February 2012
1 post
GAPS Introduction Diet Re-do (Plus a Recipe!)
This was a hard post to write, after not having written anything here for three months. I told myself a little while back that I wouldn’t turn this blog into a food blog, but the problem is, all I’ve been thinking about for the past 40 days is food, so I haven’t felt inspired to blog. But, I’ve decided it’s time to let you in on what I’ve been up to lately anyway :)
Running, and really all...
October 2011
5 posts
1 tag
ChiRunning Fatigue Fixers
This morning I woke up and my body felt a little weird. I was slightly shaky, and feeling “underpowered”. But, I planned on going for a run today, so I ate a pre-run snack of homemade yogurt cream, chia seeds, 1/2 banana, raw honey, and raw cacao bits. I headed down to the Ventura boardwalk, where I like to run on the weekends. When...
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How Racewalking Affects My Running
So, last week I posted about how Walking Is Underrated. It’s been another week of walking and strengthening exercises in the mornings since then, and while I was running this morning, I noticed some interesting things about my abilities:
1. Racewalking helps me practice rotating my pelvis. I’ve been working on my ChiRunning form for the past two years, and only now do I feel like...
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Walking is Underrated!
I am getting a sneaking suspicion that my speed walking for 30 min. every weekday morning keeps up my endurance as much as running 2 times on weekdays used to. A fitness goal I’m about 60% committed to right now is to run a local half marathon at the beginning of December. For the other halfs I trained for, I used the ChiRunning Pain Free...
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My Updated Morning Workout →
I originally posted this workout a year ago, and since have upped some of the reps and added some new exercises. My arms are getting strong! Especially with all the bone broth, butter, and lentils that I’m eating :)
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RIP Garmin Forerunner 305 :(
Never. Leave. An. Expensive. Electronic. Gadget. On. Top. Of. Your. Car.
You will forget about it, drive off, and let it slide down the back window and out into the fast moving freeway to be lost forever. Well, that’s what happened to me anyway after a run last weekend. I had been in a rear-end car accident the week before, so when I...
September 2011
2 posts
4 tags
Back At It
I went for a run in my Vibram KSOs this afternoon for the first time in about a month and it felt really nice. I have been doing a lot of walking in them lately, and so running felt very free and bouncy. The day was hot and breezy, and the sun was welcome after having been inside all morning. I kept the run short, about 2 miles (Garmin died before I got home), and just tested out my left knee....
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FiveFinger Sightings in Budapest!
Well, seeing that my last post was back in June, I obviously didn’t spend my summer blogging like I thought I would. I spent the weeks touring around Hungary and my husband’s hometown, reading 10 novels and various nonfiction on my Kindle, running / walking, and eating so much home-cooked food I didn’t want to leave! I’ll share some thoughts here about these last two items. Running /...
June 2011
5 posts
5 tags
Gödöllő Trail Half Marathon Review: Part II of II
Gödöllő Trail Half Marathon 6.25.11
That look says, “What the hell was that?!”
Official times and distance: 2:42:03 / 11th of 17 women See All Results by clicking “competition results->2011->half marathon” to the left.
Check out a map with kilometer markings of the race course and also the elevation profile.
Background:
My...
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Gödöllő Trail Half Marathon Review: Part I of II
Were I a better writer, I could perhaps find the words to describe the insanity that was the trail half marathon through the Hungarian forest that I ran this afternoon. Because I am not, perhaps the familiar image of cresting a slow and grueling uphill on a roller coaster only to look ahead and see nothing, nada, before it begins a stomach turning decent will help to paint the picture of the...
Top 10 Foods To Take To Mars →
Made it!
Made it safely to Hungary a couple days ago and am settling in to life here. Husband and I are going on a bike ride right now to scout out a 10 mile loop that I’ll try to run tomorrow, for my last long run before the race next weekend. I have a lot to write about the food here too, so will update soon!
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All Packed and Ready to Go...Almost
When we get up at 2:30 in the morning, and I pack the rest of the little odds and ends, then we’ll be ready to go to Hungary for 9 weeks to visit my in-laws. Flight leaves at 8am, and we’ll stop in New York and then London before the final leg to Budapest. I went running this morning about 7 miles (didn’t take the Garmin), and just tried to keep it slow...
May 2011
4 posts
4 tags
Week 4: Great News!
I was able to donate blood today! This marks a major step forward in my health. I have tried to donate blood at least 3 times before, and have been turned away each time because I failed the hemoglobin/anemia fingerprick test that they give at the beginning. They send me away with a brochure on how to get more iron into my system, and I...
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Week 2: 8 Mile Long Run
Distance: 8 miles / Time: 1 hour 19 min. / 9:57 average pace
The run today was enjoyable, but a little difficult because again it was very windy. I felt strong, and I’m pleased to note that I’m getting faster as the distance increases. However, that could be due to the fact that I ran once instead of twice last week, and that I used my SaltStick caps for electrolyte salts as well as...
Anonymous asked: I have been looking for a review on the chi running marathon training dvd for beginners. I have been wondering if the DVD is the same as there Chi Running DVD, which I own, along with the original book. I am a big fan of the original book, but as I prepare for my first marathon, I was wondering if purchasing the Marathon DVD and book would be worth it. Thanks so much for taking the time. Bill
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One Week Down, 8 To Go...
…’till my first trail half marathon!
What a busy weekend. Seems far away by now. I worked seven hours at two different jobs, went to dinner and a New West Symphony concert, made all my lunches for this coming week, and somehow managed to fit in a 7 mile run Sunday as well. Between all that, I read a lot from my new favorite book/cookbook: Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.
...
April 2011
3 posts
3 tags
3rd Half Marathon Training—Officially Begun!
That’s right! I registered for another race. Yesterday I did an easy pace 6-mile run to kick off training for my third half marathon on June 25, 2011, which will be totally awesome for (at least) three reasons:
1. The event is in Hungary (my husband’s birthplace) 2. It is a trail race (never competed longer than 7 miles on trail) 3. I am going to wear my new kangaroo leather Vibram KSO...
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Kangaroo Leather is Awesome
Before:
After the trail / mud / water run:
My sister and I ran a 7 mile route through Sycamore Canyon in Malibu, CA this morning, on the maiden voyage of my new KSO Treks. There were about 10 stream crossings that we had to jump/rock hop across, very rocky terrain, and even a baby rattlesnake sighting. I’d never actually...
March 2011
6 posts
2 tags
Local 100 Mile Ultramarathon - Crazy!
This article about the 100 mile ultramarathon called “Coyote Two Moon” was in our local paper yesterday morning. It’s the evolution of an event called Coyote Fourplay which was mentioned in the book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. When I heard about it in the book, I thought, “Hey, that’s where I live!”, and apparently the event is still going strong, even...
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Trail Running, Here I Come!
So, I just purchased the most expensive pair of Vibram FiveFingers available. “Why?!” you may ask, “Don’t you have two pairs of KSOs already?” Yes, I do. BUT I have to admit that my feet were never very comfortable on very rocky terrain, which I really like running in, and I have had enough nasty bruises to make me a little gun...
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It's ALL Mental
A few updates to my preparation for the 10K race on April 9:
-Ran 5 miles last weekend in 49 minutes, 9:46 pace. If I can keep that pace for 6.2 miles, I’ll make my goal of a 10K in under an hour.
-Ran short fast hill routes during the week to build strength for the big uphill/downhill in the upcoming race. I did these runs each time after a full day of work, and did NOT have the...
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Pinky Promise Kept!
Well, I promised myself yesterday I would run today to “start off on the right foot” for my 10K training, and I did. I ran 3 miles around my neighborhood in my VFFs, and I felt like I was muscling through the whole thing. The first 1/3, my legs were sluggish, the second 1/3 was much faster and better because I really concentrated on rotating my hips, knees, and feet forward, and...
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Snowshoe Training for 10K in April
Ok, so going snowshoeing up a big mountain doesn’t really prepare me for a barefoot 10K running race, but it’s the most exercise I’ve done in the last two weeks, so I’m counting it as training :) The picture is at the (almost) sumit of Mt. Pinos in the Angeles National Forest. The snowshoes on our feet were really nice to keep us from sinking into the...
February 2011
4 posts
4 tags
Anonymous asked: hey, i am excited to find your blog because i am a runner also attempting the GAPS diet. I am also breastfeeding a toddler and older baby, so I have been nervous about getting off carbs. I have been grain free for awhile, but have been eating alot of potatoes. How is it going for you, and how are you feeling on runs? Do you have any tips specific to GAPS runners?
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New Personal Best!
Super Bowl 4-Miler 2011 / Goleta, CA
Finishing time: 37:06 / 9:17 min. per mile / 16th in 20-29 age group out of 30
I love minimalist running! I had such a great time on Sunday at the Super Bowl run. My sister came with my husband and I to race, and she ran with me. Husband took off and finished in 29:29, so we were definitely not slated to be running companions. Sister...
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Ouch! Hello, Calves.
So, I’ve been rediscovering my calf muscles in the past couple weeks while barefoot/minimalist running. This morning I shuffled downstairs, trying not to use the screaming parts of my body much. I’m amazed at how quickly the muscles break down! I didn’t run much from November through January because I started the GAPS diet, but I didn’t think that I’d have to build my...
January 2011
1 post
6 tags
Year 2011 Resolutions
Is January 23rd too late for a New Year’s Resolution blog post? I don’t think so! Well, here goes. Even though my job and relationship status stayed the same (love my husband and teaching high school English and Spanish), 2010 was a huge year for me, personally. Some of the highlights:
1. I transitioned into ChiRunning in the winter/spring
2. I transitioned into minimalist/barefoot...
December 2010
1 post
5 tags
"A Reversal On Carbs"
The article above was front page news of the Los Angeles Times Health section on Monday. LOVE that this type of message is getting more attention among the mainstream. Finally people are waking up and realizing, after over 50 years of brainwashing by the media and grain industries, that fat does not make you fat. The research presented in the article goes...
November 2010
5 posts
6 tags
I'm Famous!? Well, Noticed.
Every week, the guys behind the “Geeks in Running Shoes” podcast use the Twitter search function to find a running topic of interest. Then they follow one Twitter user based on the search. This week, it was me!
Here’s how it happened. One of my work friends mentioned that there was a “natural running” store opening in town, with it’s grand opening on...
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Recommended Cookbook for Athletes
It’s not zero carb, or even low carb, it’s the “Specific Carbohydrate Diet”. Basically one eats the carbohydrates that are easy for the body to digest and process, like vegetables, nuts, squash, fruit, etc., many of which can be turned into flours for baking so you don’t have to give up the things you love, like pancakes! I’ve been trying out the diet as best I...
It's Getting Cold!
I’m thinking of getting these Injinji Toe Socks to wear with my Vibram KSOs. I didn’t think I would need to wear socks here in SoCal, but my feet were freezing in the 45 degree weather this morning.
:) Comments?
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9 tags
My Week-Long Juice Cleanse/Detox
Why Did I Do a Juice Cleanse / Detox?
I’ve been a healthy eater (organic foods, whole grains, no processed food or preservatives, a good amount of fruits and vegetables) for at least three years now. I knew I wasn’t putting in a lot of “toxic” substances to my body, especially because I also switched to natural shampoos, soaps, and sunscreen. But, my husband, who got me started on all this...
October 2010
10 posts
6 tags
A Small Favor?
Hi everyone. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my blog as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it for you! Could you please do me a favor and recommend me for the Tumblr health and fitness directory? I’d really appreciate it. Thanks!
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10 Minutes a Day, Five Days a Week
What single activity do you spend ten minutes a day doing, five days a week? It would have to be something pretty inconsequential, right? That’s not very long to get much accomplished, is it? Actually, I’m surprised at how much progress I’ve made in just a few months of a 10-minute yoga/exercise workout that I created to target various areas of my body that needed...
5 tags
Official Race Review: Camarillo Half Marathon...
Official times and distance: 2:16:22 / 10:25 average pace / 24th in age group out of 54 women 20-29 yrs.
First off, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone out there on Tumblr, Twitter, and Facebook who encouraged me and read my blog posts throughout my sixteen-week ChiRunning training program in my Vibram FiveFingers. Also, to those of you who noticed the logo on my shirt while running...
1 tag
"Allison's Big Toes are in Vibram FiveFingers... →
Justin Owings at BirthdayShoes.com just posted a wonderful preview of my full Camarillo Half Marathon report [which comes out tomorrow]. Thanks to him for his professional support and great blog. Check it out, and be sure to come back to Allison’s Big Toe tomorrow for the full story!
Comments?
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Is Barefoot Running Physical Therapy?
So, I have written but haven’t yet posted my Camarillo Half Marathon race review, because I’m still working on the video and picture component of the post. Also, many life necessities were neglected during my training, and I needed to get back to business in a few areas, like cleaning the house for 5 hours on Saturday. So you’ll just have to keep waiting on pins and needles for...
5 tags
I'm an Official ChiRunning Affiliate!
AllisonsBigToe has been approved as a ChiRunning affiliate, which means if you buy any ChiRunning book or other product using a link from my blog, you can support my efforts bring great running advice and experiences to you fine people. ChiRunning really is what allowed me to make the successful transition into barefoot running. The book...
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Made It!
Very, very, proud of myself. I was a little worried when I could barely run two miles on Friday (too hungry and too humid outside), but this morning I completed my first half marathon in my Vibram FiveFinger KSOs! ChiRunning got me through. I reached all my goals, and will write soon about the full experience with pictures and videos that my lovely family worked hard to get! But for now, the...
September 2010
7 posts
5 tags
Anonymous asked: Hi!! I am also training for the Camarillo Full marathon I know its getting close what are you doing in these last days beforehand? I love your blog! Thanks- K
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WEEK 15: And the final countdown begins!
Week 15: Chi Running Pain Free Half Marathon Training Program: Long, Slow, Distance Run
Distance: 7.81 mi. / Time: 1 hour 20 min. / Average Pace: 10:16 min./mi.
One week to go! The Camarillo Half Marathon is a week from tomorrow! And best of all, I think I’m ready to run it in my FiveFinger shoes. I ran almost 8 miles this morning and felt really strong at the end. The ChiRunning training...
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WEEK 14: Twelve Days to Go, and Researching...
Week 14: Chi Running Pain Free Half Marathon Training Program: Long, Slow, Distance Run
Distance: 11 mi. / Time: 1 hour 56 min. / Average Pace: 10:38 min./mi.
For some reason, I must have skipped a week somewhere because I just finished week 14 of the training program, and last week was week 12. Hmm…
In any case, the Camarillo Half Marathon that I’ve been training for these past...