that doesn't have laces; our minds just register it as "that's not normal." I am totally down with "not normal," but the reality is you aren't going to win any fashion contests wearing these puppies with your blue jeans. The black/grey color scheme is understated, but it cannot hide the shoe's true minimalist intentions. If you are someone who prefers a more under-the-radar shoe, (a seriously minimalist shoe that looks like a normal shoe), I can't say the Adams should be your first choice.

Fit
"These shoes have velcro straps," is a statement that strikes fear into the heart of many who use their feet for activities other than ambulating from the couch to the fridge. But, as if you didn't already know, I'm a bit weird even for a barefoot and minimalist runner. I like velcro and really hate laces. I mean HATE! I can never get laces to stay tied unless I double knot them, and if I do that I can never get them off! Not to mention, I have a touch of OCD when it comes to the tightness of my shoes; this often requires a few re-adjustment when I first get my shoes on. So needless to say, the idea of velcro straps on the Adams were not nearly as of a problem for me as it was for others.

Top and bottom. When I ran across a frost-covered bridge in the Adams, I left prints that looked exactly like a bare foot. Brilliant!

Comfy ankle collar. Despite the visible seams, the footbed is quite comfy as well.

Very clever pulls placed fore and aft of the foot opening for easier ingress and egress. I wish all my shoes had these

Putting on the Adam for the first time was fantastic! I have yearned for a truly minimal VFF alternative for a long time, and these duders are perfectly foot-shaped. The toe box has a ton of room for toe wiggle and splay. I had no problem getting the perfect tightness with the upper strap, and my heel stayed locked down on all my runs.

Pretty seamless. The wide mouth is much easier to get into than Vibram's KSO.

The fit was not all roses and sunshine, however. The forefoot of the shoe has a second strap that crosses over the foot twice: once about midway up the foot and once across the very top knuckles of my freakishly long toes. This proved to be a bit of a challenge for a couple reasons: it's tough getting the tightness just right (a personal pet peeve), and the plastic "stay" on the outside of the foot can rub because of where it lies on the foot. Don't take this as a deal breaker; I love the fit of this shoe, but the forefoot strap and adjustment took some getting used to.  The long-and-short of the Adam fit is that the forefoot strap placement is not ideal, and that is a significant limiting factor in how well the shoe functions on downhills and during high-intensity activities where you are changing direction a lot.

One factor that sets the Altra Adam apart from the many current and upcoming minimalist models on the market is its removable insole or "footbed." For whatever reason, minimalist shoe makers like to build in their insoles. I am not sure if this is a cost-saving measure or if it has something to do with perceived comfort or function in the shoe. Whatever the case, Altra's takes a very different route. The two insoles included with the Adam allow for three very different configurations to adapt fit and purpose. Obviously, the shoe can be worn without the insole for maximum ground feel and minimal protection. I ordered the Adam "true to size," which for me was an 11.5 US.

Without an insole, the shoe feels a bit a bit loose unless I cinch it down, which can be uncomfortable; however, the shoe wasn't overly clumsy or awkward with the insole removed like some other reviewers have noted. I was honestly not expecting to like either insole, but I find myself switching them around in the shoe for a couple reasons: (1), If I'm wearing a shoe at all, it's because I need protection of some kind on my feet; otherwise, I'd be barefoot, and (2) The cushy footbed is comfy for standing on my feet all day and actually provides the best fit - placing my foot at the right location in the shoe. I like comfort. If you don't, I'm not sure what to say.

I tried to capture an image that showed the difference in thickness between the two insoles. The "Strengthen" footbed is in the foreground; the "Support" footbed is behind it. 

The "Support" footbed on the left has an obvious scallop at the heel and arch, but there really is no actual support provided by the thin, cushy foam. I find it quite comfy, though. The "Strengthen" footbed on the right is completely flat and much more dense, although they seemed to have developed impressions from my foot. I guess I wore the label off, too.

Ground Feel
I cannot rave enough about the excellent ground feel offered by the Adam - a quality I have determined to be a function of a shoe's sole thickness, flexibility, and overall design. The obvious comparison for this shoe is the VFF KSO/Sprint/Class (all the same footbed and outsole), and that is for good reason. However, there are important differences in the two shoes. The removable insoles that I mentioned above really set the Adams apart from other minimalist offerings on the market, and the concept really is brilliant. Users can customize the amont of cushion vs. the level of ground feel: an idea built upon the "transition" philosophy. I don't personally ascribe to the idea that gradually integrating minimalism into your runs, but I understand what Altra was trying to do here. These shoes should appeal to a range of runners: from those wanting an "as close to barefoot as possible from the get-go" experience to the "I want to move slowly and gradually" folks. I actually found the insoles to be quite useful for adjusting fit and comfort. No other minimalist shoe offers such customizability.

Obviously, the interchangeable footbeds have a significant impact on the Adam's ground feel, but it wasn't as pronounced as one might think. Even with the "Support" footbed in place, I felt a significant degree of connection with the running surface. Like I stated above, if I have shoes on at all, it's because there is something preventing me from going completely barefoot (debris, excessive heat or cold, etc.). I do not mind trading off a little ground feel for a bit of protection. In the case of the Adam, I really did not have to sacrifice much with either insole in place. My ideal running configuration became the "Strengthen" footbed which I find provides similar ground feel to my Vibram Fivefingers Sprints.

The visible siping on sole does little other than allow a bit of extra flexibility. Ground feel in the Adams is unparalleled and customizable.

Flexibility
If the golden standard of minimalist shoe flexibility is the Vibram KSO/Classic/Sprint, the Adam meets or exceeds the golden standard. The thin, siped outsole allows for impressive flex, and the detached insole options really makes for a fantastically malleable footbed. With no insole, the Adam rolls up almost as tightly as my Invisibleshoe FeelTrue huarache footbed. Impressive.

What I found quite remarkable was just how much flexibility the Adam maintained even with the insoles inserted. I believe this a result of Altra choosing to not build in a footbed because the insole can move independently of the outsole.

I could ball the Adam up into a pretty tight little cinnamon roll with very little effort, and this is with the "Strengthen" footbed INSIDE the shoe! You can clearly see the razor siping (ala Vibram) that further strengthens the Adam's flexibility.

Not much to this shoe when it comes right down to it. This pic was taken without an insole in the shoe.

Weight
With no insole, my Adams weighed in at right at six ounces on my kitchen scale. That is a bit surprising since Running Warehouse has the men's size 9 at 6.2 oz. Maybe my scale is off a bit, but even if it's 1/2 oz. off, that's still less than seven ounces. Most Impressive.

Traction
This is one category where the Adam has some inherent limitations. On slippery, wet rocks or wet pavement where the siped soles can engage, the Adam feels sticky. On anything involving loose dirt, rocks, or mud? Forget it.

Detail of the razor siping featured on the Adam. It does its job beautifully on smooth dry or wet surfaces. I wouldn't consider hitting any rocky, root-y mountain trails in them, though. 

Durability
Seeing as how I've had these shoes for less than a month, it's a bit silly to even give them a durability rating. The sole shows no visible signs of wear, which is good - expected, but good. However, I did note a bit of an issue with the stitching on the heel collar on the inside ankle. I was able to quickly and easily "repair" the fraying portions (limit it from happening further) with a lighter, but still. This may be an anomaly, but it certainly is a bit of a knock on a brand new shoe. Overall, the quality of construction appears equal to that of Vibram and certainly far superior to the Wal-Mart water shoes I see some guys wearing around in the cold months.

A couple of stitches holding the strap stay that locks a wearer's foot into place started unraveling after about a week. Since my "repair," I haven't had any other issues here. 

Versatility
This is a category where the Adam really stumbles. If shoes are tools, the Adam is not exactly a Leatherman: i.e. it's a one-trick pony. Of course, that "one trick" is where I spend the majority of my time and effort in this hobby: road running. As such, the Adams are a wise investment and allows for the widest range of customization of running experience within that specific category. Maybe the best metaphor would be a multi-bladed pocket knife: three different blades, but no screw driver or tooth pick....

On light gravel, I appreciated the "Strengthen" footbed as it dampened the jagged variations in the smallish pebbles. I headed out off the beaten pavement path once in the Adams, and quickly headed back. Keep in mind that roots and nasty rocks are plentiful on local trails, so anything without a rock plate would have been woefully inadequate. Still, the Adam was quite out of its element. No corkscrew on this Swiss Army knife.

Fashionistas that desire anything other than the "I-just-got-back-from-canoeing-and/or-flippin'-rocks-and-catching-crawdads-and-the-creek" look are likely to search elsewhere for their daily wear. No tweezers on this Swiss Army knife.

I honestly loved wearing these shoes to work because I'm on my feet literally all day. I felt fantastic at the end of the day - quite the opposite of what is typical of my experience with even the least constrictive dress shoes I own. Of course, my professionalism takes a bit of a knock. Boat shoes with a tie is not exactly smiled upon by people who have a critical eye for such things. No file on this Swiss Army knife, either.

So the Adam is built for running on smooth surfaces and little else, but what it does, it does with aplomb!

Yeah, I have hairy legs. Don't hate. 

Price
The Adam goes for $80 shipped from Runningwarehouse.com. Very reasonable.

The Verdict
The Adam is definitely a worthwhile addition to the minimalist shoe market. They're definitely my #1 choice for road running shoes in conditions where bare feet are not an option followed closely by my Invisible Shoe huaraches. (The Adams get the nod in the masculinity department.)

*Disclaimer: These shoes were provided to me for review by Altra. All opinions are my own and unapolagetically exhibit blatant personal bias. If you disagree with me, please post in the comments below, and I will politely explain why you are wrong. Happy running!

The Best Barefoot/Minimalist Bloggers on the Web

Here it is: your one-stop barefoot running web log resource! The following are only individual, non-corporate, self-published blogs...which only adds to their awesomeness in my opinion. These are a sampling of my favorite barefoot/minimalist bloggers for you to sift through and find the best answers to all your burning questions about going unshod, injury prevention and treatment, footwear selection, whether or not to shave various colonies of body hair (straight to Robillard for that one).... it's a veritable cornucopia of running wisdom.

#4 - Running and Rambling

This would be the part where Donald stops running for a sec. Presumably for a little "rambling."

This blog is run by Donald... that's it. Just "Donald." I have no idea why he chooses not to list his last name, but whatever. It's an awesome blog that gets a crapton of traffic, so he's definitely doing it right, surname or not. Daniel is actually a physical therapist based on the west coast that regularly runs some of the most amazing and beautiful trails in the world and then puts pics on the web to make us all jealous... er, "share the wonder" with us. Check it out if you like: (a) pictures of scenic beauty, (b) in-depth gear reviews of all kinds, particularly kit specific to hiking and ultra-distance running, (c) hiking and running trails, trails, and more trails

See what I mean? Breathtaking!

#3 - Runblogger
Runblogger is a bit of a departure from the other blogs mentioned here because the author, Pete Larson, actually possesses what are known as "credentials." Pete is a professor of anatomy and exercise physiology in New Hampshire, so his opinion is definitely an informed one. His blog is probably the most popular running-related blog on the interwebs (almost 6 million pageviews!), and that is for good reason. Go there, and get smarter.

This is Pete. lol

This is Pete in action.

Check it out if you like: (a) lots of shoe reviews in many varieties (primarily minimalist and lightweight trainers), (b) keeping your finger on the pulse of the running world through interesting market research, (c) running-related science and data about stuff like impact forces, stride length, and foot turnover... with videos! (d) the idea of running injury free but are not yet ready or able to go full-on barefoot.

#2 - Maple Grove Barefoot Guy

"Mah ni...nja." :)

I immediately felt a kinship with the mysterious man known as The Maple Grove Barefoot Guy the first time I met him on the internet (Wow, that sounds nerdy!). He was making smart-elek quips about barefoot running on the Runner's World Barefoot Running sub-forum. I immediately said to myself: "I can learn from this man." He has since been instrumental in helping me develop my blog from a philosophical and practical standpoint. Christian is a legal professional from Minnesota who has been a bit of a fitness nut all his life, but barefoot running is his go-to obsession these days.

There goes my self-admittedly lanky, unshod brother!

MGBG, as we often refer to him, gives clinics and lessons on a freelance basis, and rumor has it that he only takes payment in stout beer and chia seeds. I encourage everyone in the Maple Grove area desirous of a bit of form coaching to test this theory, but don't tell him until the end of the lesson. Tell him his protoge' said that he would appreciate it! Go check out MGBG's blog if you like: (a) great cross-training resources with a minimalist/barefoot bent, (b) minimal shoe reviews, (c) entertaining, humorous, and (sometimes) controversial commentary on all things running-and-fitness-related.

#1 - Barefoot Running University
Jason Robillard, along with his faithful, adventure-loving wife and kiddos, have built quite a brand out of their exploits and web presence. I actually go to meet Jason and Shelley in Nashville at the Merrell Naked Foot 5k back in October, but I wish I would have gotten a chance to spend more time with them hanging out and picking their brain. It's always strange meeting someone in person for the first time after you have only known them from the internet. You get to a point where anything you say winds up sounding either kinda socially inept or uncomfortably stalker-ish: "Hey Jason, 'member that time when you posted on Facebook about....(whatever funny story)... and I replied...(a quip that wasn't nearly as clever as I thought it was)... and then you lol'd?""Yes, Chad. I do."

"That was pretty cool..........."

Jason is probably the best resource on the internet for information about barefoot running for a few reasons. #1 - He wrote the book on the subject. Literally!

Told ya!

Okay, despite its title, it's not the only, nor even the first, book ever written on barefoot running. It is, however, a well-written and uber-practical guide to running unshod. Jason has spent a lot of time thinking about and researching his craft, and it shows. #2 - He's accessible. This is one of the many reasons I love the internet: people that want to be available to interact with others have infinite avenues to do so. Jason is the kind of guy who lives life to its fullest and loves to share the wisdom he stumbles upon with others. The world needs more people like him. Check out BRU if you like (a) great reviews on all the newest minimalist shoes and hydration gear, (b) very engaging musings on all things fitness-related, (c) practical guidance on how to run naturally on all surfaces, shod or otherwise. If you only stop one place, BRU should be it.

My hope with this blog is to one day be in the same league as these individuals who have carved out their own little niche of the internet and staked their claim for the "less-on-your-foot-is more" crowd.

The four best things I did to improve my running

Since starting to run fairly regularly to prepare for Army Basic Training back in 2000, I have learned a whole lot about running and myself: what motivates and depresses my running desire, how to enjoy running, what my limits are... the list goes on and on. I could probably fill a few books with revelations that were earth-moving to me - revelations that had to be gained through personal experience. I do not by any means claim to have become an expert; on the contrary, I have just hit the tip of the ice berg, but I have learned a whole lot and come a long, long way.

Here are a few things I discovered that changed my whole outlook on running (or fitness in general) that hopefully will give you something to chew on.

1) I took my shoes off.
Feeling your exposed foot land on the ground surface provides a vast amount of sensory information to your brain that just isn't achievable shod. The experience is quite visceral and freeing, so much so that I found it addictive. Since my first barefoot run, my mileage, speed, and overall fitness have come a long way. I am a better athlete in every way today than I was at any point previously in my life, and I have my bare feet to thank for that.

The recent emergence of minimalist shoes onto center-stage in fitness circles has raised questions about the benefits of bare feet. "Can't I get the same benefits from shoes that don't impede my form?" Well, yes, you can run efficiently much more easily in minimal footwear than in traditional trainers. However, you really cannot truly "feel" how your foot lands on the ground until to take away all barriers between your skin and the running surface. I discover slight form flaws even today when I run barefoot: I'm scrubbing my foot (rotating it on the surface), I'm heel striking ever so slightly, I'm pushing off, etc. I would never realize these mistakes if I were wearing shoes of any kind. Even socks-only would not provide sufficient feedback to tell me when I'm torquing my foot just before lifting it.

2) I started paying attention to my cadence.
The word "cadence" has many negative associations in my mind. Most importantly, I learned to run incorrectly to the sound of a drill sergeant's cadence - clop, clopping down the road in formation during Basic Training runs. That's not the kind of cadence I'm referring to here. The number of times your feet touch the ground per minute (cadence) has a tremendous impact on everything your body does during a run. My plodding footstrikes prior to "waking up" fell in the 120-140 ffpm (footfalls per minute) range. That's painfully slow, by the way, and did prove to be painful period. I was over striding and slamming down on my heels when running. According to numerous natural running purveyors, 180 ffpm is at or near ideal for the majority of runners - an obviously significant increase from my clop-clopping 140 ffpm. This is not an easy change. I'm not saying it hurt; quite the contrary. But you are retraining your body how to land when running which means lots of muscle conditioning to develop muscle memory. It will not be "natural" your first time... or your fifth... or probably your twentieth. You will constantly slip back into a slower cadence when your muscles get slightly fatigued or when your mind wanders. Just know that it takes time to fix form. If you have not tried speeding up your footfalls and think it is no big deal, go outside and give it a shot. Then come back and comment below... about how I'm right. Upping cadence forces you to shorten your stride and land under your center of gravity, which in turn reduces impact forces and, as many runners have found, reduces likelihood of injury. It's totally worth doing this whether or not you intend to try barefoot running, too. Quick tip: download some songs that are 180 bpm or find a metronome for your Ipod.

3) I read everything I could get my hands on.
I stumbled upon the whole barefoot running thing after I started researching ways to run that would not exacerbate my back pain. I am certain I would have given up on running altogether if I had not incidentally stumbled upon Ken Bob Saxton's website one afternoon. One thing about me: I'm a bit of a sponge. My family has always said that I get on a topic that interests me and proceed to absorb any and all information about it that I can get my hands or eyes on. Websites, short non-fiction books, and magazines are like fountains knowledge that I tend to suck dry with a quickness. (Sidenote: if you are anything like me, stay away from Cracked.com because you will spend endless hours trying to reach the bottom of the vastness of awesome that is their many thousands of thoroughly entertaining, information-rich articles.) A good place to start would be Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. I think every runner needs to read this book. It is paradigm altering if a bit overrated in barefoot circles (i.e. basically worshipped, lol).

The RunnersWorld Forums and the Barefoot Running Society Forums have been the most consistent source of solid feedback and minimalist shoe news. The great thing about a web forum is, of course, that everything you are reading is from another layperson (at least most of the time; very few pro runners posting on the barefoot forums. lol) who is taking their time to give you tips and hints. It kinda gives you a warm, fuzzy sense of belonging. /lame:)

4) I got some decent running gear.
*Sigh* Materialism. I know, I know: "What a corporate sellout." But before you judge, let me just say that "decent" running gear does not mean "expensive" or even "brand-name." It just so happens that many of my favorite running shirts (base layers) are Target-bought C9 brand. I do have some brand-name gear that I paid super-sale prices for (1/2 price or lower), and I carefully researched my needs before taking the plunge. So far, I can definitively say that I have had the best experience with the Brooks brand by far! They really seem to care about making gear that does what runners want it to do. Their Infinity shorts (I got my Infinity IIs on sale) are absolutely awesome and a personal favorite of my barefoot bro, Jason Robillard, author of The Barefoot Running Book. What's funny about this topic is that so many people are brand-loyal about their running shoes and would never hear of purchasing a generic knock off, but they scoff at the idea of branded clothing, hydration gear, etc. Hypocrisy, lol.

The other true benefit of getting decent gear besides the obvious functional gains is that you want to go try it out! Getting new shorts or calf sleeves or watch or water bottle can be a major motivation to enthusiastically hit the road or trail. When I find myself in some running doldrums, I try to think of what small, inexpensive item I could add to my running arsenal that would bump my enjoyment level up a notch. Now, I have not always been correct. In fact, I run with less gear today than I did a year ago, but I still get motivated to put whatever doodad I've acquired through its paces.

And that's it. Happy running.... and reading.... and buying!

2012 Running Resolutions... and other stuff.

Resolution #1 comes from the counsel of my wife. She says that I spend too much time on single blog posts which are admittedly super long rather often. Instead, I will try to post more often and be more concise. How often does "more often" equate to? Well, I'm not going to nail it down to anything more measurable that an average of once/week. That's at least 50 blog posts in this year: pretty significant.

Resolution #2 comes in the wake of finishing the Runners World Run Streak from Thanksgiving to New Years day. Confession: I did miss a day - the day before New Years Eve - for reasons unknown, but I technically completed the streak because I started a few days early. At least that's what I'm telling myself (Ran 37 days in a row. That definitely counts, dangit!). I learned a whole lot about myself and the discipline required to run every day no matter what. I will blog about that challenge in an upcoming post (See? Already more concise!). In any case, instead of running daily, I will committ to doing something physical each and every one of the next 364 days - either running, bicycling, or weight training. I would love to add some functional muscle to my lanky frame, so hopefully that can happen through this commitment. In addition, thing like rain or other unfortunate weather circumstances out of our control cannot not derail this resolution.

Resolution #3 is a biggie. I'm going to run over 1000 miles in 2012 with at least half of those being barefoot. That averages out to just under 20 total miles per week! I was at or near that average during the run streak, but the rest of the year... not so much. My total mileage for 2011 was 532. Weaksauce! The principle behind doubling my yearly mileage will be preparation for races. Which races, you ask? When, you ask? Well, I want to be prepared to run any race that strikes my fancy at any time during the year and be semi-adequately prepared for it. That is quite a tall order, but I think averaging over 20 miles/week will get me pretty darn close to adequate preparation to respectably finish anything up to a marathon. We'll see, I guess.

Resolution #4 has spiritual and social implications. I want to run with people more often. Sebastian, my boxer/lab mix is a more-than-willing jogging companion any day of the week, any time of day or night, but he's not the best conversation partner. I want to use running as an avenue to grow in relationships with friends. Running with a very experienced pal the past couple days (Richard, a physical therapist friend/brother in Christ) has really hammered home the benefits of this. I had an absolute blast picking Rich's brain and exchanging thoughts on minimalism/barefootedness, family, faith, and just about everything in between.

To recap my running-related resolutions:
#1 - Post on here at least once each week.
#2 - Run or cross-train every day.
#3 - Run 1000 miles this year.
#4 - Run with other people.

So, what are your resolutions? Post 'em in the comments below.