Tag Archives: wet

Barefoot Ken Bob in the rain (2003 May 24) Bayshore Marathon, Traverse City MI

Bayshore Marathon (2003 May 24)

Barefoot Ken Bob in the rain (2003 May 24) Bayshore Marathon, Traverse City MI

Barefoot Ken Bob in the rain (2003 May 24) Bayshore Marathon, Traverse City MI

Excuses

I started off, as usual, with a list of excuses;

  • not enough training
  • too much travel
  • rain
  • cold weather
  • recovering from a cold

Summary

As it turned out, I didn’t really need excuses. I had expected to finish in a comfortable 4 to 4 and a half hours. I figured, if I felt really good, I might be able to run a 3:30, but, with all my excuses, didn’t really expect to. After all, anything better than 3:33 would be my 4th fastest marathon ever!

Statistics

  • 26.20 Mile
  • 03:29:31 (official time)
  • 19 Barefoot 26.20 Mile races from 1998 to 2003/05/24
  • 191 Barefoot races (any distance) from 1998 to 2003/05/24
  • Barefoot
  • Overall place: 162
  • Age division (age = 47) : 19
  • surface (0-10): 7
  • hills (0-10): 1
  • Description: asphalt, chipseal, tar, rubber track
  • Location: Traverse City Central High School
  • City: Traverse City
  • State: Michigan

Blisters

Ken Bob's soles after Bayshore Marathon (2003 May 24) note the tiny blister on the small toe closest to the camera

Ken Bob’s soles after Bayshore Marathon (2003 May 24) note the tiny blister on the small toe closest to the camera

Addendum (2013 January 14): The asphalt was slightly rough, a bit like running on sandpaper, and of course, it was wet, so these factors may have contributed to the tiny blisters on my little toes, along with slightly sloppy running technique… This, after all, was the marathon that taught me to curve my toes up GENTLY – more in my book, “Barefoot Running Step by Step” page 100 “The Epiphany of the curved-up toes”

I ran the Bayshore Marathon again in 2006, and though the pavement seemed a bit rougher due to weathering, thanks to my improving technique, I managed without any blisters.

In general, if one uses good running technique, the asphalt was pretty consistent. Though I can’t testify to it’s current state.

Related Links

Gallery

Napa Valley Trail Marathon (1998 April 4) Calistoga CA

My First Barefoot Marathon …and the second marathon of my life, 10 and a half years after finishing my first marathon (with shoes), and deciding I never needed to do that again! Statistics 26.20 Mile 04:34:00 Personal Record (official time) … read more