Mini post, but should of course update this more often. I'm actually sitting here with my new vibram fivefinger treksports on (the orange ones) for a momentum change in my running (or attempt at least).
The Stockholm marathon is 2 weeks away and for the last 2 months I've not been running due to patellar tendonitis. Up to that point I was doing a half marathon every Sunday and more shorter runs midweek, but all came to a crashing halt, likely from over-running. Well, the good news is that I've done 2 x 10 km runs and a 5 km today (over 1 week) and fingers crossed, but all is fine.
Now this optimism is needed as running 25 km per week with a 2 month gap just before you are supposed to run 42 km is erm......not ideal. I am going to attempt it though, if my legs fall off, then sobeit!
My train of thought back to the vibrams. In a short summary, basically I believe I need to free my feet, free my leg muscles etc to use our perfectly evolved bodies in a natural way. Not encasing them in padded cocoon making us completely change our posture. I intend to very very very slowly transition (I will see how it goes of course) to running in these 'barefoot' beasts and see if my injuries decrease.
Timewise for the marathon then, well I know in my heart I can run 3.30 (and would have been close based on my good form until now) but the mileage is seriously lacking, so aside from the problem of finishing the dam thing, if I can run 3.45 I would be over the moon, christ I'd be just ecstatic. I must re-emphasize the optimism here as in reality this could become a serious nightmare. Temps are up and I don't want to run in 28 degree heat again, so I know I'm up against it, but you never know.
Looking forward to next year, I intend to run it in my minimalist shoes; at least that is the target. I like the idea of 'don't fix it if it ain't broke', well it is broke and I'm going to try and fix it.......
