It has been just over a year since I dropped by and reported that I
completed my first half-marathon w/o shoes...

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/RunningBarefoot/message/12245

So I thought I'd drop in and report that I've done it again. This
accomplishment was in today's "LaSalle Bank Columbus Distance
Classic," in Columbus, Ohio. The weather was not exactly delightful.
It was cloudy, with light winds, and began to drizzle about halfway
through. At race start it was around 40F (4.5C), and topped out at
around 43F (6C).

Like last year, I wore Dance Paws. But this time I wore socks over
'em as well. (Cold pavement is really tough on my feet.)

The first 3/4 of the race I felt pretty good, but around mile 10 my
feet were really beginning to get wet. Combined with the cold, that
took a lot out of me.

My official time was 2:22:21, which is a pace of 10:52/mile. I was
wearing Bib #1742.

After last year's half-marathon, my barefoot running pretty much
dropped to zero as my wife was pregnant (we had a beautiful baby boy
last November!).

I began training for today's race last December. All my training for
today's race has been on a treadmill. I covered just over 260 miles
over 4 months, with my longest training run being 7.3 miles. I didn't
run the past two weeks.

I suffered a couple injuries during my training. One was a
calf-strain. Thanks to (the late) Claire Davies, I now can "repair"
myself using Trigger Point techniques. I am so grateful for "The
Trigger Point Therapy Workbook" that he wrote.

My other injury was a callus on the bottom of my left foot that hurt
like heck. I actually (extremely carefully) cut/dug it out one
weekend. I then took about a week off.

Like last year after the race, my calves are aching MUCH MORE than my
feet. Last year I didn't ice them. Today I am. :)

I apologize that I can't participate in discussions here much. Life
is just extremely busy.

Tom Lusch
http://tomlusch.com