I did it. That picture of my dirty foot is the proof.
I’ve been running barefoot on the treadmill for nearly a month. I’ve missed a total of 3 days, not bad, and one of those days I did running in my VFFs on our daily pooch patrol walk.
I saw someone a few weeks back running barefoot on Butler and the idea has been percolating in my head ever since. So today I bought some running clothing that would be ok outside in summer and this evening the dogs and I walked with increasing speed toward Butler then ran to the first entrance into Orenco Station.
We then turned around, ran back to the entrance to my neighborhood, and walked to my house for cool down. That final part - the walk back to my house - was the least comfortable, though not painful, of the walk. Blacktop, or whatever is in the street, is a bit more abrasive than the sidewalk; but the sidewalk had round fruit seeds = ouchie!
This is the summary of my first outdoor run:
June 26, 2010 8:34pm, 0.53 miles, 24 minutes, 71 calories burnt, 2786 steps, 1.33 miles per hour, 45:13 minutes per mile, 116.8 steps per minute / 58.4 cadence. (Thanks iTreadmill!)
Now I was going pretty slow, but it was my first time doing this and I was worried about my poor, tender feet. It was also my second run in one day and I was dealing with the dogs being a couple of brats. I think this is a fantastic start, personally, especially considering my weight and current fitness level.
Here is an article on cadence. My cadence is quite slow compared to a seasoned runner:
Most running experts agree that the ideal runner’s cadence is 90 or faster (180 steps per minute, or faster).
But, well, I’m not a seasoned runner. The above quote is one of my goals, but my stronger goal is the ability to be in my target heartrate for 35 minutes a day. As my heart health improved, my cadence, endurance, and overall durability? will increase.
I intend to make this a daily affair, though in case it’s too warm I’ll still use my treadmill in the morning. That’s two fairly short runs (~25 minutes) per day, and the second one gets the dogs out for their adventure. They still pull so when they do I jog in place, which is a great reminder for my form; of if I’m tired, I walk in place and use it as a short break that keeps my heart rate up and is a form reminder.
Today I did have my VFF with me in case this was too painful, as I didn’t want to be stranded. But for now on I go without the backup - I don’t need it so long as I time my runs in the evening when the ground is cool.
I am psyched about this improvement, I was actually smiling for the entirety of my run. Between the bare feet and the giddy smile, I’m pretty sure some people thought I was insane. But that’s cool by me, I was having fun!
I wrote before how how Mali gets to go outside. Friday morning I picked up a tube of Advantage to keep the fleas off of her, and Friday afternoon we took a lunch break to explore outside.
She is a bit stressed in this video, but if you watch as the videos get on, she really starts to get quite full of herself and into the adventure. Grass remains her least favorite surface, but that’s ok. The initial stress is worth the long-term payoff in terms of quality life since she is enjoying the outdoors now.
Here are the other videos I took on the iPhone as I need to charge my PlaySport. She started out with “no legs” syndrome; but since we were outside already she started to explore.
I did take her out today with the dogs, and she was following Elka around for quite awhile. She gained a lot of confidence with her dogs around, actually.
Elka was very gentle with Mali outdoors and I’m wondering if this will actually improve that relationship. No matter how good Elka is when I’m right next to Mali, though, Mali can never be running around out there with Elka loose: Elka’s prey drive is too high, and she’d kill Mali before I could do anything. I’m confident of their interactions with Mali harnessed and near me, but never otherwise.
I’m really happy I chose to do this, it will really improve Mali’s quality of life. She’s enjoying exploring, enjoying laying out in the sun and she stretches to feel the wind. An indoor-only life must get dull after awhile and I’m happy I can give Mali this safe chance to explore and enjoy the great outdoors.
Mali has been attempting to exit my house into the backyard.
A long time ago, I wanted to harness train Mali and Kayne, to give them a safe way to adventure outdoors. I gave up on this after multiple attempts at wearing a harness results in “no leg syndrome”. Funny, but stressful for the cat.
But with Mali’s recent attempts to leave, I’ve decided to give her an outlet to go outside and to pick up her harness training. She’s not vaccinated and can’t be due to illness - so NO adventures with other cats! Her outside access will be on a harness and/or in an enclosure.
First I have to pick up a topical anti-flea treatment so we don’t bring fleas inside. But then we’ll start to adventure outside, and she’ll get to explore grass and flowers, in the safety and control of a harness.
Now, I do not believe in outdoor cats: there are coyotes, cars, people; and cats are a danger to local wildlife. Cats are, after all, superb hunters.
However, cats that are outdoors in a controlled environment do not have access to cars, can be protected from other cats, and can be stopped from harming local wildlife. Moreover, Mali will be catchable to come in for meds since she’ll be on a harness and already caught. She’s too sick to go missing for days and not receive her meds.
I’m really looking forward to giving Mali this added quality of life. I know that once we can get past the “no leg syndrome” she’ll love to explore, especially in the sunny summer that we’re experiencing now.
