4.98 miles (8k), 44:29
Today was supposed to be a proper 10k but I was hoping to pick up a map of the park at a picnic bench location where I had spotted some maps before. This particular picnic bench area is right at the start of the trail route loop that I know of in the park. Therefore this turned into a trail run in my North Face Radials. I haven’t been doing much trail running because the 10k I’m going to run next Friday isn’t a trail run. But more importantly because going down hill still tweaks my back and I haven’t been to the chiropractor yet (though I have an appointment for the week after next). Finally, I cannot see very well without my glasses. I’m fixing that last problem the day after the race when I’ll get another pair of eyephorics in SF.
I mention all of this because the scenario turned out to be a bit of a disaster. For starters, the map holder was empty so the point of selecting this particular run was shot. Secondly, without my glasses on I really cannot see the ground very well. I didn’t fall but my feet went sideways a bunch of times on rocks and roots that I just didn’t see in the shade. This doesn’t bode well for the moonlight run but, I should be fine on the road. Finally, I hate the Radial shoes.
Okay, hate is a strong word but thus far they have not done what they are supposed to do and have caused me a series painful problems. I loved my North Face Vapour Lights which I ran a marathon in because they were great hybrid shoes, comfortable on either trail or road. The Radials on the other hand feel like little rocks beneath my feet regardless of the surface. They are just too damn hard and inflexible. Of the models I tried on, the Hedgehog, the Ultra, and the Boa, the Radials were the most comfortable of the bunch. Unfortunately, I didn’t run around the block in them which might have tipped me off. This is part of the problem of buying running shoes in a store that isn’t a running shoe store.
I did go down a half-size with these and it could be that they are just too small or tight. I know one should go a half-size larger than required because feet do swell while running distances but, I felt I sloshed around in my Vapour Lights a bit and wanted to get a tighter fit. Well, it back fired. The Radials do a number on my right big toes which gets jammed into the toe box (why does one foot always feel bigger than the other?!). Today’s run gave me a nice new blister on the outside right of my left foot. Just what I wanted before a race. Not only that but the stiffness of the shoes exacerbated the bruise (or at least that is what I’m calling it) on the ball of my right foot.
At any rate, there was one upside to the run. I did decipher the trail route instructions correctly this time so I was able to follow the route completely. It was a bit shorter than 10k however, with the new blister and the bruise acting up I just didn’t feel up to slogging it out. This is a tough course though with some complicated down hill and at least one steep climb. I’ll be back for more just as soon I get my back fixed, my foot repaired, and buy some new trail shoes. Ugh.