A Moment in Time

Something strange happened today.

I ran 8km barefoot on the road/footpath/grass. Just ran around my local streets. I've never done that the day after a long race. I usually walk or rest.

I had some kind of realisation about why we choose to push our bodies daily, even when we're tired. Not a logical 'write it down' kind of thing, but something in my head understood it. An inner awareness of my whole body, every muscle, tendon, blood vessel. I have never felt more alive. It felt like when I finished the 6 foot. It was weird, but really exciting.

I didn't want to stop running. The words that you wrote on your blog a while ago kept going over in my head 'I'm a runner'.

Backing up with SMC

This was never going to be easy. A 30km run at Sydney Marathon Clinic a week after the Six Foot Track. But if I want to run ultras and finish in the cut off times, I have to keep pushing.

I felt quite good until about 15km, when frankly I ran out of gas. Nothing hurt. My joints and muscles felt great, but I was just tired. Notions of laying down on the road and having a nap kept popping into my head (I'm sure I've seen someone do that somewhere??)

It was about this point that my good friend and often running mate starting keeping me company. He encouraged me/growled at me/told me to stop being slack/ encouraged me again, right through to the end. Thanks so much. He had also done the 6Foot Track the weekend before, so we chatted about this while running.

I find the looped courses so hard mentally. I hate running past the finishing line 2 or 3 times and knowing its not the end. Still it's a good challenge.

I wore the Five Fingers again for this one. By the end I longed to have my feet back on the gound, feeling the little rocks and the grass, the change in surface every so often. I miss barefoot when I need to wear shoes.

A Day to Remember

Warning... warning... long wordy emotional post ahead...

The Six Foot Track.


For years I've read about it. The toughest off road marathon in Australia. Not to be taken lightly, and with an entry criteria that many would struggle to make. Myself included. So I relegated this run to the 'dream' section of my world. I'd listen to any story about it and wish that one day I could be part of such a fabulous event.


Goal One: Gain a Place in the run

With the notion of running a 4 hour marathon to enter completely out of the question, I tried a different run to gain entry. Fitzory Falls Marathon in October last year. I've heard this referred to as a 'mini 6 Foot'. After about 40k and with the cut off time slipping away, my running buddy asked me how badly I wanted to do the 6 Foot in March 08. I told him in no uncertain terms that I didn't care if I never did it!! Fatigue talking. I didn't make the cut that day, but I was damn close. After a whole lot more events and with my times getting better I decided to put an entry form in a see if I would be accepted to run. I left it to the last minute to enter for fear of being rejected. But that wasn't to be... they let me in! One goal down, 4 to go.

Goal Two: Get to the start line

It sounds silly but to train enough to get to the start line the risk of injury becomes greater. As it is with any race, but this one meant so much to me. Fast forward to Saturday 8/3/08 at 6.30am and here I am, standing with other runners in the cold, talking tactics for the race. Mine consisted of starting at the front of the 4th wave (my allocation), running fast down to the River (I go ok down tricky hills) and put some time in the bank for the long uphills. My mantra for the run was to be "Forward Momentum ". Hmmm everyone else had more complicated ones, but I was so nervous I would have choked on a more tricky scenario.



While waiting for the start, the race director, Kevin Tiller did a quick interview with me about my unusual choice of footwear for the race. Vibram Five Fingers are now my first choice and today would be no different. Kevin shook his head at me, asking if I knew how rocky and harsh the course was. I assured him I did, but really I was slightly terrified. What if I stuffed up? What if I look like a fool, limping in at the end because of my choice? Too late now, trust your training.


Goal Three: Don't get swept off the course

This race has a pacer for each wave for the 7 hour cut off and after those a sweeper, whose job it is to clear the course of those who are too slow/injured/tired to finish within a reasonable time. I decided to never look back and with luck and good management, never lay eyes on either of them.

The gun goes and we're off. Adrenaline surged and I took off down Nellies Glen. I found myself in a good position, running right at my chosen speed, not having to pass others or let anyone pass me. I found myself very emotional even at this stage, realising I had made it to a point I had once thought impossible.

I ran strongly to Cox's River, passing people who I knew would soon pass me going uphill. I stumbled once and slightly twisted my ankle, but it didn't hurt too much. Into the river, which was freezing and a bit above waist deep for me. Very refreshing though. I looked at my watch. 1hr55 to this point and 15.5k into the race. I was happy with this time, but knew I could not afford to waste time.

The climb up Mini Mini and Pluvi was the section I feared most. Knowing I would have to walk most of it, I set about walking as fast and strongly as possible. Despite the terrain and steep slopes, I LOVE this course. Every step is a joy, every twist and turn in the road is exciting. The runners, the firies manning the aid stations, the supporters made me glad to be alive and experiencing this.

I got to the top of Pluvi in 3hr53. I was secretly thrilled with that, as I had figured it would take all of 4hr10. I jumped on the mat and declared to no one in particular "I haven't been swept off yet!".

I felt invincible, for about 10 minutes, when the realisation sunk in that there was 19km to go and 3 hours to get there. I decided to try to get to 40k by the 6 hour mark, leaving me only 5k to cover in the last hour. My strategy was to run when at all possible and if I had to walk, to make sure it FAST. No dawdling, no stopping, no feeling sorry for myself.

For years I have given up at some point in every race I enter. It hurts... slow down.. you can try harder next time... you have a sore leg... you're tired... no one will think less of you if you don't make it. I have always given in. I have always regretted it. Enough of that thinking. Today would be different.

Someone ran along side me and said "I don't think I can do this anymore" and I said (mostly to myself) "We didn't come this far to go home without a medal". I never saw her again, she took off like a shot! I found a part of me I didn't know existed. I ran, walked, ran, walked and with each km, the time factor was more on my side!! I got excited when at 35k I realised I had over 90minutes to finish. I can walk that in!

Then the final test for me... cramps. Not the odd little niggling cramp, but the "OH HELP ME, my legs are stiff and won't move" cramps. Once again, I surprised even myself by calmly stretching out the cramp and resuming a jog. This happened around every 500m or so. But by jogging in between the cramps, I kept time on my side.

Crossing the road with about 7k to go, I saw some people I knew. What a boost! I ran past as they shouted words of encouragment. I knew now that only a catastrophe would stop me. I teared up again, realising how much this meant to me. Then I berated myself for being soft and girly, telling myself I still had to actually finish.

Goal Four: Getting to the end in under 7 hours

I recall looking at my watch with 5k to go and seeing the accumulated time of 6:05. 55 mins to do 5ks WOOHOO!!! I can do that. I started to get excited and even the constant cramping didn't bother me. Part of me wanted to push hard for a better time, but my legs wouldn't cooperate. I think I spent most of the last few km crying and laughing, lucky there was no one around. I even passed 3 people on the last stretch, they looked spent.

Once I got to the cobblestones, I stopped to take off my shoes. I want to run in barefoot, I want to be the 'silly girl who runs with no shoes' and I want to show that somtimes you don't have to conform to succeed. I want my girls, who are waiting at the finish line, to see that you CAN do whatever you set your heart on. I want the friends who have supported me and encouraged me to see that I now believe in myself.

I ran down those paths with more joy than I have ever felt, I was bursting! Rounding the final corner and hearing the announcer call my name was amazing. Cheering, high fives, the odd bewildered look. I put my arms in the air and let the world know how thrilled I was to be alive at that moment. I saw people who I consider to be my heroes in the running community cheering me and I stored every milisecond of it in my mind.

Goal Five: The coveted Medal

Through the finish gate in 6:50. My friend Joanne was handing out medals and I fell into her congratulatory hug and sobbed. The emotion of years of failing was let go, I had achieved what was for me, the impossible. In my world, I'd won the race, not just scraped in. My legs turned to jelly and I felt dizzy. My girls were yelling, Tim ran over and hugged me, a huge grin on his face! Vic, Craig, Maurice, Luis and others congratulated me. All people I respect and admire for so many reasons, were genuinely happy for me.

It was a moment in time that will live with me forever. The pain and pleasure was for me like the birth of my children. A tremendous joy borne out of a physically painful and mentally challenging experience.

Thoughts of the last 12 months....

Firstly I must thank Tim for suggesting I write down my story thus far.

I started to write down some ideas and ended up with this novel….. skip bits as required. It was great for me to see how far I’d come.

In 2006, I decided I wanted to do a marathon before I was 40, but my feet and legs were always injured. I thought it would be impossible. I started reading about the body/food/health and stumbled over a barefoot running site (barefooted). All that I read said that it was ok for some runners, but not for overpronators. I was a severe overpronator with hyper flexible joints.. not a good candidate. So I figured ‘what the heck, I’ll give it a go’. Nothing else was working.

Before I started barefoot, I read about foot strike (heel/toe/midfoot) and tested myself out. Chronic heel striker… painful when barefoot. So the first thing I did was to change my style. I did this for the first couple of weeks while walking barefoot. I practiced putting my foot down properly every step I took.. I felt like a total idiot and it was very very slow. I watched how much I rolled in and how this hurt. I realised my ankles and feet were weak as water. So I learned to walk at 38.

I started mid January 2007. I just took my shoes off and walked for about 5km.. Fast walking, on the grass, bitumen, concrete etc. My feet hurt like crazy. The soles of my feet were tender and my arches ached. So I went out the next day and did it again. Just walking. I did that for about a week, going between 5-10k a day. Then on the second week I added in some gentle grass runs at the end of the walk. Only about 2-3km. After this distance I noticed I was reverting to rolling in and hell striking, meaning it hurt and slowed me down. It took a long while to retrain my brain to do it properly. Once I found I was getting lazy, I would stop and walk for a bit, then resume running. I was doing something every day barefoot and I made sure I went everywhere, except work, barefoot.

By the third week I was doing 5k every 3 or 4 days barefoot. Bitumen seemed easier than concrete. I stuck mostly to grass still though. I'd just run beside the footpaths on the grass.

At this stage I still wore shoes (Frees) when I raced at my club as it was cross country, and I was worried people would laugh at me. Turned out I was right about that. The shoes seemed hot and heavy even at this early stage. At club I was only racing 3.4km handicap race. I went from 22minutes down to 17 mins in a few months.

Each time I finished I’d soak my feet in water and bath stuff for about ½ hour, pick out the glass, splinters, prickles etc and then put nurofen gel on ANYTHING that hurt. I massaged my feet every day and calves as much as I could. I did this for about a month, until my feet got hard and didn’t need it anymore. I also stretched religiously. Calves, Achilles and arches. I would do it about 10 times a day. I should do it more now, but I’m lazy. Actually squatting on the ground and resting, gently, on your heels is a great stretch for the whole calf/achilles/arch. Lean your elbows on your knees and push forward gently to get a massive achilles/calf stretch. Not socially acceptable, but very comfortable.
One thing I noticed was that my calves were like rocks. When I first started I was a bit disappointed as I thought I’d traded one lot of injuries for another lot. After about 3-4 weeks my calves were so tight I was in a lot of pain. I went to a good remedial massage therapist and told her my story. She was amused, but not discouraging. She gave me the massage from hell but told me my muscles were well hydrated and certainly not damaged from the unusual activity. My physio backed this up when I also went to see her, just to make sure I was getting good advice.

Another problem is toes. My second toe on each foot felt like it was broken. This happened after the Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon. The first joint of each toe was swollen and painful. I kept running. It seemed to get better with time, though they hurt to bend for about 3 months. I think it is just your feet getting used to working again. Those joints are where the first pressure of each foot strike is borne. I think I was landing too far forward as well, so I have adjusted to a more mid foot strike. Even now this is where I will hurt, if at all. It doesn’t last long these days, just an overnight type thing.

Feet swelling. Here’s a pretty one. I first noticed this doing Woodford to Glenbrook trail run in Vibram Five Fingers. My feet had no idea about rocks and this was 25k of rocks. My feet were bruised, swollen and in pain. I sat with ice packs under my feet and used nurofen gel. It took about 3 days for them to be normal again. This has also subsided with time, and now I don’t get too much swelling. Great North Walk 100's was about 24hrs of swelling, but not much pain.

I asked Max (a fellow barefooter) about both these issues (‘broken’ toes and swelling). He confirmed that he experienced both of them, but that they got better as your feet got stronger. So I carried on.

But I digress….. back to the other bit….

At this stage (about 6 weeks into barefoot) I had a 24 week beginner program leading into the marathon on July 30, so I did 95% of it barefoot.

It was an ‘easy week, then hard week’ program. So eg: 25, 40, 28, 45, 30, 50 etc. Those are k/week, 5 days a week running. My longest run during that program was 35k but I had to do it in Frees, as it was just too cold for barefoot.


My first goal was Sydney Morning Herald Half in May, which fit into my program. Previous years I had run only 2 halves, one took me 2hr45, the other 2hr38. Both of those hurt so much that I cried running at times. Hip pain, knee pain, ankle pain, tendon pain. I ran the SMH in 2h08 (30 min PB), barefoot, with NO pain. I cried at the end I was so happy.

Wearing shoes, I could barely ever run under 7min/km. 10k times were about 70-75. 5k was 31mins if I flogged myself and didn’t walk for 3 days after. I know a lot of people will say it was fitness, but I know it was pain. I had tried to do programs before, but I couldn’t do more than 10k without needing a week off after. 4 City to surfs, all around 100mins… always painful.

Last year I did 5k in 26mins, 10k in 58, 21k in 2.08 and marathon (never mind the time) all barefoot.

Last year I did the C2S again, but time was the same, as I ran with my girls. It didn’t hurt though. The marathon (July) I did the first 12k in vibrams, then switched to bare feet. I run faster with no shoes, though I admit I’m never FAST.
I once suffered a recurrence of the old tendonitis injury, about 10 days out from the marathon. Rest rest rest, ice, massage, nurofen and it was good in 4-5 days. I feel it twinge from time to time, so I take extra care with foot placement.

Going up lots of hills, eg 6 Foot, GNW means your calves take a beating. Your heel has to reach so much further to touch the ground, due to no heel support. I try to stretch extra during those type of runs.

2007 saw me do 2 marathons, a stack of HM’s, 10km races, Trailwalker, GNW, Fat ass runs etc. Before this I could only do the City 2 Surf and one HM each year, then I needed 2 months injury recovery. I used to go to physio 2 times a week and get taped up before any 10k + runs. Now I go to say hi to her and tell her where I ran last. I still pop in for a massage if I’m doing a few huge weeks in a row.

Another bonus to barefoot: no blisters. Long events where your feet are wet mean blisters, but the skin on my feet is too hard to blister. It just peels off… gross but not painful. On trailwalker I just scraped some skin off, put my Frees back on and kept moving. I got one blister in the last 4 hours, between my toes, when I decided (stupidly) to wear some socks. No room to move my toes and my feet got all hot.

I won’t go back to wearing shoes for running or walking. I will wear something in the bush to stop sticks and stones breaking the skin and also because night is dangerous without something on your feet. Vibrams will do me I think. They are so versatile. Today I just stepped on the heel bit and ran with ‘slippers’. Rocks and dirt got in a bit, but I only stopped twice to pick a rock out. They felt so good I might do that every time! Also I had to grip with toes going up really steep sections, but that just meant better traction and less chance of tripping.

I will not worry about all the naysayers who tell me my feet and legs and hips and back will be ruined by not wearing shoes. 12 months uninjured is good enough proof for me. I’m convinced I’m doing my body a favour by leaving the shoes behind. The most I’ll come at is Frees if absolutely required. I’m also prepared to not get upset when people laugh at me, call me a freak or tell me I’m just plain wrong.


I agree, nod and go running.

Six Foot Track Walk 08

After years of reading and hearing about it, I decided to do it the easy way! 2 days on the track, camping in the middle at Alum River. The running club we belong to takes a group out each year on Australia Day long weekend.

Both my girls (11 and 13) had worked hard and run harder to prove their ability to slog it out for 45k over 2 days, and I was thrilled they wanted to come. They had 2 friends with them, so a group of 4 younguns formed for the weekend.

Happy that the kids were walking safely with others, I ran from the start to Alum River, then back to meet the kids and run into camp with them. This gave me a total of 30km for the first day on the track. I had intended to run the second day as well, but opted to walk the whole way with my girls. I'm glad I did, it was a great experience to share with them and something we'll talk about for years.

I went out on a limb on this occasion and wore the Vibram Five Fingers on the track. It was wet, slippery, rocky, harsh trail, with lots of river and creek crossings. The vibrams did well, and my feet were fine after 30k, though it was COLD putting the wet rubber shoes on my bare feet in the early hours of Sunday morning! By about 15km on the second day, I'd had enough of shoes, so wore thongs for the remaining sections. This leaves me undecided about the 6foot race in March.... Free's or Vibram's?? And will I make the cutoff for the race??

This weekend was one of the most enjoyable times I've spent in many years. Having my daughters out there with me, talking as we walked, seeing the incredible sights in this magnificent part of Australia...doesn't get any better than this.

Otford 2 Bundeena 07

It has already occurred to me from the title of my post, that I think I might be running trails for a few years. I am still on a high, though I'm sore and have now got a killer dose of the flu.

The morning started at 5, when I was picked up by a good friend and often running buddy, Maurice. We drove to Sutherland station and caught the train down to Otford with some like-minded crazy folk.

The walk out from the station to the start line scared me! I was puffing up the hill wondering if I had made a serious mistake. (Funny, but it wouldn't be the first time).

The start area was crowded! Apparently over 90 people started, huge for a Fat Ass run. The first few km were slow walking mostly on uphill trails, as the faster runners made their way through. I get so excited at the start of a trail run, the smell of the bush air, and the dirt tracks reminds me of being a kid.

Plodded along happily for most of the run, the vibram sprints working like a charm, until I kicked a rock with my big toe. That hurt... be more careful. About 5 minutes later, same toe, different rock. OWWWW PLEASE be more careful. Apart from my laziness in not lifting my feet, I really loved the whole run in the vibrams. The run included dirt, rocks, grass flats, gravel, metal grating, sand, surf and road surfaces; all of which were fantastic. I ran through the water and surf at every chance, keeping my feet cool the whole time.

There were some steep uphill climbs and lovely downhill stretches, and I realised by the end that I am getting fitter. I still have a long way to go, but I think I might be able to do a whole lot more longer bush runs now that I have the shoe thing worked out.

Came across a couple of snakes out there today, it's been a while since I've seen such a huge black snake, but it sure made me run faster for a couple of km, with a massive adrenaline surge! I managed to step on a small green snake too (sorry) sunning itself on the path. I think my 'shoes' are so soft that I don't make the usual amount of noise to frighten them off the path... not sure but it sounds ok for now.

The end was wonderful, a nice cheer from all those finished and a chat with some friends, while waiting for the ferry to take us home.

I've learned some things today. Firstly I can go for a long run without needing to eat. I had a couple of lollies (3 snakes) over a 4.5 hour run and felt great. I wasn't hungry at the end and I got the fluids right too. Maybe, just maybe I can do some 100k runs next year ....

SMC November

It's almost CR SMC these days! I love going out here each month to catch up with everyone. I wish I could run faster, so I could chat to more people at the end.

Saw Belinda, Horrie and Tim before the start, as well as Johny Dark, Space Cowboy and others. Intoduced myself to Whippet gal at the start line, after double checking to make sure it was indeed her!

Caught up with Spud and sailaway briefly before the gun went off. There seemed to be so many in the half today, which is great for the series. It did mean however, more people to beat me to the line!! Caught up briefly with Blue Dog during and after the race. He was taking some photos out on the course, and as luck would have it, snapped me staggering up a hill. Shame I wasn't looking my usual 'magazine model' self ;)

Every second person passing me/lapping me seemed to be someone I know, which was great. What a fabulous community this is.


I came an inglorious last today. I started off ok, but by 10km I was feeling pretty shocking. The 75k from last weekend was biting me on the arse, unlike others who seem to be able to do this type of thing constantly! I guess I'll improve with time. Space Cowboy caught up with me before 2km, and very kindly ran/walked with me to the end. You are indeed a gracious person and a good friend.

By about 12/13k my knees began to protest the notion of holding me upright. I guess it was all the downhill pounding last weekend, but I'm not good at knowing when to throw the towel in, so carried on. Even when the SES guys offered me a lift with about 1km to go.... they don't understand about DNF I guess.

Finished feeling a bit less than brilliant, I don't think the sports drink agrees with me, but after some watermelon all returned to normal.

Both my girls ran today with Alana in the 5k and Sara in the 10k, having done 10k last weekend at Fishers Ghost. I am so proud of both of them. Sara is taking to the challenge of the longer races with enthusiasm and drive (and she tells me she wasn't last today hehehe) so she beat me. Two of the other competitors 'ran her' to the finish line when she was tiring, which was really awesome, she appreciated it a lot.