My barefoot review so far!

Ok so I ran my first run in my merrell pace gloves yesterday. They feel amazing to run in! So light and free and fast! My feet feel perfectly fine. My form is so natural in them. I am officially declaring my opinion to be way more than a fad. They really are great for you!

"They say" there is a transition period while you get used to running in them, and they are very right! My feet feel perfectly fine personally but I hear some peoples feet need time to build up muscles in them. My legs on the other hand, especially my calves, were put to work and it ROCKED! I ran 4 miles and normally that is just another run. Yesterday though, I didn't think my calves were going to be able to bring me home! Minimalist shoes seriously work your muscles harder but it's such a healthy feeling. Just like after u do a lot of reps of squats and feel like if you do one more you'll fall right over. That's how I felt after 4 miles. Sexy legs... Come to momma! Shin splints and injuries, not on my watch baby! <3

I can't wait to log more miles in these shoes and build up the muscles needed to run distance!

Happy feet. Happy shins. Happy muscles. Happy heart. Addicted to endorphins. Happy girl!!!

Xoxoxo


Ashli Dawn <3

Location:Under the big ol' blue

Minimalists.. For real or a fad

I've finally decided to try out the minimalist "barefoot" running shoes! I'm pretty excited! It's been all the latest rage and I've wondered if they are legit and truly better for running or just a silly fad. My asics are so bulky in the sole and fat that i cant even feel whats going on under my feet. I feel like i cant even run normal in them. Very unnatural running feel. I can tell the shoe is doing all the work, and they destroyed my shins. I refuse to run in them again! Minimalists are so comfortable and basic. I am putting them to the test!

I've read a lot of blogs, articles, and books from ultrarunners, doctors and such to find out what all the hype is about & what the difference is, that makes them so much better than your fancy pronation blah blah shoes. Between all my reading & my own personally running in my "fancy" running shoes, this is the gist of what i've found.

They say those fancy shoes are better for your feet bc they adjust your flaws in the way you run and land on your feet. Which I do think is true. They are so thick soled and bulky that you foot can hardly move or feel the ground. Of course they are happy feet. They aren't doing anything & are essentially paralyzed from moving and doing much work. Its all put into the shoe. BUT your foot has hundreds of little tiny bones perfectly designed to do the most basic work of mankind, running and walking. By paralyzing the feet from doing what they are designed to do, your legs have to compensate. Hence, injuries. The minimalists take us back to basics. To where our feet can feel the ground beneath us and do their job as needed, naturally. As they were intended to do. Your feet do their job, so your legs and everything else can do theirs. Your feet are the foundation of your body. Mess with the foundation, and the whole house falls down. Makes sense to me!

I'm not personally into the 100% barefoot thing simply bc I like my feet soft. :) So I'm going to rock my new pair of Merrell Barefoot Pace Gloves. Light, minimal sole but enough for traction, and I can feel the ground beneath me heel to toe. I LOVE THEM!

I will log some miles in them & keep you all posted on how they work for me. Comfort levels on short and long runs, how my leg feel etc. Can't wait! I begin my training in them in the morning!

The real deal or a fad... Stay tuned... We shall see!

For now, HAPPY RUNNING!

Ashli Dawn <3

I'm a quote-a-holic!

Let us not be content to wait and see what will happen but give us the determination to make the right things happen.
-Peter Marshall

We have to understand the world can only be grasped by action not by contemplation.
-Jacob Bronowski

Conditions are never just right. People who delay action until all factors are favorable do nothing.
-William Feather

We never become truly spiritual by sitting down and wishing to become so. You must undertake something so great that you cannot accomplish it unaided.
-Phillips Brooks


Ashli Dawn <3

Location:Bed of course, its bed time!

RACE FOR THE CURE!

Ladies and Gents!

I've recently decided to join the race for a cure and help make an impact to save our Ta Ta's!!! A's, B's & C's alike, we all need a cure! 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Which means the odds of one of us, or someone very close to us are likely to be diagnosed. Not only that but Utah is ranked the second lowest state in the nation for mammography screenings! With numbers being 1 in 8, I'd say that's a pretty big deal.

My dear people, Its not just about making appointments for mammograms, Its about saving lives. Lets all pitch in and make a donation to help find a cure! Click on the link below to make a generous, tax deductible donation! 

http://slc.info-komen.org/site/TR/Events?px=9820558&pg=personal&fr_id=2133&s_subsrc=bfgetwordout&s_src=boundlessfundraising

If you would like to do more, or come out and join the fun, you can register for the 5k/fundraising as well! I would love to have all my friends and family come out and join us! It will be so fun!

www.komenslc.org

I appreciate all of your help! Much Love <3

Ashli Dawn

Garmin Forerunner 110

This watch is my new running toy! I highly recommend one! There are lots of benefits! I used to have to drive my runs before hand so I knew the mileage, but with the GPS it tells me how far I've gone as I'm running! This way I don't have to run the same on run everyday. I can turn down any road I want to and explore while I run. Keeps the excitement in the game. It also tracks your pace per mile. Which I LOVE & you must know if you are training for an event and have a goal time in mind. My favorite feature is the heart rate strap. While I'm running I'm able to watch my heart rate and make sure I'm keeping it in the target area. Its great for knowing how to pace myself over the course of my run and getting to know my own body. Your always taught to keep your heart rate in a certain zone but how can you do that without the boring old treadmill? With this watch!!! By knowing my heart rate I'm able to learn what a certain heart rate feels like to me, & how much it takes me to get there.  Tracking my progress by plugging this champ into my computer is also a must. It logs all your runs for you so you can watch your training get better and better! Run the numbers baby. You've got to & I love it!